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.

Introduction · The Military Background · The Conscript Army · Mercenaries · Infantry Arms and Armour · Infantry Uniforms and Clothing · The Plates

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.
Richard Hook was born in 1938 and trained at Reigate College of Art. After national service with 1st Bn, Queen's Royal Regiment, he became art editor of the much-praised magazine Finding Out during the 1960s. He has worked as a freelance illustrator ever since, and has illustrated more than 50 Osprey titles. Richard is married and lives in Sussex.