Ogniem i Mieczem - By Fire and Sword

The first period of Swedish warfare that we want to present in 'By Fire and Sword' is the reign of Charles X Gustav (or as Swedes would prefer it - Karl X Gustav). Between 1655 and 1660 the Kingdom of Sweden was involved in the following four main conflicts:
- the war against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1655-1660)
- the war against Tsardom of Russia (1656-1661)
- first war against Denmark (1657-1658)
- second war against Denmark (1658-1660)

Swedish army, using the experience from the reign of Gustavus II Adolfus and the period of the Thirty Years War, was described as aggressive and successful. Well trained and led by able commanders it used combined tactics of infantry, cavalry and artillery on the battlefields. Gradually, during the campaigns in Poland or Livonia Swedish field armies became almost purely cavalry-oriented, composed of reiters and dragoons, with the infantry kept on garrison duty.

The army was based on national regiments (Swedish and Finnish), supplemented by enlisted regiments (mostly German but also Swedish, Finnish or even Scottish) – that pattern applied to both infantry and cavalry, while dragoons were mostly enlisted. During long wars (often against several opponents at the same time) Swedish army had to rely on enlisted troops more and more and, as a poor country, could not afford to pay them in full for their service. That would force Swedish king to wage another war just to keep soldiers busy (see the second war against Denmark).