King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden

Gustav II Adolf (1594-1632) more widely known as Gustavus Adolphus was King of Sweden from 1611-1632 and is credited in making Sweden a great ‘European Power’. He led the country to military supremacy during the Thirty Years War helping to determine the political as well as religious balance of power on the continent at that time. He was also regarded as a great military innovator especially in the use of ‘combined arms’... the fighting mix of cavalry, infantry and artillery and their practical deployment on the battlefield. Not only a great tactician he was a brave and fearless soldier often leading his troops ‘from the front’ in many a battle and skirmish. He was killed at the Battle of Lützen in 1632 leading a cavalry charge. Today, Gustavus Adolphus is memorialized in statues in several major Swedish cities... Our K&C standing figure is closely modelled on an actual statue in Gothenberg, Sweden.