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212
iii. CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION OF SWEDEN.
as among the mercenaries of that time, mainly on a fair allowance of pay, bnt
on principles which are nowadays in civilized countries considered as right, that
is on true military obedience, humanity, and the fear of God. As to
understanding the importance of fire-arms, Gustavus Adolphus stood foremost, not onlv
with regard to effecting technical improvements (lighter muskets, decreased calibre,
paper-cartridges, cartridge-belts, artillery, quick-firing, etc.), but more especially
in respect to the use of the new weapons. Completely abandoning
mass-formations — an inheritance from the Middle Ages — the efforts of the Swedish
army tended in the direction of thin and moveable battalions, and the cooperation
of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. In other words, the first decisive step was
taken in the direction of the development that tactical knowledge has ever since
followed. So also with regard to strategics, where the traces of Gustavus Adolphus*
creative spirit are perhaps more evident and profound than in any other part of
military science. Instead of the aimless plundering-expeditions and improvised
guerilla wars that, for more than a thousand years, characterized warfare, he
was the first to reintroduce a system into it, thereby indicating the methods of
the art of war for a century to come.
Under the reign of the three great Swedish Kings Charles X, Charles XI, and
Charles XII, the system was followed up. The army was still foremost in the
military science of its time, one foundation-stone being joined still more firmly
to the other in the construction of the army system, and victory followed upon
victory. The Swedes, however, were compelled little by little to abandon to others
their leading military position in Europe. Sweden was mostly engaged in wars with
her northern neighbours and these wars did not, to any considerable extent, affect
the interests of Central Europe. Consequently, Swedish military operations
no longer attracted the same universal attention as they had previously done.
Doubtless the fame of Charles XII went round Europe, but his
contemporaries, fostered in methodical wars of commissariat and fortresses, could not
understand the magnificence of his rapid and decisive operations any more than
the cavalry of this period, fighting in an antiquated manner, could see the
meaning of the bold and powerful dashes of the Swedish horsemen. Many years
had to elapse before the daring and plucky charges of the Swedish cavalry were
destined to gain any greater recognition in Europe, and the storms of the French
Revolution had to pass over our quarter of the world, ere men’s eyes were
universally opened to the real significance of the tactics introduced by Charles XII.
Since then more than two centuries have passed away. Changed
political conditions have meanwhile acted upon the Swedish state and, naturally enough,
also left their mark on the Swedish army; military activity is now only directed
towards the object of defending the country. Even the new Army Act, which
makes the army more efficient and which became law in 1901, aims at the very
same object, viz., the maintenance of neutrality, and the protection of the freedom
and independence of the Swedish nation.
Concerning the organization of the Swedish army, it is to be noticed
that till now, in the Swedish army, at the side of the universal service, has
been kept up a unique institution, which has been abolished only by an act of
the Riksdag of 1901. This form of organization — peculiar to our country —
was the so-called indelningsverket (military tenure), deriving its origin from
the Swedish army organizations of the 17th century. The conscriptions during
the many glorious wars of that century had been exceedingly burdensome, and a
tendency more and more powerfully made itself known to get them exchanged
for a fixed, unalterable service. These endeavours led to the army organization
of 1683, by which the principle — in some measure applied already before —
was ratified: that certain landowners, against the privilege of themselves together
with their children and servants being released from compulsory enrolment for
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