Gustavus Adolphus Research Paper

Research Proposal: Gustavus Adolphus and Information Diffusion Upon writing to his cousin Maurice of Orange advocating for a ‘countermarch’ system, Willem Lodewijk concluded the letter by asking Maurice to practice the drill in private as it “-- may cause and give occasion for people to laugh.” Countermarching is the military maneuver in which rows of infantry take turns advancing and firing upon an enemy, only to be replaced by rank behind them which had already reloaded. From small intellectual origins, Countermarching otherwise known as volley fire, would grow into the staple maneuver utilized by all major European powers towards the end of the 17th century. Despite its popularity and universal application, Willem Lodewijk’s conclusion to his letter shows the demonstrates that the ‘revolutionary’ tactic was revived as military institutions across Europe had grown stagnant based on tradition. Classicists like Francesco Patrizi advocated …show more content…
Similarities between the Dutch reformed system can be seen in the War Articles of Gustavus Adolphus published 30 years later in 1621, and then the plagiarized system published by Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg Prussia in 1632. This paper will explore how the reformed system developed in the Dutch Republic propagated between different leadership groups, and the reasons for ‘lagging’ effects between different nations. What reasons led Gustavus Adolphus to adopt and expand upon the system 10 years prior to Friedrich Wilhelm of Brandenburg Prussia? Exploring the topic will give a better understanding about how reform spreads, and what institutions are more flexible and less susceptible to stagnation. The 16th and 17th centuries were characterized by increased dynastic competition where slim military advantages could heavily shift the balance of