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135-490: Most of Sweden's national library and royal archives were destroyed when the castle burned down in 1697, making the country's early history unusually difficult to document. When King Gustav Vasa broke Sweden free from the Kalmar Union (a series of personal unions between Denmark, Sweden and Norway since 1397) and made Sweden independent again, Tre Kronor Castle became his most important royal seat. Gustav Vasa expanded

270-551: A bullocky . For this, Gustav Eriksson got the nicknames "King Oxtail" and "Gustav Cow Butt", something he indeed disliked. When a swordsman drank to His Majesty "Gustav Cow Butt" in Kalmar in 1547, the swordsman was killed. While staying in Lübeck, Gustav could hear about developments in his native Sweden. While he was there, Christian II mobilised to attack Sweden in an effort to seize power from Sten Sture and his supporters. In 1520,

405-518: A hereditary monarchy under the House of Vasa , which held the Swedish throne until 1654. Three of his sons, Eric XIV , John III and Charles IX , held the kingship at different points. Gustav Vasa has subsequently been labelled the founder of modern Sweden, and the " father of the nation ". Gustav liked to compare himself to Moses , whom he believed to have also liberated his people and established

540-635: A timpanist but no string players . Today, Kungliga Hovkapellet is the orchestra of the Royal Swedish Opera . Gustav Eriksson, a son of Cecilia Månsdotter Eka and Erik Johansson Vasa , was probably born in 1496. The birth most likely took place in Rydboholm Castle , northeast of Stockholm, the manor house of the father, Erik. The newborn got his name, Gustav, from Erik's grandfather Gustav Anundsson. Erik Johansson's parents were Johan Kristersson and Birgitta Gustafsdotter of

675-696: A "fictitious nature" and therefore "highly unsatisfactory". Thus, the monarch lost all formal executive powers, becoming a ceremonial and representative figurehead . The monarch, while explicitly referred to as the "Head of State" ( Statschefen ) in the 1974 Instrument of Government, is not even the nominal chief executive. The Instrument of Government of 1974 does grant the person serving as king or queen regnant absolute immunity from criminal (but not civil) charges for as long as he or she remains in office. The monarch therefore cannot be prosecuted or otherwise held to account for his or her actions, both official and private, in judicial proceedings. None of

810-682: A bridgehead in 1628 . Brandenburg was torn apart by a quarrel between the Protestants and the Catholics. When Gustavus Adolphus began his push into northern Germany in June–July 1630, he had just 4,000 soldiers. But he was soon able to consolidate the Protestant position in the north, using reinforcements from Sweden and money supplied by France at the Treaty of Bärwalde . Gustavus Adolphus

945-494: A caretaker government, supported by the conservatives, led by legal scholar Hjalmar Hammarskjöld , which remained in power longer than expected due to the outbreak of World War I (in which Sweden remained neutral ) and increased defence spending was no longer a controversial issue. Nevertheless, in the year of the outbreak of the Russian Revolution , social tensions continued to rise; the general election in 1917 gave

1080-703: A complete break with not only the Danish – Norwegian supremacy but also the Roman Catholic Church , whose assets were nationalised, with the Lutheran Church of Sweden established under his personal control. He became the first truly autocratic native Swedish sovereign and was a skilled bureaucrat and propagandist, with tales of his largely fictitious adventures during the liberation struggle still widespread to this day. In 1544, he abolished Medieval Sweden 's elective monarchy and replaced it with

1215-496: A country that previously had no standardised language, and where individual provinces held a strong regional power. He also laid the foundation for Sweden's professional army that was to make Sweden into a regional superpower in the 17th century. Gustav Vasa had a series of allegorical paintings made during his reign. The originals are lost but watercolor reproductions from the 18th century date remain. Several interpretations have been put forth, including that they show him abolishing

1350-482: A cousin of Charles Frederick, of the same house of Holstein-Gottrop, and a descendant of a sister of Charles X Gustav of Sweden was elected heir to the throne of Sweden by the Hat faction (Swedish: Hattarna ). The Hat faction wanted to obtain better conditions at the Treaty of Åbo from Empress Elizabeth of Russia , who had adopted his nephew as her heir . His mother, Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach (1682–1755),

1485-483: A crown prince previously elected in January 1810, Charles August , suddenly had died of a stroke during a military exercise. Although the 19th century Bernadotte monarchs that would follow Charles XIV John 's reign tried to defend the power and privileges they still had, the tide incrementally turned against "personal regal rule" ( Swedish : personlig kungamakt ) with the growth of the liberals, social democrats, and

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1620-581: A judge and a priest at the Temple at Uppsala (see Germanic king ). However, there are thousands of runestones commemorating commoners, but no known chronicle about the Swedish kings prior to the 14th century (though a list of kings was added in the Västgöta Law ), and there is a relatively small number of runestones that are thought to mention kings: Gs 11 ( Emund the Old – reigned 1050–1060), U 11 ( Håkan

1755-460: A leg and in his jaw. He gave a so-called "last speech" in 1560 to the chancellors, his children and other noblemen, whereby he encouraged them to remain united. On 29 September 1560, Gustav died and was buried (together with three of his wives, while only two are engraved) in the Cathedral of Uppsala . In Sweden, Gustav Vasa is considered to rank among the country's greatest kings, arguably even

1890-463: A limited and small number of political families which are considered to be the royal dynasties of Sweden. The official continuous count usually begins with the kings who ruled both Svealand and Götaland as one kingdom. Sweden's monarchy is amongst the oldest in the world, with a regnal list stretching back to the tenth century, starting with Eric the Victorious ; the Swedish monarchy has, for

2025-486: A majority consensus in Swedish political discourse on the role of the monarchy within the constitutional framework. The official motive for the radical changes which came to pass in 1975 was for it to be as descriptive as possible of the workings of the state and clear on how decisions actually are made. Minister of Justice Lennart Geijer further remarked on the 1973 government bill that any continued pretensions of royal involvement in government decision making would be of

2160-561: A meeting with the Privy Council, Gustav Eriksson announced his decision to accept. In the following ceremony, led by the deacon of Strängnäs, Laurentius Andreae , Gustav swore the royal oath. The next day, bishops and priests joined Gustav in Roggeborgen where Laurentius Andreae raised the holy sacrament above a kneeling Gustav Eriksson. Flanked by the councillors of Lübeck, Gustav Eriksson was brought to Strängnäs Cathedral where

2295-838: A political compromise reached at the summer resort of Torekov in 1971 (hence known as the Torekov compromise , Swedish : Torekovskompromissen ) by representatives of four of the parties in the Riksdag (the Social Democrats , the Centre Party , the Liberal People's Party , and the Moderate Party , that is all the parties except the Communists ). It mandated that the monarchy would remain largely as it

2430-606: A regent made many Swedish nobles, who had so far stayed loyal to King Christian, switch sides. Some noblemen, still loyal to the king, chose to leave Sweden, while others were killed. As a result, the Swedish Privy Council lost old members who were replaced by supporters of Gustav Eriksson. Most fortified cities and castles were conquered by Gustav's rebels, but the strongholds with the best defences, including Stockholm, were still under Danish control. In 1522, after negotiations between Gustav Eriksson's people and Lübeck,

2565-401: A sovereign state. As a person, Gustav was known for ruthless methods and a bad temper, but also a fondness for music and had a certain sly wit and ability to outmaneuver and annihilate his opponents. He founded one of the oldest orchestras of the world, Kungliga Hovkapellet (Royal Court Orchestra); thus Royal housekeeping accounts from 1526 mention twelve musicians including wind players and

2700-410: A strong Kalmar Union dominated by Denmark, took advantage of the situation and put pressure on the rebels. The city wanted privileges on future trade as well as guarantees regarding the loans they had granted the rebels. The Privy Council and Gustav Eriksson knew the support from Lübeck was absolutely crucial. As a response, the council decided to appoint Gustav Eriksson king. The ceremonial election of

2835-423: A war with Denmark ( Kalmar War ) in the last year of his reign. Gustavus Adolphus inherited three wars from his father when he ascended to the throne. From 1612, when Count Axel Oxenstierna was appointed Lord High Chancellor , which he remained until Gustavus Adolphus's death, the two men struck a long and successful partnership and complemented each other well: In Oxenstierna's own words, his "cool" balanced

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2970-426: Is Stockholm Palace , while Drottningholm Palace serves as the monarchy's private residence. Other notable residences include Gripsholm Castle and Ulriksdal Palace , as well as others throughout Sweden. Several large palaces and a considerable section of the Swedish capital of Stockholm have been at the disposal of the monarch since 1809. Scandinavian peoples have had kings since prehistoric times. As early as

3105-625: Is best characterized by foreign wars : first a lengthy campaign within Poland and then with Denmark. In the latter case, the risky 1658 March across the Belts which resulted in the Treaty of Roskilde , would prove to be the largest permanent territorial gain Sweden ever had: Skåne , Blekinge and Bohuslän now became Swedish provinces and have remained so ever since. Charles X Gustav was not satisfied, as he wanted to crush Denmark once and for all, but

3240-465: Is centred on the monarchical head of state of Sweden , by law a constitutional and hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system . There have been kings in what now is the Kingdom of Sweden for more than a millennium. Originally an elective monarchy , it became a hereditary monarchy in the 16th century during the reign of Gustav Vasa , though virtually all monarchs before that belonged to

3375-447: Is generally regarded as a constitutional monarch who stayed out of politics and controversy. In 1954, a royal commission began work on whether Sweden should undergo constitutional reform to adapt the 1809 Instrument of Government to current political realities, or whether a new one should be written; ultimately the latter idea was chosen. The future role of the monarchy was settled in a manner well known within Swedish political discourse:

3510-493: Is questionable if any of his adventures really did happen or were dramatised by Gustav himself; regardless of whether they happened or not, his adventures are still told to this day in Sweden. The memory of Gustav has been honoured greatly, resulting in embroidered history books, commemorative coins , and the annual ski event Vasaloppet (the largest ski event in the world with 15,000 participants). The city of Vaasa in Finland

3645-619: Is said that his body parts were displayed throughout Sweden as a warning to other would-be rebels; this is uncertain though his head was likely mounted on a pole at Kalmar . Modern Swedish scholarship has toned down criticism of Nils Dacke, sometimes making him into a hero in the vein of Robin Hood , particularly in Småland. Difficulties with the continuation of the Church also troubled Gustav Vasa. The 1540s saw him imposing death sentences upon both

3780-702: The 1659 Assault on Copenhagen did not prove successful for the Swedes, largely due to the Dutch naval intervention to the aid of the Danes. Charles X Gustav died in Gothenburg in 1660 and as the Crown passed to his five-year-old son Charles XI , a new regency government would assume the responsibilities of the state. The regency government, composed of aristocrats and led by Chancellor Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie ,

3915-693: The Battle of Bogesund and the Stockholm bloodbath in 1520, and the Swedish liberation war, Gustav was elected king in Strängnäs 6 June 1523 and Stockholm's liberation declared at midsummer 1523. Sweden has been free from foreign powers ever since. The process continued another 13 years until the Count's Feud in Denmark in which Gustav and Sweden were very active. When Christian III entered Copenhagen in 1536,

4050-631: The Black Death , the union weakened, and Scania was captured by Denmark. In 1397, after the Black Death and domestic power struggles, Queen Margaret I of Denmark united Sweden (then including Finland ), Denmark and Norway (then including Iceland ) in the Union of Kalmar with the approval of the Swedish nobility . Continual tension within each country and the union led to open conflict between

4185-492: The Cabinet Council ( skifteskonselj ) in a session that establishes the new government following a general election or major cabinet reshuffle and also chairs information councils ( informationskonselj ) approximately four times a year to get information from the assembled Government, apart from that given by ministers in individual audiences or through other means. Formally, it is the explicit responsibility of

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4320-634: The Estates in 1599. In 1604, the Estates finally recognized the regent and de facto ruler as King Charles IX. His short reign was one of uninterrupted warfare. The hostility of Poland and the breakup of Russia involved him in overseas contests for the possession of Livonia and Ingria , the Polish–Swedish War (1600–1611) and the Ingrian War , while his pretensions to claim Lapland brought on

4455-761: The Kalmar Union . Gustav Vasa gradually became the country's leader during the Swedish War of Liberation . Gustav continued the process begun by his predecessor Sten Sture the Younger and Sten Sture the Elder of freeing Sweden from foreign political and economic interests such as the Kalmar Union with Denmark , the Catholic Church in Rome, and the Hanseatic League in Lübeck. Under Sten Sture

4590-456: The Riksdag of the Estates , through Västerås arvförening , designated the sons of King Gustav I as the heirs to the Throne. Tax reforms took place in 1538 and 1558, whereby multiple complex taxes on independent farmers were simplified and standardised throughout the district and tax assessments per farm were adjusted to reflect ability to pay. Crown tax revenues increased, but more importantly

4725-574: The Royal Family undertake a variety of official, unofficial and other representative duties within Sweden and abroad. The monarch and his or her family play a central role in state visits to Sweden and conduct state visits to other nations on behalf of Sweden. Other members of the Royal Family may also represent the country abroad at lesser functions. Many of the Swedish general flag flying days have direct royal connections; among them are

4860-428: The absolute monarchy in Sweden, which his grandfather King Charles XI had created, made that marriage clause irrelevant. When Charles Frederick was confronted with Ulrika Eleonora, he was forced by Arvid Horn to greet her as queen. He asked to be granted the title Royal Highness and to be recognised as her heir, but when her husband, Frederick of Hesse , instead was given the title, he left Sweden in 1719. In 1723, he

4995-522: The economic sciences . Eriksgata was the name of the traditional journey of newly elected medieval Swedish kings through important provinces to have their election confirmed by local Things . The actual election took place at the Stone of Mora in Uppland and participation was originally restricted to the people of that area; hence, the need of having the election confirmed by the other parts of

5130-629: The name days of the King (28 January), the Queen (8 August), and the Crown Princess (12 March); the birthdays of the King (30 April), the Queen (23 December), and the Crown Princess (14 July); and Gustavus Adolphus Day ( Swedish : Gustav Adolfsdagen ), on 6 November, in memory of King Gustavus Adolphus , who was killed on that date ( old style ) in 1632 in the Battle of Lützen . None of these flag days are public holidays , however. Perhaps

5265-586: The prime minister (who, since 1975, is elected by the Riksdag ) was transferred to the Speaker of the Riksdag ; the prime minister appoints and dismisses the other ministers at his or her discretion. Furthermore, bills passed by the Riksdag become law without royal assent : the prime minister or any other cabinet minister signs them "On Behalf of the Government" ( På regeringens vägnar ). Although

5400-531: The 12th century, the consolidation of Sweden was still affected by dynastic struggles between the Erik and Sverker clans, which ended when a third clan married into the Erik clan and the House of Bjälbo was established on the throne. That dynasty formed pre- Kalmar Union Sweden into a strong state, and finally King Magnus Eriksson (reigned 1319–1364) even ruled Norway (1319–1343) and Scania (1332–1360). Following

5535-417: The 1720 Instrument in Government was later replaced by the 1772 Instrument of Government in a self-coup orchestrated by the King. On 17 September 1809 in the Treaty of Fredrikshamn , as a result of the poorly managed Finnish War , Sweden had to surrender Finland to Russia. King Gustav IV Adolf and his descendants were deposed in a coup d'état led by dissatisfied army officers. The childless uncle of

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5670-454: The 1st century CE, Tacitus wrote that the Suiones had a king, but the order of Swedish regnal succession up until King Eric the Victorious (died 995), is known almost exclusively through accounts in historically controversial Norse sagas (see Mythical kings of Sweden and Semi-legendary kings of Sweden ). Originally, the Swedish king had combined powers limited to that of a war chief,

5805-853: The Catholic Church and the Hanseatic League were bankrupt and lost power in the Nordic countries, where the Lutheran Church of Sweden by the Reformation in Sweden obtained an ecclesiastical monopoly and the Church of Denmark by the Reformation in Denmark–Norway and Holstein . This process largely changed all the old power structures in Sweden, where previously every issue had to be negotiated with powerful nobles . With

5940-554: The Catholic church, but the main view is that they depict him freeing Sweden from Christian II's control. Gustav's first wife was Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513–1535), whom he married on 24 September 1531. They had a son: On 1 October 1536, he married his second wife, Margareta Leijonhufvud (1514–1551). Their children were: At Vadstena Castle , on 22 August 1552, he married his third wife, Katarina Stenbock (1535–1621). King of Sweden The monarchy of Sweden

6075-453: The Danes. Today most of these stories are considered to have no other foundation than legend and skilful propaganda by Gustav himself during his time. One such story states he was staying at a close friend's farm to rest for one day during his escape from the Danish army. As he was warming himself in the common room, the Danish soldiers got a tip from one of the farm hands that Gustav was in his landlord's farm house. The Danish soldiers burst into

6210-483: The Danish King Christian II . Following the battle of Brännkyrka in 1518, where Sten Sture's troops beat the Danish forces, it was decided that Sten Sture and King Christian would meet in Österhaninge for negotiations. To guarantee the safety of the king, the Swedish side sent six men as hostages to be kept by the Danes for as long as the negotiations lasted. However, Christian did not show up for

6345-503: The Estates to sign the 1719 Instrument of Government , which ended the absolute monarchy and made the Riksdag of the Estates the highest organ of the state and reduced the role of monarch to a figurehead . The Age of Liberty ( Swedish : frihetstiden ) with its parliamentary rule, dominated by two parties – the Caps and the Hats – had begun. Ulrika Eleonora had had enough after a year on

6480-462: The Hanseatic city joined the war against Denmark. The winter of 1523 saw the joint forces attack the Danish and Norwegian areas of Scania, Halland, Blekinge and Bohuslän. During this winter, Christian II was overthrown and replaced by Frederick I . The new king openly claimed the Swedish throne and had hopes Lübeck would abandon the Swedish rebels. The German city, preferring an independent Sweden to

6615-672: The King's "heat". The war against Russia (the Ingrian War ) ended in 1617 with the Treaty of Stolbovo , which excluded Russia from the Baltic Sea. The final inherited war, the war against Poland , ended in 1629 with the Truce of Altmark , which transferred the large province of Livonia to Sweden and freed the Swedish forces for subsequent intervention in the Thirty Years' War in Germany, where Swedish forces had already established

6750-608: The Linköping Riksdag 1600 and Karl XI 's Great Reduction 1680 as the basis for the future Swedish state after the Instrument of Government of 1809 . Many Swedes see Gustav Vasa as the father of the country and he is celebrated as such. Gustav proved an energetic administrator with a ruthless streak not inferior to his predecessor's, brutally suppressing subsequent uprisings ( three in Dalarna – which had once been

6885-510: The Petri brothers, as well as his former chancellor Laurentius Andreae . All of them were however granted amnesty, after spending several months in jail. In 1554–1557, he waged an inconclusive war against Ivan the Terrible of Russia. In the late 1550s, Gustav's health declined. When his grave was opened in 1945, an examination of his corpse revealed that he had suffered chronic infections of

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7020-409: The Pope know the impossibility of the request, and the possible results if the Pope persisted, but – for better or worse – the Pope did persist, and refused to accept the king's suggestions of archbishops. At the time, incidentally and for different reasons, there were also four other unoccupied bishop's seats, where the king made suggestions to the Pope about candidates, but the Pope only accepted one of

7155-434: The Red – late 11th century) and U 861 ( Blot-Sweyn – reigned c. 1080). About 1000 A.D., the first king known to rule both Svealand and Götaland was Olof Skötkonung , but further history for the next two centuries is obscure, with many kings whose tenures and actual influence/power remains unclear. The Royal Court of Sweden, however, does count Olof's father, Eric the Victorious, as Sweden's first king. The power of

7290-454: The Swedes and the Danes in the 15th century. The union's final disintegration in the early 16th century led to prolonged rivalry between Denmark-Norway and Sweden (with Finland) for centuries to come. Catholic bishops had supported the King of Denmark , Christian II , but he was overthrown in a rebellion led by nobleman Gustav Vasa , whose father had been executed at the Stockholm bloodbath . Gustav Vasa (hereinafter referred to as Gustav I)

7425-424: The Swedish provinces and called them an Eriksgata , while those visits bear little resemblance to the medieval tradition. The full title of the Swedish monarch from 1523 to 1973 was: Translated as " By the Grace of God , King of the Swedes, the Goths , and the Wends " or "By the Grace of God, King of Sweden, of the Goths and Vandals ". During the reign of the House of Holstein-Gottorp from 1751 to 1818,

7560-402: The Younger, the archbishop Gustav Trolle was removed from his office, and his castle Almarestäket on lake Mälaren was demolished in the winter of 1517 on orders from the Swedish Parliament. The Swedish Parliament was then declared in interdict by the Pope which remains in effect to this day. This was followed by Christian II's invasion in 1520 in which Sten Sture the younger died. After

7695-522: The acceptance of a new archbishop selected by Gustav himself: Johannes Magnus . The Pope sent back his decision demanding that the unlawful expulsion of Archbishop Gustav Trolle be rescinded, and that the archbishop be reinstated. Here Sweden's remote geographical location proved to have a marked impact – for the former Archbishop had been allied with Christian, or at least was considered to have been so allied in contemporary Stockholm, and to reinstate him would be close to impossible for Gustav. The king let

7830-407: The background to the famous cross-country ski race Vasaloppet . Gustav Eriksson was appointed hövitsman . The rebel force he led grew. In February 1521 it consisted of 400 men, mainly from the area around Lake Siljan . The first significant conflict in the Dissolution of the Kalmar Union took place at Brunnbäck's Ferry in April, where a rebel army defeated an army loyal to the king. The sacking of

7965-515: The candidates. Because the Pope refused to budge on the issue of Gustav Trolle, the king, influenced by Lutheran scholar Olaus Petri , in 1531 took it upon himself to appoint yet another archbishop, namely the brother of Olaus, Laurentius Petri . With this royal act, the Pope lost any influence over the Swedish Church. In the 1520s, the Petri brothers led a campaign for the introduction of Lutheranism . The decade saw many events which can be seen as gradual introductions of Protestantism , for instance

8100-410: The castle's defensive measures, while his son John III of Sweden later rebuilt and improved the castle aesthetically, turning it into a renaissance style castle and adding a castle church. The keep may have existed previous to the 16th century, but in a much smaller form than that seen in pictures from the beginning and end of the 16th and 17th centuries. The tower was then about half the height at

8235-472: The castle. Since the castle was made out of wood and copper, the hot copper plates set the roof on fire. Due to the fire most of Sweden's national library and royal archives were destroyed. Shortly after the fire died out, the investigation was launched into why it was not discovered earlier. A royal court found three possible culprits. Sven Lindberg – the fire marshal for the castle – and Anders Andersson and Mattias Hansson, soldiers on fire watch for

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8370-425: The city of Västerås and with it controlling important copper and silver mines gave Gustav Vasa resources and supporters flocked to him. Other parts of Sweden, for example the Götaland provinces of Småland and Västergötland , also saw rebellions. The leading noblemen of Götaland joined Gustav Eriksson's forces and, in Vadstena in August, they declared Gustav regent of Sweden. The election of Gustav Eriksson as

8505-404: The coronation of Christian. This was to take place in the newly captured Stockholm in November. Even though King Christian had promised amnesty to his enemies within the Sture party, including Gustav Eriksson, the latter chose to decline the invitation. The coronation took place on 4 November and days of festivities in a friendly spirit followed. When the celebration had lasted a few days, the castle

8640-408: The country's otherwise liberal leanings, has resulted in the Swedish monarchy being popular. In recent years, however, some of the most serious criticism ever published has taken place about the way his monarchy has developed under the current king's fifty-year reign. Sweden in the present day is a representative democracy in a parliamentary system based on popular sovereignty , as defined in

8775-623: The country. People from Dalarna rebelled three times in the first ten years of Gustav's reign, as they considered the king to have been too harsh on everyone he perceived as a supporter of the Danish, and as they resented his introduction of Protestantism. Many of those who had helped Gustav in his war against the Danes became involved in these rebellions and paid for this, several of them with their lives. Peasants in Småland rebelled in 1542 , fuelled by grievances over taxes, church reform and confiscation of church bells and vestments. For several months this uprising caused Gustav severe difficulties in

8910-508: The current Instrument of Government (one of the four Basic Laws of the Realm which makes up the written constitution ). The monarch and the members of the royal family undertake a variety of official, unofficial and other representational duties within Sweden and abroad. The current king of Sweden is Carl XVI Gustaf , while his heir is Crown Princess Victoria . The Swedish monarch has numerous residences, primarily state-owned but some privately owned; their official residence and workplace

9045-460: The day to inform not only the head of state, but also the speaker and representatives of the opposition parties in the Riksdag, on foreign affairs issues in a confidential manner. While the monarch is no longer the commander-in-chief ( högste befälhavare ) of the Swedish Armed Forces , as he once was under the 1809 Instrument of Government, he is the foremost representative of the Swedish defence establishment and holds supreme rank in each of

9180-460: The death of King Gustav I in 1560, he was succeeded by his oldest son Eric XIV . His reign was marked by Sweden's entrance into the Livonian War and the Northern Seven Years' War . The combination of Eric's developing mental disorder and his opposition to the aristocracy led to the Sture Murders in 1567 and the imprisonment of his brother John (III) , who was married to Catherine Jagiellon , sister of King Sigismund II of Poland . In 1568 Eric

9315-407: The death of his father, Sigismund tried to rule Sweden from Poland , leaving Sweden under the control of a regent – his paternal uncle (Gustav I's youngest son) Charles (IX) – but was unable to defend his Swedish throne against the ambitions of his uncle. In 1598 Sigismund and his Swedish-Polish army were defeated at the Battle of Stångebro by the forces of Charles, and he was declared deposed by

9450-473: The defence budget cuts made by Prime Minister Karl Staaff and the cabinet just before the First World War in event known as the Courtyard Crisis accompanied by the Peasant armament support march ( Swedish : bondetåget ), it was seen as a deliberate provocation by conservatives and reactionaries against the uncodified norm of a parliamentary system supported by the liberals and the social democrats, leading to Staaff's resignation. Gustaf V then appointed

9585-417: The dense forests. The king sent a letter to the people of the province of Dalarna, requesting that they should circulate letters to every Swedish province, stating their support for the king with their troops, and urging every other province to do the same. Gustav got his troops, with whose help – and, not least, with paid German mercenaries – he managed to defeat the rebels in the spring of 1543. The leader of

9720-479: The dynasties Vasa and Sture respectively, both dynasties of high nobility. Birgitta Gustafsdotter was the sister of Sten Sture the Elder, regent of Sweden, and their mother was a half-sister of King Charles VIII of Sweden . Being a relative and ally of uncle Sten Sture, Erik inherited the regent's estates in Uppland and Södermanland when the latter died in 1503. Although a member of a family with considerable properties since childhood, Gustav Eriksson would later be

9855-545: The end of the 16th century. The castle consisted of two parts, the main castle ( högborgen ) and the walled in gardens surrounding it ( ekonomigården ) with the high tower in the middle. Gustavus Adolphus (1594–1632), also known in English as Gustav II Adolf or Gustav II Adolph was born in the castle. He was King of Sweden from 1611 to 1632. On 7 May 1697, a large fire broke out in Tre Kronor that completely demolished

9990-470: The expansion of the franchise. The daughter of Gustav IV Adolph , Princess Sofia Wilhelmina (21 May 1801 – 1865) married Grand Duke Leopold of Baden , and their granddaughter Victoria of Baden married the Bernadotte king Gustaf V of Sweden . The present King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is thus Gustav IV's heir through his grandfather, Gustav VI Adolf . When King Gustav V publicly objected to

10125-561: The farm house and began searching in the common room for someone that would fit Gustav's description. As one of the soldiers came close to check Gustav Vasa, all of a sudden the landlady took out a bakery spade and started to hit Gustav and scolded him as a "lazy farm boy" and ordered him to go out and work. The Danish soldier found it amusing and did not realise this "lazy farm boy" was in fact Gustav Vasa himself who managed to slip away from danger and escape death. There are many other stories about Gustav's close encounters with death, however it

10260-486: The first region to support his claim to the throne – one in Västergötland , and one in Småland ). He worked to raise taxes and bring about a Reformation in Sweden, replacing the prerogatives of local landowners, noblemen and clergy with centrally appointed governors and bishops. His 37-year rule, which was the longest of an adult Swedish king to that date (subsequently passed by Gustav V and Carl XVI Gustav ) saw

10395-461: The forces of King Christian were triumphant. Sten Sture died in March, but some strongholds, including the Swedish capital Stockholm, were still able to withstand the Danish forces. Gustav left Lübeck on a ship, and was put ashore south of Kalmar on 31 May. It seems Gustav stayed largely inactive during his first months back on Swedish soil. According to some sources, Gustav received an invitation to

10530-702: The former king was almost immediately elected as King Charles XIII . The Instrument of Government of 1809 put an end to royal absolutism by dividing the legislative power between the Riksdag (primary) and the king (secondary), and vested executive power in the king when acting through the Council of State . The present Bernadotte dynasty was established in September 1810 when the Riksdag, convened in Örebro , elected French Marshal and Prince of Pontecorvo Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte as crown prince. This took place because Charles XIII had no legitimate heir, and

10665-409: The gauntlet and six years of forced labour at Carlsten fortress . Lindberg died while running the gauntlet. Plans were made to rebuild a new castle on the old foundation. Nicodemus Tessin the Younger was the architect in charge of rebuilding. The new building, Stockholm Palace , was completed in 1754. Nicodemus died in 1728 and did not get to see it completed. A 1/3rd scale replica of Tre Kronor

10800-456: The governance of the realm are vested in him. Carl XVI Gustaf became king on 15 September 1973 on the death of his grandfather Gustaf VI Adolf and because of his father's early death has become the longest reigning monarch in Swedish history. His King's Golden Jubilee was celebrated in 2023. Leading up to that year and including it, beginning already in 2018, some of the most serious criticism ever published took place about Carl Gustaf and

10935-519: The holder of possessions of a much greater dimension. Both of Gustav's parents descended from Gregers , the illegitimate son of Birger Jarl ; Gustav's father descended from Gregers through his maternal great-grandmother Margareta Karlsdotter, while Gustav's mother descended from him through her father Magnus Karlsson Eka. Additionally, Birgitta Gustafsdotter and Sten Sture (and consequently also Gustav) descended from King Sverker II of Sweden through King Sverker's granddaughter Benedikte Sunesdotter (who

11070-462: The independence of Sweden. The hopes Gustav had carried of winning further provinces (Gotland and Blekinge) were however scuttled. The treaty marked the end of the Swedish War of Liberation. After Gustav seized power, the previous Archbishop, Gustav Trolle , who at the time held the post of a sort of chancellor, was exiled from the country. Gustav sent a message to Pope Clement VII requesting

11205-556: The influence of the aristocracy by nationalizing estates and properties which had been handed out to them by his predecessors, introducing the Allotment system ( Swedish : indelningsverket ) which would form the basis of the armed forces until the 20th century, and with the support of the Estates he was declared in 1680 an absolute monarch . Charles XI was succeeded by his son, Charles XII , who would prove to be an extremely able military commander, defeating far larger enemies with

11340-720: The king sat down in the choir with the Swedish privy councillors on one side, and the Lübeck representatives on the other. After the hymn " Te Deum ", Laurentius Andreae proclaimed Gustav Eriksson king of Sweden. He was, however, still not crowned. In 1983, in remembrance of the election of Gustav as Swedish king on 6 June, that date was declared the National Day of Sweden . Shortly after the events of 1523 in Strängnäs, letters patent were issued to Lübeck and its allied Hanseatic cities, who now were freed from tolls when trading in Sweden. An agreement, designed by Lübeck negotiators,

11475-460: The king was greatly strengthened by the introduction of Christianity during the 11th century, and the following centuries saw a process of consolidation of power into the hands of the king. The Swedes traditionally elected a king from a favored dynasty at the Stones of Mora , and the people had the right to elect the king as well as to depose him. The ceremonial stones were destroyed around 1515. In

11610-441: The liberals and social democrats greatly strengthened representation in both Riksdag chambers and a conservative government was no longer a defensible option. Following the definite breakthrough of parliamentarism in 1917, with the appointment of the coalition government of liberals and social democrats led by professor Nils Edén , the political influence of the King was considerably reduced and an unwritten constitutional precedent

11745-432: The majority of the castle. The fire was discovered by the castle's keeper, Georg Stiernhoff. The fire marshal, Sven Lindberg, informed the royal staff that he could not get to the fire extinguishing equipment because the fire blocked his access to it. The royal family and court were forced to evacuate the castle. The servants attempted to save as much as possible of the royal possessions. The fire spread quickly to all parts of

11880-550: The marriage of Olaus Petri – a consecrated priest – and several texts published by him, advocating Lutheran dogmas. A translation of the New Testament had also been published in 1526. After the reformation, a full translation was published in 1540–41, called the Gustav Vasa Bible . However, knowledge of Greek and Hebrew among Swedish clergymen was not sufficient for a translation from the original sources; instead

12015-512: The modern Swedish state, if not of the nation as such. Historians have nonetheless noted the often brutal methods with which he ruled, and his legacy, though clearly of great and lasting importance, is not necessarily viewed in exclusively positive terms. Many details of Gustav Vasa's historical record are disputed. In 19th-century Swedish history a folklore developed wherein Gustav was supposed to have had many adventures when he liberated Sweden from

12150-735: The most globally known ceremony in which the Royal Family annually participate is the Nobel Prize award ceremony held at the Stockholm Concert Hall (and the subsequent banquet in the Stockholm City Hall ), where the monarch hands out the Nobel Prizes on behalf of the Nobel Foundation for outstanding contributions to mankind in physics , chemistry , literature , physiology or medicine , and

12285-474: The most significant ruler in Swedish history. Having ended foreign domination over Sweden, centralised and reorganised the government, cut religious ties to Rome, established the Swedish Church, and founded Sweden's hereditary monarchy, Gustav Vasa holds a place of great prominence in Swedish history and is a central character in Swedish nationalist narratives. He is often described as a founding father of

12420-506: The negotiations, violated the deal with the Swedish side and took the hostages aboard ships carrying them to Copenhagen . The six members of the kidnapped hostage were Hemming Gadh , Lars Siggesson (Sparre), Jöran Siggesson (Sparre), Olof Ryning, Bengt Nilsson (Färla) – and Gustav Eriksson. Gustav was held in Kalø Castle where he was treated very well after promising he would not make attempts to escape. A reason for this gentle treatment

12555-551: The new system was perceived as fairer. A war with Lübeck in 1535 resulted in the expulsion of the Hanseatic traders , who previously had had a monopoly on foreign trade. With its own burghers in charge, Sweden's economic strength grew rapidly, and by 1544 Gustav controlled 60% of the farmlands in all of Sweden. Sweden now built the first modern army in Europe, supported by a sophisticated tax system and an efficient bureaucracy. At

12690-400: The night, reporting to Sven Lindberg. It is revealed that Anders Andersson was running an errand for the fire marshal's wife, against fire watch regulations. Mattias Hansson had left his post, going into the kitchen to get some food. Hansson claimed that the fire marshal's wife had given permission to do so – a statement she denied. The royal court concluded that the fire marshal had used

12825-630: The old king Christian, were still holding castles in Finland , a part of Sweden at the time. During the summer and fall of 1523 they all surrendered. The next year, on 24 August 1524, Gustav arrived in Malmö in order to reach a settlement with Denmark-Norway and its king Frederick. The Treaty of Malmö (in Swedish: Malmö recess ) had both positive and negative sides to it, from king Gustav's perspective. The treaty meant that Denmark-Norway acknowledged

12960-565: The other members of the royal family or the employees the Royal Court enjoy similar immunity. At the request of the Speaker of the Riksdag, the monarch opens the annual session of the Riksdag ( Riksmötets öppnande ) in the chamber of the Riksdag building . The king or queen regnant also receives Letters of Credence of foreign ambassadors sent to Sweden and signs those of Swedish ambassadors sent abroad. The monarch also chairs

13095-455: The past thousand years, undergone cycles of decline and strengthening, culminating in the modern constitutional monarchy. The Swedish monarchy has been one of the key features in the development of Swedish culture, having for centuries patronized the arts and sciences. Several of Sweden's most prestigious academies and cultural institutions are under Swedish royal protection. This historical role politically, militarily and culturally, in spite of

13230-570: The peasantry in the province, but with little success initially. Being chased by men loyal to king Christian and failing at creating an army to challenge the king, Gustav Eriksson had no other alternative but to flee to Norway. While he made his way from Mora via Lima to Norway, people that had recently turned down Gustav's call for support against the king changed their minds. Representatives of that group caught up with Gustav before he had reached Norway and convinced him to follow them back to Mora. Gustav Eriksson's run towards Norway and back has formed

13365-535: The prime minister to keep the monarch informed on the affairs of the realm; the failure to do so following the 2004 tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean (in which many Swedes perished) gave rise to wide criticism of Prime Minister Göran Persson for his handling of the matter. The monarch also chairs the Advisory Council on Foreign Affairs ( Utrikesnämnden ), a body that enables the government of

13500-476: The province of Dalarna , in what was then northwestern Sweden. What happened there has been described in Peder Svart's chronicle, which can be described as a strongly biased heroic tale about Gustav Eriksson. The Dalarna adventures of Gustav that could be described as a part of the national heritage of Sweden, can therefore not be verified in a satisfying way. He is supposed to have tried to gather troops among

13635-514: The realm. The Eriksgata gradually lost its importance when, as of the 14th century, representatives of other parts of Sweden began to participate in the election. After 1544, when hereditary monarchy was instituted, that meant that the Eriksgata had little practical importance. The last king to travel the Eriksgata according to the old tradition was Charles IX , whose reign began in 1604. Later, kings, up until present times, have made visits to all

13770-475: The rebels, Nils Dacke , has traditionally been seen as a traitor to Sweden. His own letters and proclamations to fellow peasants focused on the suppression of Roman Catholic customs of piety, the King's requisitions of church bells and church plate to be smelted down for money and the general discontent with Gustav's autocratic measures, and the King's letters indicate that Dacke had considerable military success for several months. Historical records state that Nils

13905-484: The regency, Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna wrote the 1634 Instrument of Government , which although never approved by any monarch, continued to have an important normative role in the state administration. Christina early on showed an interest in literature and the sciences and famously brought René Descartes to Sweden. Sweden continued to be involved in the Thirty Years' War during reign of Christina and that conflict

14040-467: The regent Gustav Eriksson as king of Sweden took place when the leading men of Sweden got together in Strängnäs in June 1523. When the councillors of Sweden had chosen Gustav as king, he met with the two visiting councillors of Lübeck. The German representatives supported the appointment without hesitation and declared it an act of God. Gustav stated he had to bow to what was described as the will of God. In

14175-473: The rest of the power elite wiped out in the Stockholm bloodbath, Gustav and the parliament had sole control in Sweden. As a consequence of this, Gustav and all future Swedish kings came to communicate with the population through the king's bailiffs and the Church of Sweden 's clergy instead of through the nobility . This meant that central power was manifested through the Battle of Stångebro 1599 with

14310-517: The rule of the Riksdag of the Estates and reinstate absolute monarchy in Sweden. He nearly lost his throne in consequence. On the second occasion during the December Crisis of 1768 , under the guidance of his eldest son, Gustav , he succeeded in overthrowing the "Cap" (Swedish: Mössorna ) senate, but was unable to make any use of his victory. Adolf Frederick's son, King Gustav III , was more successful in restoring royal authority. In 1772,

14445-406: The same time, he broke with the papacy and established a reformed state church : the Church of Sweden . Throughout his reign, Gustav I suppressed both aristocratic and peasant opposition to his ecclesiastical policies and efforts at centralisation, which to some extent laid the foundation for the modern Swedish unitary state . Legally Sweden has only been a hereditary monarchy since 1544 when

14580-537: The service arms. He ranks as a four star admiral in the Swedish Navy and general in the Swedish Army and Air Force . As part of his court, the monarch has a military staff , which is headed by a senior officer (usually a general or admiral, retired from active service) and includes active duty military officers serving as aides-de-camp to the monarch and his or her family. The monarch and members of

14715-806: The small but highly professional Swedish army. His defeat of the Russians at Narva when just 18 years old was to be his greatest victory. However his campaigning at the head of his army during the Great Northern War would ultimately lead to catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Poltava after which he spent several years in Turkey (now Moldova) . Some years later he was killed at the Siege of Fredriksten during an attempt to invade Norway. The Swedish Age of Greatness ( Swedish : stormaktstiden ) had ended. Charles XII's sister, Ulrika Eleonora , now claimed

14850-424: The soldier for his and his wife's private errands. It was also found that he had accepted bribes in exchange for hiring people into certain positions at the castle. In February 1698 the sentences were handed out. Sven Lindberg and Mattias Hanson were sentenced to death since they had both neglected their duty. Anders Andersson was sentenced to run the gauntlet . The death sentences were both later commuted to running

14985-685: The throne and abdicated in favor of her husband, Frederick , who had little interest in the affairs of state and was elected King by the Estates as King Frederick I, resulting in the 1720 Instrument of Government : content-wise almost identical to the one from 1719. Despite having many extra-marital affairs, Frederick I never sired a legitimate heir to the throne. After the death/impending death of King Frederick without heirs, Charles Frederick's heir, Charles Peter Ulrich, had become untenable in Sweden, as he had been taken to Russia by his aunt Elizabeth I of Russia , nominated as heir/Grand Duke, and became Emperor Peter III of Russia . In 1743, Adolf Frederick,

15120-573: The throne over her nephew and son of her elder sister, Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (see genealogy chart above). Charles Frederick had the claim of seniority within the family, but Ulrica Eleonora claimed that her elder sister had not "acquired the consent of the Parliamentary Estates " for her marriage to his father, according to laws of succession laid down in Norrköpings arvförening . The duke's party asserted that

15255-580: The title Heir to Norway ( Arvinge till Norge ) was also used, as well as other titles connected to the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp . When, after the Napoleonic Wars , Norway was in personal union with Sweden, the title included King of Norway , in older Swedish spellings: Sweriges, Norriges, Göthes och Wendes Konung . Upon his accession, Carl XVI Gustaf chose for his title simply Sveriges Konung (King of Sweden). The customary title of

15390-469: The unwritten precedent was set in 1917, when Gustaf V had little choice but to support the idea of a parliamentary system and promised Prime Minister Nils Edén to stop seeking advice from secret advisors other than the duly appointed cabinet ministers and not to interfere in politics again; the Torekov compromise, struck in 1971 by the four major parties at the time, provided, and continues to provide,

15525-577: The way the monarchy has developed during his reign. When, on 1 January 1975, it replaced the Instrument of Government of 1809 as part of the Constitution of Sweden , the Instrument of Government of 1974 ( Swedish : 1974 års regeringsform ) transformed the advisory Council of State ( Statsrådet ) into the collegial Government ( Regeringen ), to which all executive power was transferred. Responsibility for nominating and dismissing

15660-628: The work followed the German translation by Martin Luther in 1534. Gustav Vasa's breaking with the Catholic Church is virtually simultaneous with Henry VIII doing the same in England; both kings acted following a similar pattern, i.e., a prolonged confrontation with the Pope culminating with the king deciding to take his own decisions independently of Rome. Gustav encountered resistance from some areas of

15795-655: Was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560, previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm ( Riksföreståndare ) from 1521, during the ongoing Swedish War of Liberation against King Christian II of Denmark, Norway and Sweden . Gustav rose to lead the Swedish War of Liberation following the Stockholm Bloodbath , where his father was executed. Gustav's election as king on 6 June 1523 (the National Day of Sweden ) and his triumphant entry into Stockholm eleven days later marked Sweden's final secession from

15930-486: Was King Christian's hope to convince the six men to switch sides, and turn against their leader Sten Sture. This strategy was successful regarding all men but Gustav, who stayed loyal to the Sture party. In 1519, Gustav Eriksson escaped from Kalø. He fled to the Hanseatic city of Lübeck where he arrived on 30 September. How he managed to escape is not certain, but according to a somewhat likely story, he disguised himself as

16065-402: Was a descendant of earlier royal dynasties of Sweden, great-granddaughter of Princess Catherine of Sweden , mother of King Charles X of Sweden . On his mother's side, Adolf Frederick was descended from King Gustav Vasa and Christina Magdalena , a sister of Charles X of Sweden . He succeeded as King Adolf Frederick 8 years later on 25 March 1751. During his 20-year reign, Adolf Frederick

16200-401: Was also given to Olaudah Equiano , a prominent Black British abolitionist . Gustav used to be portrayed on the 1,000 kronor note, until he was replaced by Dag Hammarskjöld in June 2016. Gustav has been regarded by some as a power-hungry man who wished to control everything: the Church, the economy, the army and all foreign affairs. But in doing this, he also did manage to unite Sweden,

16335-430: Was but would become entirely ceremonial, without any residual political powers left. Following the required double Riksdag votes that took place in 1973 and 1974, a new Instrument of Government was brought into effect. The monarch's functions and duties, as defined in the 1974 Constitution Act, include heading the special cabinet council held when there is a change of government, but no executive powers with respect to

16470-536: Was created as part of The General Art and Industrial Exposition of Stockholm (1897) ( Swedish : Allmänna konst- och industriutställningen ) also known as "Stockholm World's Fair" ( Stockholmsutställningen ). 59°19′36″N 18°04′18″E  /  59.32667°N 18.07167°E  / 59.32667; 18.07167 Gustav Vasa Gustav I (born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family ; 12 May 1496 – 29 September 1560), commonly known as Gustav Vasa ,

16605-501: Was dethroned and succeeded by John III. In domestic politics John III showed clear Catholic sympathies, inspired by his queen, creating friction with the Swedish clergy and nobility. He reintroduced several Catholic traditions previously abolished, and his foreign policy was affected by his family connection to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth , where his eldest son had been made King Sigismund III in 1587. Following

16740-551: Was elected King of Sweden by the estates of the realm , assembled in Strängnäs on 6 June 1523. Inspired by the teachings of Martin Luther , Gustav I used the Protestant Reformation to curb the power of the Roman Catholic Church . In 1527 he persuaded the estates of the realm , assembled in the city of Västerås , to confiscate church lands, which comprised 21% of the country's farmland. At

16875-404: Was granted the title Royal Highness in his absence, but his pro-Russian policy at that time made him impossible as heir to the Swedish throne. His marriage in 1725 to Anna , the daughter of Peter of Great, did not help his case. His mother, and later Hedwig Eleonora, both supported and worked for his right to be considered heir of Sweden after his childless uncle. Ulrika Eleonora was forced by

17010-516: Was killed at the 1632 Battle of Lützen . Queen Maria Eleonora and the king's ministers took over the government of the Realm on behalf of Gustavus Adolphus' underage daughter Christina , until she reached the age of majority . Gustavus Adolphus is often regarded by military historians as one of the greatest military commanders of all time, with innovative use of combined arms . Christina succeeded her father aged six. A regency government ruled in her name until she turned 18 years of age. During

17145-515: Was little more than a figurehead , the real power being with the Riksdag of the Estates , often distracted by party strife. Twice he endeavored to free himself from the tutelage of the estates. The first occasion was in 1756. Stimulated by his consort Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (sister of Frederick the Great ), he tried to regain a portion of the attenuated prerogative through the Coup of 1756 to abolish

17280-608: Was locked and the former enemies of King Christian were imprisoned. Accusations against the old supporters of Sten Sture regarding heresy were brought forward. The following day the sentences were announced. During the Stockholm Bloodbath, close to 100 people were executed on Stortorget , among them Gustav Eriksson's father, Erik Johansson, and uncle, Joakim Brahe . Gustav himself was at the time staying at Räfsnäs, close to Gripsholm Castle . Gustav Eriksson had reasons to fear for his life and left Räfsnäs. He travelled to

17415-538: Was made with the Danish defenders in Stockholm. On 17 June the rebels could enter the capital city. At Midsummer , a grand entrance of king Gustav was arranged at Söderport, the southern gate of Stockholm. Celebrations followed, including a mass of thanksgiving in Storkyrkan (also known as Stockholm Cathedral) led by Peder Jakobsson. Gustav could now install himself in the Tre Kronor palace. Bailiffs, loyal to

17550-518: Was married to Svantepolk Knutsson, son of Duke of Reval). Since the end of the 14th century, Sweden had been a part of the Kalmar Union with Denmark and Norway. The Danish dominance in this union occasionally led to uprisings in Sweden. During Gustav's childhood, parts of the Swedish nobility tried to make Sweden independent. Gustav and his father Erik supported the party of Sten Sture the Younger, regent of Sweden from 1512, and its struggle against

17685-490: Was more interested in feathering their own nests rather than working in the interest of the country at large. When Charles XI came of age in 1672, the effectiveness of the armed forces had seriously deteriorated and the country was ill-prepared as the King of Denmark, Christian V , invaded to settle old scores . The Danes were ultimately unsuccessful in their attempts, and Charles XI undertook several measures to prevent what had just almost happened from occurring again: reducing

17820-468: Was named after the royal house of Vasa in 1606. 18th century playwrights and librettists used his biography as the source for some of their works, including the 1739 Gustavus Vasa by Henry Brooke (the first play banned under the Licensing Act 1737 , due to Robert Walpole 's belief that the play's villain was a proxy for himself) and the 1770 Gustavo primo re di Svezia . The name Gustavus Vasa

17955-434: Was seriously wounded during a battle, taking bullet wounds to both legs; if this is true, his survival may have been surprising in view of contemporary medical techniques. Some sources state that Nils was executed by quartering ; others that he was reduced to the state of an outlaw after recovering from his wounds, and killed while trying to escape through the woods on the border between Småland and then Danish Blekinge . It

18090-423: Was set that would remain in effect until 1975. Only during World War II , in the so-called Midsummer crisis (regarding the issue whether neutral Sweden should permit rail transport of German troops from Norway passing through to Finland ), did Gustaf V allegedly try to intervene in the political process by threatening to abdicate . King Gustaf VI Adolf succeeded his elderly father who died in 1950, and he

18225-569: Was settled at the 1648 Peace of Westphalia , and the Swedish monarch received representation at the Imperial Diet due to the German conquests ( Bremen-Verden and Swedish Pomerania ) that were made. Having decided not to marry, Christina abdicated the throne on 5 June 1654 in favor of her cousin Charles X Gustav , went abroad, and converted to Roman Catholicism . The Estates elected Charles X Gustav as their new King, and his short reign

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