The Swedish Century: How One Empire Changed Europe

Before the welfare state or the timber boom, Sweden was a military superpower. In this episode, we explore the Stormaktstiden, or 'Age of Great Power,' when Gustav II Adolf and his successors projected Swedish force across the Baltic. We look at the tactical innovations that made Swedish infantry squares feared from Poland to Germany, the pivotal Battle of Lützen where the king fell, and the diplomatic aftermath at Westphalia that reshaped European borders. This is the story of how a northern kingdom briefly became the dominant force in continental politics, leaving a legacy of military discipline and administrative reform that outlasted its armies.

#GustavIIAdolf #Stormaktstiden #SwedishEmpire #ThirtyYearsWar #BattleOfLutzen #TreatyOfWestphalia #AxelOxenstierna #Carolean #SwedishHistory #NorthernEurope #MilitaryHistory #VasaDynasty #BalticDominance #InfantrySquares #CavalryCharge #Wallenstein #GeneralHorn #ImperialArmy #FexingoHistory

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