Gustavus Adolphus

“Gustavus Adolphus entered Germany at the head of 16,000 men. Among some of the Protestants there was a reluctance to cooperate with this new ally; for they distrusted his motives, especially in regard to northern Germany, where it was known that he had dreams of making himself the master of the Baltic Sea. Nevertheless, many of the hesitating Protestants rallied to his side after the siege and sack of Magdeburg, in 1631. The taking of this city by the troops of Tilly was marked by the most brutal massacre and pillage. Women and children were murdered; and the town was burned to the ground. It is said that some 30,000 people perished at this time. Saxony now joined the side of the Swedish king, who, in 1631, encountered Tilly on the battlefield of Lepzig. Here Gustavus completely overthrew his enemy, and when Tilly again tried to check his advance into southern Germany, Gustavus won another battle, in which Tilly was slain. The successes of Gustavus led the emperor to restore Wallenstein to the command (1632), and Wallenstein accepted the leadership on condition that he was to have absolute control of the army."—Colby, 1899

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