Gustavus Adolphus

9 December 1594 – 6 November 1632

Gustavus Adolphus (1594-1632), or Gustav II Adolf, was King of Sweden from 1611 until his death in battle. Regarded as one of the great military innovators of history, he intervened decisively on the Protestant side in the Thirty Years' War, winning the Battle of Breitenfeld before falling at Lützen. His reforms made Sweden a major European power.

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Life events

Born in Stockholm
9 December 1594

Gustavus Adolphus was born on 9 December 1594, the son of Duke Charles (later King Charles IX of Sweden) and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Ascended the Swedish throne at age sixteen
30 October 1611

He became king in October 1611 on the death of his father, inheriting ongoing wars with Denmark, Russia, and Poland.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Reformed the Swedish army and government
c. 1612 – c. 1630

With his chancellor Axel Oxenstierna he modernized Sweden's administration and built a disciplined conscript army combining mobile artillery, infantry, and cavalry.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Concluded the Treaty of Stolbovo with Russia
9 March 1617

The 1617 treaty ended the Ingrian War and gave Sweden control of Ingria and Kexholm, cutting Russia off from the Baltic Sea.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg
25 November 1620

Gustavus Adolphus married Maria Eleonora on 25 November 1620; their daughter Christina later succeeded him.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Landed in Pomerania to intervene in the Thirty Years' War
6 July 1630

In the summer of 1630 he brought a Swedish army to northern Germany in support of the Protestant cause against the Habsburg emperor.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Won the Battle of Breitenfeld
17 September 1631

On 17 September 1631 his army crushed the Imperial forces under Tilly near Leipzig, the first major Protestant victory of the war.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Killed at the Battle of Lützen
6 November 1632

Gustavus Adolphus was killed leading a cavalry charge at Lützen on 6 November 1632 (Old Style), while his army went on to win the battle.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓