Gustavus Adolphus Philosophy

Heralded the ‘Father of Modern Warfare’ by some historians, Gustavus Adolphus succeeded as an innovative military administrator, battlefield commander and tactician. Adolphus owes much of his success to his predecessor, (Prince) Maurice of Nassau, and learned by studying the different aspects of the Western way of war as implemented by Prince Maurice and the Dutch military. The concept of the Western way of war identifies its military superiority on such principles as advancement in technology and weaponry, discipline, dominant military tradition, innovation and the ability to finance war. Maurice of Nassau left his mark on history and advanced Western war by implementing discipline and officer development, continuous unit training

However, arguably no other leader expanded upon the Western principles of warfare to the degree that Adolphus did. He distinguished his army from that of his contemporaries by staffing his force with a conscript army that was lightly armed, highly maneuverable and mobile establishing the first real standing national army. He was the first military leader to appreciate and implement shock and fire, and realized its devastating effects when combined with other technological advancements of Western war. Most importantly, however, was the manner in which Adolphus aligned battlefield weaponry, coordinated his fighting formations and strategy while fielding trained, disciplined soldiers to form what could be considered the first real war machine. Adolphus redefined the aspects of Western war by fielding a well-disciplined standing army, which could attack with overwhelming shock and fire utilizing a lighter, more mobile tactical formation. Although Gustavus Adolphus’ ideas were not unique to him, his innovative approach to war fighting reform ultimately culminated into a lethal army that proved decisive at the Battle of Breitenfield in 1631, leaving his mark on history and modern war as we know it

Arguably, this philosophy of war, which significantly expanded upon the principles of Western war, was unique to Adolphus. He recognized the importance of infantry firepower and its role on the battlefield. Historian Liddell Hart believed that Adolphus’ focus on support and coordination between infantry, cavalry and use of artillery was the foundational basis of combined tactics. His reforms added more musketeers to his regiments, and his soldiers were equipped with a superior, lighter musket that allowed for faster rates of fire and mobility, further supporting a tactical counter-march. His regiments each had its own lighter and more mobile field artillery cannons, thereby increasing the formations speed, maneuverability and close artillery support it provided to the fighting formation. His shock warfare reform added entire regiments of musketeer augmentees embedded with cavalry raids. Adolphus trained his cavalry to charge at a gallop, simultaneously softening the enemy with a barrage of artillery fire. When fighting formations approached at close range, three tiered ranks of musketeers would fire simultaneous salvos at the enemy delivering a wall of bullet fire. The physical devastation of this firepower could turn the tides of war; however, this might have had its greatest benefit on destroying the