Gustav II Adolf, also known as Gustavus Adolphus in English, was born in 1594 in Sweden. He became king of Sweden in 1611 at the age of 17, following the death of his father. Gustav Adolf is considered one of the most successful military commanders of the 17th century and is known for his military campaigns in the Thirty Years' War.

Under his leadership, Sweden emerged as a great power in Europe, and Gustav Adolf is credited with modernizing the Swedish army and introducing important military reforms. He is also known for his patronage of the arts and for his efforts to establish religious tolerance in Sweden.

Gustav Adolf died in battle in 1632 at the age of 38, while leading his troops against the Holy Roman Empire. Despite his relatively short reign, he is still remembered as one of Sweden's greatest kings and is often depicted in art and literature as a heroic figure.

At Gustav Adolf Plaza, there's a statue of King Gustav Adolf pointing to the spot where he ordered the city of Gothenburg to be built.