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Explore the life history and military leadership of Gustavus Adolphus, the Lion of the North. Learn about his role in the Thirty Years War, his innovative strategies, and his impact on the Counter-Reformation. Discover the fascinating story of Christina, Queen of Sweden, and her controversial reign.
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Gustavus Adolphus James L. Littlefield Many slides copied from Gustavus Adolphus, The Lion of the North, by Peter Hammond see: https://www.slideshare.net/frontfel/gustavus-adolphus-the-lion-from-the-north
Gustavus Adolphus: Life History • Gustav I Vasa
Gustavus Adolphus: Life History • Gustav I Vasa
Gustavus Adolphus: Life History • Gustav I Vasa
Gustavus Adolphus: Life History Gustav I Vasa
Gustavus Adolphus: Life History Charles IX Gustav’s father
Gustavus Adolphus: Military Leader and Innovator Christina, Queen of Sweden (1626-89) • Christina was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, Christina reigned as Queen of Sweden from 1632 until her abdication in 1654. • At the age of six, Christina succeeded her father upon his death at the Battle of Lützen, but began ruling the Swedish Empire when she reached the age of 18 in 1644. • Christina is remembered as one of the most learned women of the 17th century.[She was fond of books, manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures. She caused a scandal when she decided not to marry and in 1654 when she abdicated her throne and converted to Roman Catholicism. • Baptized as Kristina Augusta, she adopted the name Christina Alexandra. • Christina's financial extravagance brought the state to the verge of bankruptcy, and the financial difficulties caused public unrest after ten years of ruling. • At the age of 28, the "Minerva of the North" relinquished the throne to her cousin and moved to Rome. The Pope described Christina as "a queen without a realm, a Christian without faith, and a woman without shame.”Being the guest of five consecutive popes, and a symbol of the Counter Reformation, she is one of the few women buried in the Vatican grotto. • From Wikipedia: Christina, Queen of Sweden
Gustavus Adolphus: Military Leader and Innovator Thirty Years war: 1618 - 1648
Gustavus Adolphus: Military Leader and Innovator Counter Reformation begins in 1645
Gustavus Adolphus: Military Leader and Innovator The counter-Reformation Catholics led by Archduke Ferdinand, a Hapsburg (and HRE: 1619 – 1637) Frederick abdicates both as Elector of Palatinate and as King of Bohemia After the defeat of the Bohemian Protestants at White Mountain, 1620
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War The Thirty Years’ War 1618-1648 • Traditional side • Hapsburgs of Austria – Ferdinand II and Ferdinand III • Philip IV of Spain • Maximilian I of Bavaria (HRE) AND German states loyal to Hapsburgs • Mainly Catholics, continuation of Counter-Reformation Reformation side • France (Catholic) • Sweden • The Danes • The Dutch • Protestant Union under Frederick V of the Palatinate (HRE) • German states rebelling against Hapsburgs • Mainly Protestants
Religious situation in the Holy Roman Empire at the outbreak of the Thirty Years' War in 1618
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War Thirty Years War Think of it as a tag-team wrestling match in 4 rounds Taking place in Germany over 30 years. Begins as local and religious fights but evolves into geo-political conflict. From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War How it started, Bohemian Phase or the Defenestration of Prague • Rudolf II HRE, was tolerant of Protestants who had set up a Protestant Church in Bohemia that was self-governed • Rudolf’s grandson, Ferdinand II HRE dissolved it and took back church lands • Catholic regents met and dissolved Protestant assembly in Prague From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
Gustavus Adolphus: Military Leader and Innovator First event of the Thirty Years Was Bavarian Protestants rebel against the two imperial governors for violating the right of Freedom of Religion and threw them out the windows of the Chancellery. They survived either by intervention of angels (Catholic version) or by landing on a large pile of manure (Protestant version).
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War Bohemian Phase • Bohemians then revolted against Hapsburgs (Ferdinand II) • Bohoks crowned Frederick V of the Palatinate as their king. Ferdinand II (Hapsburg) fights back with help of Spain and Lutheran Saxony • Bohemians defeated near Prague at White Mountain • Spain gains land along Rhine River
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War Round One (Bohemian Phase) To the Traditionalists on to Round Two (Danish Phase) Christian IV of Denmark says, ”Catholics (Hapsburgs) are getting too close to me in N. Germany and Catholics are taking back territory previously won by Reformationists (Lutherans).” But he also hopes to enlarge his German possessions.
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War The next phase (round two) Danish - Palatinate Phase, 1621-1624 • War expands from German regional conflict into an regional multi-national conflict. • The Palatinate sought to regain Rhine lands lost to Spain. The Dutch help Protestants and fail utterly, • Unsuccessful attempts to convince James VI of Scotland = James I of England and Scotland) to help • French, English and Dutch form Protestant alliance led by Christian IV of Denmark • Christian IV (Denmark) advances into Germany. • HRE’s army under Wallenstein defeats General Mansfeld at Desssau (1626) and later Danes soundly defeated by Tilly at Lutter. • Catholic League led by the Bohemian Wallenstein sweeps into Jutland and defeats Danes. • Danes withdraw from the war by Treaty of Lubeck. • Edict of Restitution (1629) issued by Ferdinand II, declared void Protestant titles to lands secularized after 1552. It would have had a disastrous effect on German Protestantism. It attempted to weaken Protestant claims to lands Wallenstein removed from Protestant power. From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War Round Two (Danish Phase) To the Traditionalists on to Round Three (Swedish Phase) Gustavus Adolphus II says “Catholics (and HRE-Ferdinand II) are getting too strong, I’m marching to Germany” He gets $$ support from France (who is also concerned about HRE’s growing power). Ferdinand II replaces General Wallenstein by General Tilly.
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War Swedish Phase • Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden invades Germany, Sweden supplied by France • He defeats Imperial army at Breitenfeld (1631): this is considered the epitome of Gustavus’ military achievement and is secondary to his military reforms. • Emperor recalls Wallenstein from “retirement” who meets Adolphus at Lutzen (1632). Battle is a draw, Adolphus killed. • Spain and Hapsburgs join together and annihilate Swedes at Nordlingen (1634) • Swedes lose all the territories they had gained • Wallenstein later murdered prob. by the emperor. From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War End of the Swedish Phase The Treaty (or Peace) of Prague The deaths of both Gustavus Adolphus and Wallenstein, together with the exhaustion of both the Holy Roman emperor and the German Protestant princes, brought an end to the Swedish period of the war. The Treaty of Prague, 1635 generally strengthened the Hapsburgs and weakened the power of the German princes. Protestants recognize that Swedish forces would not be able to maintain a preponderant role in Germany. From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War Round Three (Swedish Phase) Initially to the To the Reformationists (Swedes) at Breitenfeld (1631) But Wallenstein recalled to duty BUT is defeated by Gustavus A. at Lutzen (Nov. 1632) (TO THE REFORMERS) But Gustavus Adolphus is killed leading his cavalry. Swedes are disheatened and withdraw. Germany in economic ruin. Leads to the Peace of Prague. This drastically modifies the Edict of Restitution and helps to reconcile Catholics and Protestants. Round Three: It’s a draw on to Round Four (French Phase) Cardinal Richelieu unwilling to see Hapsburgs retain power.
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War • The French Phase (1635- 1648) • The settlement reached in the Treaty of Prague was wrecked by the French decision to intervene directly in the war. • Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642), the chief minister of King Louis XIII (r. 1610 - 1643) of France wanted to weaken the power of the Hapsburgs and take the province of Alsace from the Holy Roman Empire. In addition, Richelieu was plotting against Spain and its Hapsburg king, Philip IV (r. 1621-1665). • Both in Germany and in the Franco-Spanish conflict, the fortunes of war fluctuated. For a time, the forces of the Holy Roman emperor, aided by King Maximilian of Bavaria and other Catholic princes, more than held their own against the Swedes and German Protestants. France's success against Spain enabled the French to send larger forces into Germany. This helped tip the balance in favor of the emperor's foes. • Emperor Ferdinand II died in 1637 and was succeeded by his son, Ferdinand III (r. 1637-1657). Peace negotiations began in 1641, but made little progress until the death of Cardinal Richelieu in 1642 and the French occupation of Bavaria in 1646.
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War The French Phase • Gustavus Adolphus was killed in battle in 1632, ending Sweden’s active leadership in the Protestant cause. • In the last phase of the Thirty Years’ War, the most dominant player on the Protestant side was Catholic France. Granted, the French had a bit of help from the Swedes (Oxenstierna, Swedish chancellor, supports Richelieu) Sweden had switched roles from fighter to financier. (Sweden under the Vasa dynasty had become economically powerful). • Becomes an international conflict: • Low Countries and France oppose Spain • In Italy – France and Spain struggle for power • France – attacks Spain • Germany • Iberia – Portugal revolts against Spain • Scandinavia - Denmark opposes Sweden
Axel, count Oxenstierna 1583 – 1564 • Chancellor of Sweden under Gustav II and then Christina • Known for administrative reforms and diplomacy and military command during the Thirty Years Was • Made a member of the Council of State under Charles IX • The new king, Gustav II, a charter guaranteeing against royal abuses. Gustav appoints Oxenstierna Chancellor (1612) • Became king’s closes advisor • Gustav II and Oxenstierna became collaborators and share credit for achievements of the reign. OX. Contribution in administrative reform and diplomacy. • Drafter riksdagsordning (parliamentary law: 1617) • Drew up ordinance of 1619 for development of towns • Organized the chancery • Enlisted the nobility in the service of the state, hence the nobility served the state and improved climate of the constitutional struggle between the crown and the aristocracy.
Axel, count oxenstierna • DIPLOMAT AND WAR LEADER • Led negotiations with resolution of the wars of the king with Denmark (1613), Poland (1622) and Prussia (1629( • Gustav brings him to Germany during the 30 Years war • Gustav entrusts him with military command: the formation and leadership of the army to relieve Gustav at Nurnberg (1632) • The war after Gustav’s death at Lutzen. • Direction of the Swedish cause now in Axel’s hands. • It was thought to make him an elector of the HRE of Mainz but he declined. • Defeat of swedes at Nordlinger (1634) meant loss of Swedens allies and the problematic Peace of Prague (1635) was made • He accepted an alliance with Richelieu and a continuation of the war. • Continued the TYW until favorable terms at Peace of Westphalia
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War Round Four (French Phase) Initially to the Reformationists (except where Hapsburgs are successful in France) but later it’s a draw BUT protagonists start to die-off Frederick (now abdicated) dies of the plague (1632) Ferdinand II HRE succeeded by Ferdinand III (1637) Richelieu dies (1642) Germans exhausted and have lost 30% of their population. Austria (Imperialists) stripped of all conquests and Bavaria overrun. On to Peace of Westphalia
Gustavus Adolphus: The Thirty Years War The Peace of Westphalia (1648) Marked a shift in the balance of power. Marked a denouement of the Wars of Religion which had begun in 1522 with the Knights Revolt. It also recognized three separate Christian traditions in the Holy Roman Empire. It end the Holy Roman Empire as an effective institution. From: The Blog @ TomRichey.net
