Ebook: Gustavus Adolphus: A History of Sweden, 1611-1632: Volume II, 1626-1632

In the first volume of this history of Sweden under Gustavus Adolphus, the narrative of events was carried down to the eve of the transference of the Polish War from Livonia to Prussia⁠—a transference which led almost inevitably to the later intervention in Germany, and which was in a real sense the watershed of his reign. At the same time consideration was given to various aspects of Swedish life⁠—the constitution, the church, education, the arts⁠—which had no direct bearing upon the course of foreign affairs. In this volume the story of Sweden's fateful intervention in continental politics is carried forward to its climax at Breitenfeld, and to the close of the great king's life upon the battlefield of Lützen. Prefixed to this narrative are four subject chapters, designed to supply some explanation of how Sweden was able to attain the commanding position in European affairs which she occupied in 1632, and still in a measure retained in 1660. Two of these chapters are devoted to an analysis of the social and economic structure of the Swedish state; another chapter seeks to make clear the nature and peculiar excellences of the Swedish military system; and the last discusses the part played by the Swedish Navy. The book is rounded off by a short chapter in which an attempt is made to assess the significance of the reign in the course of Swedish History.