In 1611, the seventeen-year-old Gustav Adolf ascended the throne of Sweden. Before the new king could sit on his throne, however, he faced a disastrous war against Denmark, another conflict in Russia, and a rebellious nobility at home. Plus, Sweden itself had an arctic climate and a short growing season. Clearly Gustav II Adolf faced great difficulties even to survive. Yet by the end of the next decade, Gustav II Adolf’s Sweden was a leading military power in continental Europe. In 1630 the king invaded the Holy Roman Empire and joined the Thirty Years War to defend the Protestant cause. How was this possible? Sweden had one major asset, the Stora Kopparberg, the largest copper mine in Europe. The king exploited the mine and used the revenue to finance his political and military ambitions. This is the story of Gustav II Adolf’s efforts to improve efficiencies at the mine and control the marketing of its bounty.
- Cover
- Table of Contents
- Preliminary Notes
- Introduction
- 1. The Stora Kopparberg
- 2. The Älvsborg Ransom
- 3. The Copper Company in the Early Years
- 4. The Copper Company: The Years of Decline
- 5. The Deposit System
- 6. After the King
- Conclusion
- Appendices
- Appendix A
- Appendix B
- Appendix C
- Appendix D
- Appendix E
- Appendix F
- Bibliography
- Index
- List of Illustrations
- Portrait 1. Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt (1566–1641), Axel Oxenstierna af Södermöre, 1583–1654, Count, Councillor of the Realm and Lord High Chancellor, c. 1635. Nationalmuseum Stockholm.
- Portrait 2. Cornelius Arendtz (1610–1640), King Gustav II Adolf, c. 1625.
- Portrait 3. Unknown artist after David Beck (1621–1656), Louis De Geer (1587–1652), n.d. Nationalmuseum Stockholm.
- Figure 1. Copper Production at the Stora Kopparberg and Copper Prices in Amsterdam
- Figure 2. Calculation of Expected versus Actual Crown Revenue from Copper
- Figure 3. The Copper Company’s 1625-1626 Trade with de Geer, the Profit Calculation
- Figure 4. Purchases and Sales for 1625 in SKD
- Figure 5. Calculation of Processing Cost at Säter January through December 1625
- Figure 6. Income Statement for 1625 January to December in SDK
- Figure 7. Summary of Balance Sheet for April 1627
- Figure 8. Minted Copper
- Figure 9. Louis de Geer’s Copper Liquidation
- Figure 10
- Figure 11
- Figure 12. Balance of Debits for April 1627 (The Copper Company)
- Figure 13. Copper Accounting with Erik Larsson 1627-1628 (Debit)
- Figure 14. Copper Accounting with Erik Larsson 1627-1628 (Credit)
- Figure 15. Income Statement for the Crown for 1628
- Figure 16
- Figure 17
- Figure 18
- Figure 19
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