Gustavus Adolphus, Sweden and the Thirty Years War, 1630–1632 (Hardback)
Imprint: Pen & Sword Military
Pages: 248
Illustrations: 20 colour illustrations
ISBN: 9781526749598
Published: 9th February 2022
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As one of the foremost military commanders of the early seventeenth century Gustavus Adophus, king of Sweden, played a vital role in defending the Protestant cause during the Thirty Years War. In the space of two years – between 1630 and 1632 – he turned the course of the war, winning a decisive victory at the Battle of Breitenfeld and conquering large parts of Germany. Yet in English remarkably little has been written about him and no full account of his extraordinary career has been published in recent times. That is why Lars Ericson Wolke’s perceptive and scholarly study is of such value.
The book sets Gustavus in the context of Swedish and European dynastic politics and religious conflict in the early seventeenth century, and describes in detail Swedish military organization and Gustavus’s reforms. His intervention in the Thirty Years War is covered in graphic detail – the decision to intervene, his alliance with France, his campaigns across the breadth of Germany and his generalship at the two major battles he fought there. His exceptional skill as a battlefield commander transformed the fortunes of the Protestant side in the conflict, and he had established himself as a major European figure before his death on the battlefield.
Lars Ericson Wolke, one of the leading experts on the military history of the Baltic and the Thirty Years War, offers a fascinating insight into Gustavus the man and the soldier.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Rob Brown
"Gustavus Adolphus, Sweden and the Thirty Years War, 1630-1632" by Dr. Lars Ericson Wolke is a meticulously researched and captivating exploration of the pivotal role played by the Swedish king, Gustavus Adolphus, during the early stages of the Thirty Years War. Dr. Wolke delves into the political, military, and diplomatic aspects of this tumultuous period, skillfully weaving together historical analysis and personal narratives to create a vivid portrait of a complex and transformative leader.
"Gustavus Adolphus, Sweden and the Thirty Years War, 1630-1632" is an engaging and enlightening read for anyone interested in European history, military history, or the life and legacy of one of Sweden's most celebrated leaders.
It is no easy job to bring clarity to any aspect of the Thirty Years’ War but Wolke has succeeded in doing so, at least from a Swedish perspective between the years 1630-1632. Any fan of the Thirty Years’ War will enjoy this book and it’s a useful and accessible work for a general reader who fancies taking on an important but complex period in European history.
ARRSE (Army Rumour Service)
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I think there are some huge gaps in my knowledge of the participation in the thirty years war on the part of Sweden and in particular, King Gustavus Adolphus. The author plugs those gaps admirably in a lively look at the man and his contribution to the conflict.
Books Monthly
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VaeVictis
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, CASPER HILEMAN
Dr. Wolke introduces the reading audience to a virtual unknown creator and shaper of the Western World. During the "Thirty Years War" that ravaged the European Continent from 1618 to 1648 the forces of reformation and counter-reformation decimated Central Europe and the German States in particular. Enter Gustavus Adolphus and his modern way of war. He did not create new means of making war but he did adopt many of them and adapt them to the battlefield he was fighting. Gone were the "Tercios" and their "Spanish Squares" heavy reliance on pikes to be replaced by more guns and flexible maneuver elements. Most importantly was his rigid enforcement of military discipline that tried to prevent wanton rape, pillage, and brutality that was commonplace as well as accepted in the day and age.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
NetGalley, Caroline Palmer
Very interesting and informative for an ordinary person who only knows a little about Gustav Aldoph, like me. As a fan of a related fiction series, it was nice to learn about the real man and the real history he lived.
About Dr Lars Ericson Wolke
Dr Lars Ericson Wolke is professor of history at the Swedish Defence University, Stockholm and docent in military history at Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland. He is also a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Military Sciences, sat on the board of the International Commission of Military History 2005-2015 and was senior archivist at the Military Archives, Stockholm. He has written over thirty-five books and is a leading expert on the military history of Sweden, in particular on the Thirty Years War and the Great Northern War.
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