Time: Nov. 6, 1632. Location: Lützen, Germany. On a foggy battlefield, the Protestant armies under Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus again clash with the Imperial armies under General Wallenstein. The battle raged back and forth. In the midst of it, the Swedish King leading a cavalry charge was separated from his other troops and killed. Thus hopes of a quick conclusion to the 30 Years War were shattered (the war dragged on until the peace treaty was signed in Westphalia in 1648), but the Protestant side which had been losing badly before Sweden entered the war, remained strengthened, if not as victorious as it had been under Gustavus Adolphus’ leadership.

Gustavus Adolphus was 17 when he became King. He proceeded to modernize government in Sweden, turning it into a European superpower for the next 100 years. He was also a brilliant military leader who changed the way wars were fought by deploying light artillery and integrating the military branches for coordinated attacks. Napoleon considered him one of the greatest generals of all time, as did General Patton in more recent time.

Now you know.

Claes

posted in Sweden, life

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