CHARLES X. GUSTAVUS ( 1622-60). King of Sweden from 1651 to 1660. lie was born at Nykiiping, November 8, 1622, the of Cath arine, eldest sister of Gustavus Adolphus, and of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweihriteken (Deux fonts). After studying at the University of Upsala, he traveled through France, Germany. and Switzerland, and joined the :i•ny of Torsten son (q.v.) in 1642. Ile fought at the battles of Jankan and Leipzig, and at the close of the Thirty Years' War was the representative of Queen Christina at the conference held subse quent to the Treaty of Westphalhi. On the al' (tient ion of Christina he succeeded, -lune II', 11154, to the throne of a kingdom in an almost bankrupt condition. in 1655 Charles invaded Poland. whose King, John Casimir, indulged in pretensions to the Swedish Crown. compelled the Elector of Brandenburg, Frederick William, to enter into an alliance with him. defeated the Polish army in
a great battle at (July 28-30. 1656) and i•verran the vomit ry, but retired when Russia and Austria prepared to assist the Poles, while the King of Denmark invaded the Swedish terri tories in Germany. lie attacked Denmark in 1658. crossing the little Belt on the ice, and secured for Sweden the provinces of Seania. land. and Bleking. Renewing the war in the same year, Charles laid siege to Copenhagen. The Dutch came to the assistanee of the Danes and defeated the Swedish fleet. and in 1659 Charles had to abandon the siege. At the same time his forees were defeated in Pomerania by the Elector of Brandenburg, \vim had turned against him. Charles died in Gothenburg, ruary 13, 1660. Consult Geijer and Carlson, GesAichte Sehiredens, 1V (Gotha. 1$55-75).