The Army of Gustavus Adolphus (1): Infantry (Men-at-Arms) [Paperback]

Richard Brzezinski (Author), Richard Hook (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Men-at-Arms | Publication Date: July 25, 1991

The 'Lion of the North', King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, was one of the major players in the Thirty Years War of 1618-48. In 1630 Gustavus - the last champion of the Protestants - crushed the Catholics at Breitenfeld in a victory widely viewed as the fulfillment of a prophecy foretelling the defeat of the eagle (the German Emperor's emblem) by a golden lion. Killed in battle at Lützen only two years later, Gustavus nevertheless won fame for his technical and tactical innovations. The first of two volumes, this book examines the equipment, uniforms and organization of the infantry that comprised Gustavus's army.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Packed with specially commissioned artwork, maps and diagrams, the Men-at-Arms series is an unrivalled illustrated reference on the history, organisation, uniforms and equipment of the world's military forces, past and present.

About the Author

Richard Brzezinski is a leading expert on the military history of Central and Eastern Europe. A fluent Polish speaker, he has researched the Polish Hussars for many years and acted as a historical consultant for film and television on this subject. He lives in Warsaw, Poland.

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (July 25, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0850459974
• ISBN-13: 978-0850459975
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 0.1 x 9.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #189,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #12 in Books > History > Europe > Sweden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent concise overview of neglected topic, May 30, 2001

By 

Alexander (Hobbytown, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Army of Gustavus Adolphus (1): Infantry (Men-at-Arms) (Paperback)

This is one of the better Ospreys that I have read, and the author should be congratulated for presenting a concise and entertaining narrative on a neglected topic (30 Years War). The modern photographs and contemporary line drawings are excellent, and they blend in well with the text.

Brzezinski should also be commended for presenting a more balanced view of Gustavus Adolphus, who was certainly one of history's great leaders, but he didn't do everything. Several popular myths surrounding the Swedish king are challenged in a logical and non-confrontational fashion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and now you can too - Osprey just issued a special edition to bring this title back into print. Whether you're a novice or expert on this fascinating period of history, this is a very worthwhile purchase.