Gustavus Rex Accomplishments

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When the Swedish king Charles IX died in 1611, his son Gustavus Adolphus not only inherited the throne, but also ongoing wars with Russia, Poland, and Denmark. He was 17 years old. Though he was highly knowledgeable in classics, theology, law, and history, Gustavus’ primary education focused largely on military strategies and leadership. At sixteen, he had already commanded an army and defeated Dutch invaders off the coast of Sweden. His lack of frivolity, strength of character, and previous successes gave reason for the Swedish Parliament to waive the necessary age requirement needed to inherit the throne. This act led to a successful and peaceful decades long relationship between the Swedish Parliament and one of the greatest kings in Swedish…show more content…
Once king, he implemented a regime that included extensive training programs, strong chains of command, and permanent units. He established supply lines, bases of operation, and adopted separate infantry, artillery, and cavalry units in order to redefine battle formations. He was the first to further divide these units into squadrons, then brigades, and so on ensuring a system of cooperation within the whole of the army than was unlike any army elsewhere. He used the newest and best weapons improving musketry. He easily became the “father of modern warfare”. Gustavus entered into the Thirty Years’ War in 1630 in an effort to protect Swedish borders and advance Swedish influences in German states. He negotiated a truce with France and soon after coming to the aid of German Lutherans, he engaged Johann von Tilly of the Holy Roman Empire defeating him in 1631. Resolute, Gustavus marched west only to meet up and defeat von Tilly once more, though von Tilly did not survive this time. Von Tilly’s replacement, Wenzel von Wallenstein, was more determined than ever to finally squash the Swedish
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