Gustav II Adolph (Gustavus Adolphus)
King of Sweden, 1611 - 1632 AD
Copper 1 Ore, 40 mm, 1629 AD
Obverse: Crossed Arrows. Reverse: Crown atop coat of arms.
The economic pressures of the Thirty Year's War led Gustav to begin minting
large coins in copper.
Gustav II Adolph is considered the greatest Swedish king. He is renowned for his brilliant leadership of the Protestant forces in the Thirty Years' War, and became known as the Lion of the North.
Gustav waged successful wars against Russia and Poland, with resulting significant territorial gains.
A religious interest in the Protestant cause and a belief that conquest of northern Germany by the Holy Roman Empire would be militarily and economically dangerous to Sweden impelled Gustav to enter the Thirty Years' War. His brave leadership led to important Protestant victories. Though victorious, he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Lützen in Saxony in 1632.
Gustav was not only a great general but a capable administrator. He developed a sound and centralized system of government and did much to develop the natural mineral resources of his country. He was succeeded by his daughter, Christina.