The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 7, Issue 1, Winter 2018 | Page 8

colonization.
As a competitor for the Baltic region, Sweden remained in a tense or
warring state with Poland, Russia, and Denmark. Sweden’s weakness made it
insignificant in mainstream European politics. Under Charles IX, Sweden’s fifth
monarch, national actions and policies created a three-front war with Poland,
Russia, and Denmark. He relied on mercenaries to fight these wars, but their
loyalty belonged to the highest bidder and not the throne. His war efforts ended in
constant failure and drained the kingdom of already limited money and resources.
Sweden remained weak and vulnerable. Gustav II Adolphus assumed the throne
after his father’s death, and he inherited the three-front war. 2
Skillful diplomacy neutralized the war fronts and created the Swedish
Empire. To appease Denmark,
Gustav agreed to remove his
father’s controversial foreign
policies and pay one million
riksdalers for Fort Älvsborg,
which secured passage to and
from the Baltic Sea. 3 On the
Russian side, Tsar Michael
Romanov and Gustav signed
the Treaty of Stolbova. Under
the treaty, Sweden gained
Livonia, Estonia, and Finland. 4
On the Polish front, Gustav
managed to broker a truce, but
the relationship was fragile. 5
Gustav’s diplomatic skills
secured control of the Baltic
region, but he had to enact
reforms
to
ensure
the
continuation of Sweden’s
dominance.
Gustav
disliked
Figure 1. Gustavus Adoplphus, oil on panel by
mercenaries since the terms of Jacob Hoefnagel, c. 1624. From the collection
their agreements were open to of The Royal Armoury, Sweden.
different interpretations, and
they may not follow orders. In 1620, Gustav passed the Ordinance for Military
Personnel. This required males fifteen years of age and older to organize
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