The Resume

(December 7, 1594-November 7, 1632)
Also known as 'Gustav Adolph the Great' or 'the Lion of the North'
Assumed the Swedish throne after the death of Charles IX (1611)
Participant of the 'Thirty Years War' between Catholic and Protestant countries (1618-1648)
Founded the city of Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden after Stockholm (1621)
Lands with an invasion force in Poland and Germany (1630)
Defeats the Catholics at the 'Battle of Breitenfeld' (1631)
Defeats the Catholics again at the 'Battle of Lech' (1632)
Repulsed during an attack on Alte Feste, a Catholic-controlled stronghold (1632)
Mortally wounded at the 'Battle of Lützen,' which ended in a Swedish-Protestant victory (1632)
The Day of Gustav Adolph is observed each year on November 6 in Sweden

Why he might be annoying:

Napoleon worshipped him as the general above all others.
He participated in the religious wars of Europe with a country that was, at that time, rather small.
He used the wars to gain economic ties in Germany and to secure his own borders.
The war he participated in had large amounts of civilian casualties and seriously dislocated the economy of central Europe.
He ordered that every young man in Sweden serve a minimum 20 years in the military, and forbid them from things like swearing and sexual intercourse.
He died in battle, and had he lived a fuller life, he more than likely would have made a more noticeable historical impact than he did.

Why he might not be annoying:

The Swedish Parliament was so impressed with his wisdom and maturity that they waved the age requirement and allowed him to assume the throne at only seventeen years of age.
He preferred to control only his military, and handed over control of domestic affairs to a skilled and experienced administrator he worked well with for nearly his entire reign.
He turned Sweden, a small country with a population of barely 1,000,000, into a world power.
He introduced many new tactics in warfare previously unheard of in military history, such as the idea of the integration of infantry, cavalry and artillery into a professional army force, with a chain of command.
He was one of the first military commanders to use supply lines and bases extensively.
His concepts of an organized, professional and efficient military have been copied and expanded ever since, most notably by Napoleon.
He left behind enough subordinates learned in his philosophy of warfare to insure the government and world power status of Sweden wouldn't collapse with his early death.
He is considered in retrospect by many military historians to be the 'Father of Modern Warfare.'

Credit: Captain Howdy

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Captain Howdy's Profiles [Series 1]
• I am Swedish
• I Died in My 30s (Ranked: 38)
• Look at Me, I'm Mounted
• Look at Me, My Picture Is Art
• Monarchs, Royalty and Nobles
• Profiles 11251-11500 (Ranked: 11461)
• Scandinavian Royalty

Year In Review:

For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 106 Votes: 60.38% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 94 Votes: 47.87% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 85 Votes: 48.24% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 52 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 19 Votes: 47.37% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 20 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 27 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 24 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 70 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 92 Votes: 43.48% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 209 Votes: 57.42% Annoying
In 2004, Out of 157 Votes: 51.59% Annoying