GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS was the grandson of Gustavus Wasa, and was born Dec. 9, 1594. He was only seventeen years of age when he began to reign, but even at that early age gave indications of the great military talents which afterwards made him famous. He successfully repelled the attempt of his relation, Sigismund of Poland, upon the Swedish crown, and defeated his ally, the Czar of Russia. Through the mediation of England and Holland, peace was concluded on terms as honourable as they were advantageous to Gustavus. The Thirty Years' War was at this time devastating Germany. The atrocities committed by Tilly and the imperial troops upon the Protestants of Bohemia determined Gustavus to come to their rescue. His history from this time till his death on the bloody field of
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Lützen, Nov. 1, 1632, is the history of Europe. His success was unchecked by a single reverse of importance; and, at Leipzig, and afterwards at the Lech, he routed the élite of the imperial army, and finally slew Tilly himself. Even at Lützen, where he fell (not without suspicion of murder by the hand of a near relative of his own), the Swedes drove the Austrians in route from the field, though commanded by Wallenstein, the greatest soldier of his day. Gustavus Adolphus is one of the most faultless names on the roll of kings. He was simple, wise, and brave. So long as he lived Sweden was the best governed kingdom in Europe. His military talents enabled him, while a mere youth, to beat the most skilful and practised veterans of the empire, such as Tilly, Pappenheim, and Wallenstein. In all his triumphs, however, his mind never lost its balance; nor was he ever hurried away, in the heat of passion, to the commission of any ungenerous or cruel deed. His clemency was that of a Christian, rather than a Protestant; and though he upheld and promoted the Reformed faith, he refused to steel his heart against such as preferred to walk in the old paths. His humanity was not that of the sects. The Germans, whom he had come over to assist, felt but did not lament his death. He had helped them too effectively, and restored their fortunes only too successfully. They had already begun to feel themselves too much in his debt, and had latterly received him with cold unfriendliness. But long before the war came to a close they had reason bitterly to regret the untimely end of the champion of their faith. (For the details of Gustavus Adolphus' life, see SWEDEN. For Gustavus III. and Gustavus IV. also see that same article.)