The Father of Modern Warfare. He transformed his army into a machine of synchronized violence, introducing mobile artillery and the concept of "combined arms" to a stagnant Europe.
Strategic Focus
Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery fighting as one system.
Innovation
Cannons that could move as fast as the infantry.
Psychology
Creating the first standing national army in Europe.
Before Gustavus, war was a collision of massive, slow-moving blocks of pikemen (Tercios). Gustavus thinned his lines to maximize firepower, turning his army into a broad front of constant musket fire.
"The Lord God is my armor, mobile artillery is my sword."
He realized that firepower without mobility is useless, and mobility without firepower is reckless. By integrating light cannons directly into infantry regiments, he ensured that his fire support was always where the fighting was hottest.
Inherits a weak Sweden involved in three wars at age 17.
Captures the city using coordinated naval and land bombardment.
Shocked Europe by destroying the Imperial army. The debut of his linear tactics.
A strategic victory, but Gustavus is killed leading a cavalry charge in the fog.