GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS, commonly called the Great, King of Sweden, was born at Stockholm in the year 1594. He was educated with particular care, and instructed in all the learning and accomplishments which are calculated to form a statesman and a hero. His genius was great, his memory prodigious; and he discovered an uncommon do cility and desire of acquiring knowledge. In the year 1611, he ascended the throne of Sweden, being then only 1g; but the vigour of his character, and his various acquire ments, compensated the disadvantage of his youth: and the choice which he made of his ministers and counsellors, evinced his ability to conduct the government of the king dom, at the head of which he was placed.
Soon after his accession, he was involved in war with the Danes, the Russians, and the Poles, from which he extri cated himself with great valour and prudence ; having in creased his hereditary dominions by the acquisition of Livo nia, which he wrested from the two last mentioned powers. In the year 1630, he was invited by the German Protestants to join the league against the Emperor ; and by his power ful assistance, and the good conduct of his arms, he greatly contributed to the ultimate success of their cause. On his departure from Sweden, he called together the states of the kingdom ; and having caused them to do homage to his daughter Christina, then only four years old, he took leave of them in a discourse, in which he explained, at length, the motives that prompted the enterprize he was about to undertake.
In the month of June 16d0, Gustavus landed on the coast of Pomerania, with an army of 15,000 men. At first, his operations were greatly impeded by the jealousy and discord that reigned among the Protestant Princes of Germany, who seemed to be actuated rather by their own selfish interests, than by any enlarged view to the general good. I lowever,. he soon expelled the imperial troops front Pomerania, and forced the Elector of Brandenbimgh to embrace his true interest, by affording every facility to the enterprize of the Swedes. Ti.e King then resolved to hasten to the relief of Magdeburg, which was besieged by the imperial generalissimo Count Tilly ; but his views were frustrated by the strange conduct of the Elector of Saxony, who refused to permit him to pass the Elbe; and he had the mortification to receive intelligence of the fall of that important fortress, accompanied with circum stances of atrocity, which have stamped indelible infamy on the name of•Filly. The haughty and cruel conduct of the imperial commander soon brought the Elector of Saxony to a sense of his situation and true interest ; and having joined his forces to those of the King of Sweden, they encountered the enemy under Tilly, at Breitenstein, near Lcipsic, on the 7th of September 1631. A battle ensued, which terminated in the total discomfiture and rout of the Imperialists. The victorious King DOW ad
vanced along the Blaine, as far as the Rhine; forced the city of Mentz to capitulate ; drove the Spaniards out of Germany, and freed the He then turned his arms against Bavaria ; and Tilly, who en deavoured to dispute with him the passage of the Lech, was again defeated, and perished in the attempt.
His loss was supplied by Wallenstein, who was now placed at the head of the imperial armies ; and com menced his operations by driving the Saxons out of Bohe mia. Meanwhile Gustavus, pursuing his victorious ca reer, had advanced into the heart of Bavaria, and made himself master of Munich. As he approached the Aus ttiSn dominions, Wallenstein hastened to their relief, and compelled the king to retire. The two armies met at Nuremberg, and formed entrenched camps opposite to each other, where they remained inactive during two months. It was the policy of Wallenstcin to avoid a bat tle, in hopes that the Swedish army would be weakened by famine and disease. At length the latter made a vigo rous attempt to storm the entrenchments of the Imperial ists ; but, for the first time since their landing in Ger many, they received a severe check ; and, after a fruitless exhibition of valour, Gustavus found himself compelled to retire, the whole of the neighbouring country being cempletely exhausted of provisions. He was followed into Saxony by WTallenstein ; and the two armies again met at the village of Lutzen, near Weissenfels. Here a sanguinary battle took place on the 6th of November 1632, which was fought with great skill, and with the most obstinate courage, on both sides. The intrepidity and discipline of the Swedes, however, at length prevail ed, and the Imperialists were driven from the field. But the victory was dearly purchased. Besides a great loss of men, the conquerors had to lament the death of their ador ed king, who was killed by a musket shot, while gallantly leading on his cavalry to a charge against the broken ranks of the enemy. After the battle, his body was found lying near a large stone, which, in commemoration of this circumstance, was called the Schwedenstein, (Swede stone,) and which still indicates the spot where the great vindica tor of the religious liberties of Germany terminated his victorious career. Thus fell Gustavus Adolphus, in the thirty-eighth year of his age.. The ball which inflicted the mortal wound entered his back, and passed through his body. This circumstance, among others, excited a suspicion of treachery ; and the Duke of Saxe-Lawen burgh, one of his generals, who immediately afterwards left the Swedish service, has been expressly pointed out by some historians as tire assassin of his royal commander. There is, however, no positive evidence of his guilt, and the fact is to this day doubtful.