In June 1630, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden personally led his
kingdom’s expeditionary force of 16,000 men to fight in the Thirty Years’ War.
They landed in Peenemunde and set up headquarters in Pomerania’s capital
Stettin. Being in a foreign land, Gustavus Adolphus hoped to maintain good
relations with the population by maintaining strict discipline among his
soldiers. He then implemented the Articles of War for his soldiers to follow. It stated:
The taking of the Name of God in vain by swearing or cursing is
forbidden…
In order to instill the fear of God in the hearts of the soldiers, there
shall be morning and evening worship conducted in the camp of all the soldiers.
No loose women shall be tolerated in the camp. Married women may
accompany their husbands if they so wish.
Whoever robs or steals cattle or the like in friendly lands, or from
those who bring supplies to the camp, or from the enemy without permission,
shall be punished as for other robbery or theft.
No soldier may plunder any church or hospital even though the city may
have been taken by storm. No one may use force against ministers, old men,
women, or children.
Should anyone drink himself drunk with ale or wine found in the enemy’s
camp or in any city before the enemy is fully driven out, he may with impunity
be slain by anyone finding him.
Reference:
Grimberg, Carl. A History of Sweden. Translated by C.W. Foss. Rock
Island, Illinois, Augustana Book Concern, 1935.
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