[1] Gustavus Adolphus, who in December 1611 at the age of 17, had ascended the throne of Sweden, was in the winter of 1612 on the rampage in Skåne in retaliation for the Danish ravaging of Småland and Västergötland during the Kalmar War.

He and his army, which consisted of about 3,000 men, led by Nils Stiernsköld [sv], Herman Wrangel, and others,[1] had burned the city of Vä and 24 parishes within Göinge and Villands district.

In the morning, the Danes attacked and the king and his entourage fled north past Vittsjö sconce towards Dragsån (now Verumsån or Vieån).

The inscription on the memorial reads in full: "Minne af konung Gustaf II Adolfs räddning i Wittsjö den 11 februari 1612 af ryttaren Thomas Larsson" (in English "Memory of King Gustavus Adolphus' rescue in Wittsjö February 11, 1612 by the horseman Thomas Larsson") Those who died in the action were buried in a mass grave.

It was long forgotten but was recovered as a result of the digging of a trench in 1959 not more than 100 meters from the previously-raised memorial stone.