Sweden is located in the European theater and does not control any colonies in either of the two other theaters. It lies on the Baltic Sea which poses a natural southern border for the country. The Protestant kingdom borders Norway in the west, Courland in the south and Russia in the southeast and east. Stockholm is Sweden's most important city and capital. The Swedish starting fleet includes weaker warships such as brigs and sloops but also stronger fifth and sixth rate frigates.Īt the beginning of the game, Sweden controls four regions and their respective capitals Stockholm, Åbo, Riga and Saint Petersburg. Sweden's navy is nothing special and consists of the standard lineup which most other factions share. Sweden is the only major faction to not receive any new units with the DLCs, making it rather plain to play as. With its important strengths and no real weaknesses, Sweden's army is definitely a force to be reckoned with. Sweden also fields larger cavalry divisions than other factions, with some cavalry regiments having 100 men on ultra settings. In fact, Sweden's line infantry are some of the higher-quality units in the game, worse only to that of Great Britain, France, and Prussia. One example for that would be the kingdom's line infantry which has good defense, melee attack and accuracy. The Swedish army might not be the most modern in Europe but is generally well-trained. If a lower-class revolution succeeds in turning the absolute monarchy into a republic, Sweden will be able to train weak conscript units as well. Later on, Sweden gets access to other units such as guards and household cavalry. The country's army consists of units such as line infantry, light infantry, hussars, militia and several standard artillery units. Sweden fields a typical European army, similar to that of the surrounding states. With a home empire secured, who is to say that an overseas empire cannot be taken and held too? Sweden’s armies are the equal of any in Europe, and her navy is not without resources and skill.
There is no reason why the Baltic, as a Swedish “Mare Nostrum”, cannot become the basis of a new Northern, Protestant empire. Individually, Sweden’s rivals are not quite as threatening as they might appear: Russia is huge, that much is true, but incredibly backwards. In all these potential threats, however, lurk opportunities for those bold enough to seize the chance. To the west, the other Scandinavian nations want independence or an end to Swedish domination of the Baltic. To the south, Poland-Lithuania wants its lost lands back.
To the east, the Russians would like unhindered access to the Baltic, and therefore Western Europe beyond. Charles XI, however, has left an impressive arsenal in place for his son, should he wish to take up the sword and Charles XII has an obsessive interest in soldiering.Īs the new century dawns, Sweden is a strong, aggressive state, surrounded by jealous rivals from whom she has taken territory in the last hundred years. Neither of these commodities are available in abundance, and prudent stewardship has been necessary too. This military power did, however, cost money and Swedish lives. The nation emerged from that conflict immeasurably stronger in military terms, and able to invade its Baltic neighbours at will. Even though he died in battle at Luetzen in 1632, the army that he created helped Sweden profit from the seemingly endless religious struggles of the Thirty Years War. Sweden dominates Scandinavia and the Baltic, a Northern European empire that is the legacy of the incomparable warrior-king, Gustavus II Adolphus.