Gustavus Adolphus, << guh STAY vuhs or guh STAH vuhs, uh DOL fuhs >> (1594-1632), was king of Sweden from 1611 to 1632. He came to the throne as Gustavus II Adolphus, also called Gustav II Adolf, when Sweden was at war with Denmark, Poland, and Russia. After winning these wars, he led an army into Germany in 1630 to save the Protestants there from Roman Catholic domination. In 1631, he defeated the Catholics at the Battle of Breitenfeld. In 1632, his troops overwhelmed those of Bohemian general Albrecht von Wallenstein at Lutzen. But Gustavus died on the battlefield on Nov. 6, 1632. His victory saved Protestantism in Germany and won German territory for Sweden. Gustavus was born in Stockholm on Dec. 9, 1594. See also Oxenstierna, Axel Gustafsson; Thirty Years’ War.
