30YearsWar #52: Sweden The Deal (Patreon)

[PATRONS]

In early 1631, Gustavus Adolphus was in desperate need of allies and subsidies. Fortunately for him, Cardinal Richelieu of France was only too happy to help, but such friendship would come at a cost. France wasn't interested in throwing away good money. Instead, they wanted to effectively sponsor the Swedish invasion. 

They would fund Sweden's efforts, in return for Gustavus' promise to maintain a large army in the Empire. Just as they had done with the Dutch and in North Italy, here the French worked to open a new front in their cold war with the Habsburgs, a rivalry which couldn't possibly stay cold for much longer...