Who was Gustavus Adolphus? - Part 1

The Lion of the North, as many called Gustavus Adolphus, started his reign at a young age and oversaw war, reform, and cooperation. All led to the establishment of Sweden as a Baltic superpower.

Early Life

Born on December 9, 1594, Gustavus Adolphus was the eldest son of Charles IX (Karl IX), King of Sweden (r. 1604 – 1611), and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp. His father groomed him to become a great ruler receiving excellent education learning history, politics, and warfare. On the matter of the last subject, he idolized Maurice of Nassau and studied his exploits. Moreover, he excelled in languages which his Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna described as:

"In his youth, he obtained a thorough knowledge and perfect command of many foreign tongues, so that he spoke Latin, German, Dutch, French, and Italian like a native, understood Spanish, English, and Scotch, and had besides some notion of Polish and Russian."

At 13, Gustavus started his involvement in state affairs receiving and reading petitions. Moreover, he welcomed, talked, and negotiated with foreign ambassadors. In 1609, he received his appointment as Duke of Västmanland further training his skills in administration and governance. In the same year, however, his father fell ill due to a stroke that incapacitated him to govern the country. Because of this, the Kingdom’s assembly of the estate, the Riksdag, descended into turmoil debating over the Kingdom’s leadership. On August 15, 1609, the teenage Gustavus Adolphus spoke to the body and restored order. His actions earned him the trust of the Riksdag, so much so they granted him the power to rule as regent until King Karl IX passed away in 1611.

Karl IX

In December 1611, the Riksdag once again convened in Nyköping to discuss the succession. King Karl IX made himself unpopular to the nobility who dominated the Riksdag. His death allowed the elite sector to gain concessions from the new young King Gustavus Adolphus. The new King Gustavus II Adolphus understood that as a 17-year old, he should have a regent to rule in his name for another 7 years. He, however, avoided such a scenario by granting in his Konungaförsäkran privileges to the nobility or at least to the Riksdag. The understanding called for King Gustavus Adolphus to assume direct control of the country provided he work closely with the Riksdag in the legislation of new laws and formulation of foreign policies. With this agreement, Gustavus began his reign, but his coronation only happened upon reaching the majority in 1617.

Gustavus Adolphus’ Sweden

The Riksdag imposed their will on Gustavus after the turbulent reign of King Karl IX. The late King came to power by usurpation, ruined the country by waging numerous war, and abused his power by brutally suppressing the nobility. Karl IX’s legacy burdened the young Gustavus.

In 1599, Karl IX then known as Duke Karl overthrew King Sigismund who happened also to be the King of Poland as Sigismund III. For 5 years, he ruled as regent until finally becoming King upon the grace of the Riksdag. His rise to power had been through usurpation that brought questions to his and his successor’s (Gustavus Adolphus) legitimacy. His power-grab resulted in Poland’s declaration of war starting a hostile and tensed relation between the 2 countries until the 18th century. The war with Poland and the question of illegitimacy that Karl IX began continued to the reign of Gustavus Adolphus.

Sigismund III Vasa of Poland

Worse, besides war with Poland, Karl IX also endowed Gustavus Adolphus with conflicts with its other neighbors. Karl IX proved himself to be a prolific warlord of Scandinavia. He coveted the position of Tsar of Russia for Gustavus’ younger brother Karl Philip and in 1610, he exploited Russia’s political instability known as the Time of Troubles declaring war against the Land of the Rus.

Enemies in the south and east failed to satisfy Karl IX who opened another front in 1611. Due to a mere addition of the title of “King of the Lapps in Nordland” to his title, had been traditionally held by the Danish Crown, but Karl IX’s assumption of the title attacked Denmark’s sovereignty forcing it to declare war. From Scania, Swedish forces encountered strong Danish advance. Major Swedish cities fell. Stockholm faced the threat of capture. Only with the determination and valiant defense of Stockholmares prevented a complete Danish victory. Hence, by 1611, enemies surrounded Sweden.

While Gustavus faced daunting challenges in diplomacy and war, the domestic condition also seemed grim and contentious. Karl IX exercised absolute power at the expense of the nobility intimidating them with the execution of 5 prominent members of the estate. Karl IX, then, leaned towards Calvinism against the Lutheranism traditionally favored by the Crown and nobility. From that point, the nobility shivered in fear of the King, but also resented and mistrusted the monarchy. Gustavus Adolphus must work to bridge the gap between the Crown and nobility and unite the country to face the great tasks ahead.

Gustavus Adolphus inherited a Sweden in deep trouble. Hostile states surrounded and threatened Sweden. Nobility and the Crown divided. Economically, politically, and diplomatically, Gustavus Adolphus in his young age faced such a daunting quest.

See also:

Gustavus Adolphus - Part 2

Gustavus Adolphus and the Swedish Economy

Bibliography:

Websites:

“Gustavus II,” Encyclopedia of World Biography. Encyclopedia.com. Accessed on August 11, 2020. URL: https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/scandinavian-history-biographies/gustavus-ii

Roberts, Michael. “Gustavus Adolphus.” Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed on September 5, 2020. URL: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gustav-II-Adolf/Entrance-into-the-Thirty-Years-War

Books:

Grimberg, Carl. A History of Sweden. Translated by C.W. Foss. Rock Island, Illinois, Augustana Book Concern, 1935.

Andersson, Ingvar. A History of Sweden. Translated by Carolyn Hannay. New York, New York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968.