Posted on 11/03/2006 3:41:29 PM PST by WesternCulture
On the 6th of November, Sweden – and Gothenburg in particular – remembers perhaps its most famous and successful King: Gustav II Adolf, who reigned from 1611 until his death in 1632.
Monday will be the 374th anniversary of his death (aged just 37) on the battlefield in Lützen in Germany during the Thirty Years War. He is the only Swedish King to have been honoured with the title “The Great” (“Den Stora”) and the anniversary of his death is an official Swedish flag day.
Related Articles 'Swede's body found' in Ireland 3rd November 2006 Viking treasure found on Gotland 30th October 2006 Dynamite found at Gothenburg hospital 17th October 2006 Article Options Send to a friend Printable version Submit to Digg.com
Gustav II Adolf is widely regarded as having laid down much of the apparatus of the modern Swedish state, including the postal service and newspapers as well as founding universities and building key transport links. He was also a much admired strategic general, apparently one of Napolean Bonaparte’s heroes, and led many successful campaigns as part of the anti-Hapsburg alliance.
On the day of his death, he was riding an unfamiliar horse and struggling with his vision – partly because of the mist and smoke from the gunpowder, but also because he needed glasses and could not wear them in battle. During the battle, he and a handful of loyal followers rode deep into the enemy’s midst and became separated from the rest of their troops.
After sustaining a shot to the arm, Gustav II Adolf fell from his horse and was found by a group of Croatian cavalrymen. They tried to take him prisoner but were unable to lift him, so instead they shot him in the head and ran a sword through his breast.
News of his death took a month to reach Stockholm. After his body was returned to the capital, his widow retained his body (and, for a while, just his heart) for over a year. The remains, including the heart, are now kept in Stockholm’s Riddarholmskyrkan, and his armour can be seen at the Livrustkammaren in the Royal Palace.
During his reign Gustav II Adolf founded a number of towns, among them the modern Gothenburg, and he is particularly celebrated in Sweden’s second city. There had been previous attempts to build a strategic settlement in the area, but these had resulted only in losing it to the Danes and watching it go up in smoke.
Legend has it that in 1621 Gustav II Adolf stood on the hill which now looks down over Ullevi and pointed below him, saying, “Där skall staden ligga” (“There shall the city lie”). These words have since become an important part of Gothenburg’s history – the resulting city, built largely by Dutch workers appointed by the King, remained Swedish and grew increasingly important over the following centuries.
Gothenburg leaders began discussing the idea of a monument to commemorate their founder as early as 1832, but efforts to honour the King proved almost as complex and troubled as his life had been. By 1845 the city had raised enough money to commission a statue of Gustav II Adolf, which was built in Italy but only completed two years later than expected. Finally ready to be shipped to Sweden, the monument suffered another setback when the ship carrying it to Gothenburg sank off the coast of Heligoland.
Although the statue was recovered and offered for sale to Gothenburg, the price demanded by the islanders was too high and another statue was commissioned. It was not installed until 1854, when it was placed in Stora Torget (now renamed Gustav Adolfs Torg). The statue depicts the King pointing towards the city and is now one of Gothenburg’s most famous landmarks.
In today’s Gothenburg, most residents remember their heroic founder by eating him in cake form. In the 1880s, a bakery located at what is now the Dubliners pub on the corner of Östrahamngatan and Kungsgatan, created a special form of cake which came to be known as Gustav Adolfsbakelse. The cakes depicted a silhouette of the king, now usually rendered in chocolate or marzipan, and the tradition for Gothenburg bakeries to sell these on the 6th of November continues today.
Nontheless, I consider myself a warm friend of Catholicism.
Among other things, I am very aware that Catholicism has inspired one of the most magnificent achievements of mankind, if not THE most magnificent achievement, namely the Renassaince.
All the same, I think the role of Gustavus Adolphus in European and World history is underestimated - and there's a lot of things to be said in favor of this standpoint.
Furthermore, I honestly think the ECONOMICAL achievements of Gothenburg, Gustavus Adolphus's City, is underestimated throughout Europe.
If the whole of Europe was like Gothenburg, one of the strongest regions in the area of economical performance of the continent, the EU GDP would be something 200% of its present figures.
It gets cold, windy and chilly here sometimes of year (but the summers are often wonderful) and people often complain about how hard they have to work, but believe me, life here is like it ought to be!
Hm. I wasn't aware that Catholicism had been defeated.
Reminds me of that little ditty: Nietzsche: God is dead. God: Nietzsche is dead.
I dated a girl from Gothenburg once. Even wrote her an entire letter in Swedish (with the help of a tourist's translation guide). She said it was quite a hoot.
The good king has a college in the US named after him...Gustavus Adophus College in St. Peter, MN...a good Lutheran school. My son is a proud alumnus.
Yeah, that's cool.
What's even cooler is that Catholicism saves the human race from an eternity in hell and brings joy and meaning to life on earth.
LOL, these threads tiltes between the Catholics and Proetestants are getting more edgy lol
I am curious about something. Is this the tradition that one sees up in areas of the midwest,like chicago etc) that have a special Christmas celebration. It escapes me right now but they do something special. I think it involves Candles
Gustavus Adolphus invented a military code of conduct that is the grandfather of our Uniform Code of Military Justice.
That's great!
Now let's all go out and celebrate by voting for Republican candidates on Tuesday. (Remember, Liberals and Democrats go to the polls on Wednesday.)
"Celebrating the man who defeated Catholicism: 'Gothenburg's King' remembered with cakes and statues
Hm. I wasn't aware that Catholicism had been defeated.
Reminds me of that little ditty: Nietzsche: God is dead. God: Nietzsche is dead.
I dated a girl from Gothenburg once. Even wrote her an entire letter in Swedish (with the help of a tourist's translation guide). She said it was quite a hoot."
To begin with, Catholicism has, of course, not been defeated in the sense "eradicated from the face of the Earth".
Through the outcome of the Thirty Years' War it was once and for all driven away from Northern Europe.
Apart from hindering Russia from reaching the Seven Seas, this is one of the most notable achievements of the "tiny" nation of Sweden.
Whatever the purpose, I admire you for trying to express yourself properly in swedish, fellow FReeper!
Sweden's famous Queen Kristina was a friend of Catholicism, too. Right?
I'm a California native, with a Swedish grandfather. His father Svanskog area, mother Hovmantorp/Lenhovda area. Hovmantorp/Lenhovda people reflected in Moberg's books. And ABBA's opera "Kristina från Duvemåla". Fictional character, based on my great-grandmother's half sister.
Give the Saab company mention, since it is not far from Gothenburg, either.
I'm pleased to find out she's sparked up some interest inthe US. Here in good ol' Sweden sh's immensely popular.
I read somewhere she performed on US TV some time ago and that it was quite a success.
I haven't tried any of her recipies, although I enjoy cooking a lot.
I like her too, especially her spirit and attitude. If all women were like that (instead of being nagging all of the time) things like divorces would be more or less forgotten.
"Sweden's famous Queen Kristina was a friend of Catholicism, too. Right?
I'm a California native, with a Swedish grandfather. His father Svanskog area, mother Hovmantorp/Lenhovda area. Hovmantorp/Lenhovda people reflected in Moberg's books. And ABBA's opera "Kristina från Duvemåla". Fictional character, based on my great-grandmother's half sister.
Give the Saab company mention, since it is not far from Gothenburg, either."
Interesting.
The highly educated, but unfit ruler of Sweden, Queen Christina, daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, was a close friend of Catholicism. This is correct.
She is buried in Rome. That ought to tell you something.
In one way I feel it is a sad thing Europe is divided in two (or three, minding the Greek Orthodox Church), depending on religous traditions.
On the other hand, Catholicism doesn't suite viking/north germanic approaches to life and furthermore, Europeans of today don't hesitate to cooperate because they happen to originate from different religious traditions.
Good thing to find out of many Americans cherish their European roots.
Yes, there is an ocean between us and there are disagreements on several world political issues, but what does that matter when you are a member of a culture that gave birth to:
- Ancient Greece and Rome
- Modern Science
- Industry
- The Enlightment
- The United States Declaration of Independence
- The Declaration of Human Rights
- The Renaissance?
I thought Gothenburg now had really bad slums where rescue workers don't go without police escort. I think Sweden needs a new king to take on a new religion.
Mrs VS
I was trying to impress a beautiful redhead from Sweden.
Catholicism never dies.
Are you sure you aren't confusing Catholicism with The Inspiration for Catholicism?
Yeah, Slums where most people drive better cars than middle class americans.
However, I have to admit that someting like 6% of the swedish population is considered "poor" by UN standards.
In the US...
Get the facts before posting nonsense.
It is quite the extravagant claim, isn't it? The defeat of Catholicism?
Pope Benedict will be very chagrined to hear this news.
I'm quite sure he's not.
I was talking about Muslim immigrants. Is Goteborg not the city where there is a major immigrant crime problem? Or is that Malmo? I lived in Sweden for almost a year as a child and found much to love there. And I have Swedish ancestry. I don't like to hear about it becoming un-Swedish.
Mrs VS
"Pope Benedict will be very chagrined to hear this news."
Forse, Amico.
What the title claims is that Catholicism was defeated once and for all in Northern Europe.
In my humble opinion, This was quite an achievement by a little Viking nation up north in Europe.
If you read my comments on the original article, you'll find out that I honestly respect Catholicism.
Furthermore, the edges of Protestantism and Catholicism sure can coexist. Il Papa recently recieved a SUV manufactured by Volvo here in Gothenburg!
Read more:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1657820/posts
Sorry for sounding like a salesman, but the Volvo XC90 IS a MAGNIFICENT vehicle.
- I'm saving money for one (or perhaps I'll buy a smaller Volvo instead, we'll see).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.