The Lion of the North

Listen to "The Lion of the North"

Gustavus Adolphus II the Great, the Lion of the North, was an innovator

as the king of Sweden and the commander of its armies.  His innovations

include the conscription system, the tribute system, the squadron-based

organization system, the Swedish infantry weaponry, and the artillery

regiment system. 

All of these useful improvements were demonstrated during the Baltic

Campaigns and during the Thirty Years War.  One example is the Battle

of Breitenfield, in which he defeated a larger Holy Roman Empire Army,

despite the fact that one of his allies fled during the battle.  He was

killed a few years later in another one of his victories, the Battle of

Lutzen. 

The Lion of the North (the name was given to him by Protestants in

Germany) is, without a doubt, the greatest commander in Swedish history

and the greatest commander in the 1600s. 

For more information, read:

Military Anecdotes by Max Hastings

Dictionary of Battles by David Chandler

Extreme War by Terrence Poulos

Galenet: Adolphus

ABC-Clio: Adolphus

Military History Podcast is sponsored by: Armchair General Magazine, International Research and Publishing Corporation, and Axis and Allies Reserves