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Gustavus Adolphus of the Palatinate (Prince Palatine Gustavus Adolphus; 14 January 1632 – 9 January 1641), was the last son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine (of the House of Wittelsbach), the "Winter King" of Bohemia, by his consort, the British princess Elizabeth Stuart.
- Early Life & Kingship
- Oxenstierna & Reforms
- Marriage & Wars
- The Thirty Years’ War
- Conclusion
Adolphus was born Gustav II Adolph on 9 December 1594, son of Duke Charles of the House of Vasa (later Charles IX of Sweden, r. 1604-1611) and his second wife Christina of Holstein-Gottorp (l. 1573-1625). The couple were married in 1592 and Adolphus was the eldest of four children. Charles’ first marriage, to Christina’s first cousin Maria of Palat...
Oxenstierna guided the young king which, as scholar Peter H. Wilson notes, was not always easy: Oxenstierna provided the stability and counsel which enabled Adolphus to set about reforming the government and the military. He streamlined the bureaucracy of governmental offices, creating specific departments to handle the affairs of state such as the...
Not all of these reforms were implemented in his first few years, however, as he was required to govern the state and, in keeping with tradition, find a woman among the European nobility as a wife. Suitable matches were limited to Protestant women, as Adolphus was Lutheran (though sometimes seems to have allowed people to think he was Calvinist) bu...
The Polish-Swedish War was far from a resounding Swedish victory but the Truce of Altmark, concluding hostilities in 1629, favored the Swedes because Cardinal Richelieu of France (l. 1585-1642), who was part of the negotiations, needed Adolphus free to intercede in the Thirty Years’ War on the side of the Protestants. The Thirty Years’ War had begu...
Adolphus’ widow, Maria, fell into deep grief on hearing of his death and locked herself and their daughter Christina in her bedchambers with the windows blackened. Once his corpse reached Sweden, she demanded the coffin be left open and visited him every day to weep by his side. When Oxenstierna finally ordered the king buried in 1634, he was force...
- Joshua J. Mark
He was formally and posthumously given the name Gustavus Adolphus the Great (Swedish: Gustav Adolf den store; Latin: Gustavus Adolphus Magnus) by the Riksdag of the Estates in 1634. He is often regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in modern history, with use of an early form of combined arms.
Feb 7, 2022 · He drove the Danes from Sweden, and restored their freedom, and was chosen by the grateful country to be their king. Gustav Vasa had been discipled by one of Luther’s students. He was determined to make Sweden a Protestant nation and he instituted reforms in all his states.
But when, in 1623, this attempt revived with the sudden resumption of a policy of aggressive ambition by Spain under Philip IV and Olivares, Gustavus Adolphus was found ready to take part in the project —at first by a “diversion” into the Austrian lands, and then even by an attack upon the Palatinate.
Jan 15, 2021 · King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden reigned for 20 years, and many credit him with the development of Sweden as a powerful force – both militarily and politically – in 17th century Europe. A renowned military strategist and charismatic leader, he died at the bloody Battle of Lutzen in November 1632.
Gustav II Adolf (19 December 1594 – 16 November 1632) was the King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632. He is known in English as Gustavus Adolphus . He is often said to have made Sweden a great power. ( Swedish: Stormaktstiden ). He is also said to be one of the best military leaders of all time.
