Gustav III
King of Sweden, the Goths and the Wends, etc. The monarch is the Head of state of the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden being a Constitutional monarchy with a Representative democracy based on a The title of King of the Goths (Götes konung Gothernes konge / De Gothers konge gothorum rex was for many centuries borne by both the Kings of Sweden and the Kings of The title of King of the Wends denoted sovereignty or claims over once- Slavic lands of southern coasts of the Baltic Sea, those otherwise called Mecklenburg
Gustav III painted in 1775 by Alexander Roslin. Year 1775 ( MDCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Alexander Roslin ( July 15, 1718 &ndash July 5, 1793) was a Swedish portrait painter
Reign	12 February 1771 – 29 March 1792
Coronation	29 May 1772
Born	24 January 1746
Birthplace	Stockholm, Sweden
Died	29 March 1792 (aged 46)
Place of death	Stockholm Palace, Stockholm, Sweden
Buried	Riddarholmen Church, Stockholm
Predecessor	Adolf Frederick
Successor	Gustav IV Adolf
Consort	Sophia Magdalena of Denmark
Issue	Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden
Royal House	Holstein-Gottorp
Royal motto	Fäderneslandet ("The Fatherland")
Father	Adolf Frederick
Mother	Louisa Ulrika of Prussia

Gustav III (24 January [O.S. 13 January] 1746 – 29 March 1792^{Note on dates}) was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. Events 1429 - English Forces under Sir John Fastolf defend a supply convoy carrying rations to the army besieging Orleans from attack by the Year 1771 ( MDCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Year 1772 ( MDCCLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1746 ( MDCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Stockholm Palace ( Swedish: Stockholms slott) is the Official residence and major royal palace of the Swedish monarch. ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. The Riddarholmen Church (Riddarholmskyrkan is the Burial church of the Swedish monarchs. ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the Adolf Frederick (Adolf Fredrik ( 14 May 1710 – 12 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death Gustav IV Adolf (November 1 1778 &ndash February 7 1837 was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809 Sofia Magdalena of Denmark and Norway ( Christiansborg Palace, Denmark, 3 July 1746 - Ulriksdal Palace, Gustav IV Adolf (November 1 1778 &ndash February 7 1837 was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809 The House of Holstein-Gottorp, a cadet branch of the Oldenburg dynasty ruled Sweden from 1751 until 1818, and Norway from Adolf Frederick (Adolf Fredrik ( 14 May 1710 – 12 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death Louisa Ulrika of Prussia ( Swedish: Lovisa Ulrika; German: Luise Ulrike) (1720&mdash1782 was a Swedish Queen Queen consort of Sweden Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Old Style (or OS) and New Style (or NS) are used in English language historical studies either to indicate that the start of the Julian year Year 1746 ( MDCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The monarch is the Head of state of the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden being a Constitutional monarchy with a Representative democracy based on a He was the eldest son of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, sister of Frederick the Great. Adolf Frederick (Adolf Fredrik ( 14 May 1710 – 12 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death Louisa Ulrika of Prussia ( Swedish: Lovisa Ulrika; German: Luise Ulrike) (1720&mdash1782 was a Swedish Queen Queen consort of Sweden Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the

As he opposed the parliamentarian reforms that had been worked out before his reign, in the Age of Liberty, and as he spent high amounts on things that pleased him, he was controversial. A parliamentary system, also known as parliamentarianism (and parliamentarism in American English) is a System of government in which The Age of Liberty (Frihetstiden is the half a century long experiment with a Parliamentary system and increasing Civil Rights in the period from Charles To distract attention from this, he tried to expand Sweden's borders through a war against Russia, but the attempt was unsuccessful. The Russo-Swedish War of 1788–90, known as Gustav III's Russian War in Sweden, Gustav III's War in Finland and Catherine II's Swedish In the end, Gustav was assassinated by a conspiracy of noblemen.

Gustav III was a benefactor of arts and literature. He founded several academies, among them the Swedish Academy, and had the Royal Swedish Opera built. The Swedish Academy (Svenska Akademien founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. The Kungliga Teatern ( "Royal Theatre") or Royal Swedish Opera is the national stage for Opera in Sweden.

Royal title

Gustav III was known in Sweden and abroad by his Royal Titles, or styles. These were;

We Gustav by the Grace of God of the Swedes, the Goths and the Vends King, Grand Duke of Finland, Duke of Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, Heir to Norway and Duke of Schleswig-Holstein, Stormarn and Ditmarsken, Count of Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, etc. etc. The title of King of the Goths (Götes konung Gothernes konge / De Gothers konge gothorum rex was for many centuries borne by both the Kings of Sweden and the Kings of The title of King of the Wends denoted sovereignty or claims over once- Slavic lands of southern coasts of the Baltic Sea, those otherwise called Mecklenburg Grand Duke of Finland, or more correctly translated Grand Prince of Finland ( Storfurste av Finland Suomen suuriruhtinas was from around 1580 Swedish Pomerania (Svenska Pommern Schwedisch-Pommern was a Dominion under the Swedish Crown from the 17th to the 19th century situated on what is now the Prince, from the Latin root Princeps, is a general term for a Monarch, for a member of a monarch's or former monarch's family and is a Rügen (ˈʁyːgən or Rugia is Germany 's largest Island. It is located in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Wismar (ˈvɪsmaʁ is a small port and Hanseatic League town in northern Germany on the Baltic Sea, in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,about "Heir" and "Heiress" redirect here For the men and women fragrances endorsed by Paris Hilton see Heiress (fragrance. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional A duke is a member of the Nobility, historically of highest rank below the Sovereign, and historically controlled a Duchy or a Dukedom is the northernmost of the 16 ''Bundesländer'' in Germany. The former English name was Sleswick-Holsatia the Danish name is Stormarn is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by (from the north and clockwise the districts of Segeberg and Ostholstein A count is a Nobleman in European countries The word count comes from French comte, itself from Latin ||-||-||-||} Oldenburg ( Low German: Ollnborg) is an Independent City in Lower Saxony, Germany. Delmenhorst (ˈdɛlmənhɔʁst is an urban district ( Kreisfreie Stadt) in Lower Saxony, Germany. Et cetera (in English contexts pronounced) is a Latin expression that means "and other things" or "and so forth"

Education

Gustav was educated under the care of two governors who were amongst the most eminent Swedish statesmen of the day, Carl Gustaf Tessin and Carl Fredrik Scheffer; but he owed most perhaps to the poet and historian Olof von Dalin. Count Carl Gustaf Tessin ( September 5, 1695 &ndash January 7, 1770) was a Swedish Politician and son of Olof von Dalin (1708-1763 the Swedish poet was born on 29 August 1708 in the parish of Vinberg in Halland, where his father was the minister

The interference of the state with his education, when he was quite a child was however doubly harmful, as his parents taught him to despise the preceptors imposed upon him by the Estates of the Realm, and the atmosphere of intrigue and duplicity in which he grew up made him precociously experienced in the art of dissimulation. The Riksdag of the Estates, or Ståndsriksdagen, was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm, or Rikets ständer, when they were assembled

But even his most hostile teachers were amazed by the alliance of his natural gifts, and, while still a boy, he possessed that charm of manner which was to make him so fascinating and so dangerous in later life, coupled with the strong dramatic instinct which won for him his honourable place in Swedish literature.

On the whole, Gustav cannot be said to have been well educated, but he read very widely; there was scarcely a French author of his day with whose works he was not intimately acquainted; while his enthusiasm for the new French ideas of enlightenment was as sincere as, if more critical than, his mother's. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century

Marriage

On November 4, 1766, Gustav married Sophia Magdalena, daughter of Frederick V of Denmark. Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1766 ( MDCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Sofia Magdalena of Denmark and Norway ( Christiansborg Palace, Denmark, 3 July 1746 - Ulriksdal Palace, Frederick V (31 March 1723 – 13 January 1766 was king of Denmark and Norway from 1746 son of Christian VI of Denmark and Sophia Magdalen of The match was an unhappy one, owing partly to incompatibility of temper; but still more to the mischievous interference of the jealous queen-mother. The marriage produced two children: Crown Prince Gustav Adolf (1778-1837), and Prince Carl Gustav, Duke of Småland (1782-1783). Gustav IV Adolf (November 1 1778 &ndash February 7 1837 was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809 The conception of the children was difficult, and his own mother claimed that he was not the father of his son and heir. It was rumored that he was homosexual. Evidence of this is found in the close personal relationships he formed with two of his courtiers, Count Axel von Fersen and Baron Gustav Armfelt. Count Hans Axel von Fersen ( Stockholm September 4, 1755 - Stockholm June 20, 1810) was a Swedish Army Count Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt ( March 31, 1757 &ndash August 19, 1814) was a Finnish Courtier and diplomat

Politics of an Heir Apparent

Gustav first intervened actively in politics in 1768, when he compelled the dominant Cap faction to summon an extraordinary diet from which he hoped for the reform of the constitution in a monarchical direction. The Caps ( Mössorna) were a political faction during the Age of Liberty ( 1719 - 1772) in Sweden. WikipediaManual of Style#National varieties of English.-->A political faction In Politics, a diet is a formal Deliberative assembly. The term is derived from Medieval Latin dietas, and ultimately comes from The Swedish Constitution consists of four fundamental laws ( Swedish: grundlagar, singular grundlag) But the victorious Hat party refused to redeem the pledges which they had given before the elections. The Hats were a political faction during the Age of Liberty ( 1719 - 1772) in Sweden. "That we should have lost the constitutional battle does not distress us so much", wrote Gustav, in the bitterness of his heart; "but what does dismay me is to see my poor nation so sunk in corruption as to place its own felicity in absolute anarchy. "

He was an enthusiast of Sweden's national history, and proudly held in memory that he descended, through his paternal grandmother, from the House of Vasa: from king Gustav I of Sweden and from a sister of Charles X Gustav of Sweden. The House of Vasa ( Swedish: Vasaätten, Polish: Waza) was the Royal House of Sweden Gustav I, born Gustav Eriksson (Colloquial 15th century Upplandic Gösta Jerksson) and later known as Gustav Vasa (12 May 1496 – 29 September Charles X Gustav (Karl X Gustav (8 November 1622 – 13 February 1660 was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death

From 4 February to 25 March 1771, Gustav was in Paris, where he carried both the court and the city by storm. Events 211 - Roman Emperor Septimius Severus dies leaving the Roman Empire in the hands of his two quarrelsome sons Events 1199 - Richard I is wounded by a crossbow bolt while fighting France which leads to his death on April 6. Year 1771 ( MDCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The poets and the philosophers paid him enthusiastic homage, and distinguished women testified to his superlative merits. With many of them he maintained a lifelong correspondence.

His visit to the French capital was, however, no mere pleasure trip; it was also a political mission. Confidential agents from the Swedish court had already prepared the way for him, and the duc de Choiseul, had resolved to discuss with him the best method of bringing about a revolution in France's ally, Sweden.

Before he departed, the French government undertook to pay the outstanding subsidies to Sweden unconditionally, at the rate of one and a half million livres annually; and the comte de Vergennes, one of the great names of French diplomacy, was transferred from Constantinople to Stockholm. Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes ( December 20, 1717 &mdash February 13, 1787) was a French statesman and diplomat Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the

On his way home Gustav paid a short visit to his uncle, Frederick the Great, at Potsdam. Frederick II (Friedrich II January 24 1712 August 17 1786) was a King of Prussia (1740&ndash1786 from the Also see Potsdam New York (in the USA For the Potsdam Conference see Potsdam Conference. Frederick bluntly informed his nephew that, in concert with Russia and Denmark, he had guaranteed the integrity of the existing Swedish constitution, and significantly advised the young monarch to play the part of mediator and abstain from violence. The Russian Empire ( Pre-reform Russian: Pоссійская Имперія Modern Russian: Российская Империя translit: Rossiyskaya The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe

Revolution

On his return to Sweden Gustav III tried to mediate between the bitterly divided Hats and Caps.

On 21 June 1771, he opened his first Riksdag of the Estates (parliament) with a speech which aroused powerful emotions. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1771 ( MDCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a The Riksdag of the Estates, or Ståndsriksdagen, was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm, or Rikets ständer, when they were assembled It was the first time for more than a century that a Swedish king had addressed a Swedish Riksdag in its native tongue.

He stressed the need for all parties to sacrifice their animosities for the common good, and volunteered, as "the first citizen of a free people," to be the mediator between the contending factions. A composition committee was actually formed, but it proved illusory from the first, the patriotism of neither of the factions being equal to the puniest act of self-denial.

The subsequent attempts of the dominant Caps to reduce him to a roi fainéant (a powerless king), encouraged him to consider a revolution. Here are some examples of French words and phrases used by English speakers.

Under the sway of the Cap faction, Sweden seemed threatened with falling prey to Russia. It appeared on the point of being absorbed in that "Northern System" which the Russian vice-chancellor, Count Nikita Panin, strove to bring about. Count Nikita Ivanovich Panin (Ники́та Ива́нович Па́нин () was an influential Russian statesman and political mentor to Catherine the Great It seemed that only a swift and sudden coup d'état could preserve Sweden's independence.

Gustave III in 1777

At this juncture Gustav III was approached by Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten, a Finnish nobleman, who had incurred the enmity of the Caps, with the project of a revolution. Jacob Magnus Sprengtporten ( 1727 - April 2 1786) was a Finnish soldier and politician He undertook to seize the fortress of Sveaborg by a coup de main, and once Finland was secured, to embark for Sweden, join up with the king and his friends near Stockholm, and force the estates to accept a new constitution from the untrammelled king. Suomenlinna, until 1918 Viapori, ( Finnish) or Sveaborg ( Swedish) is an inhabited sea fortress built on six islands today within A coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow ('stɔkhɔlm is Sweden 's Capital and its largest City. It is the site of the national Swedish government, the parliament, and the The Estates of the realm were the broad divisions of society usually distinguishing Nobility, Clergy, and Commoners recognized in the Middle Ages

The plotters were at this juncture reinforced by Johan Christopher Toll, also a victim of Cap oppression. Count Johan Christopher Toll (1743 &ndash 1817 Swedish statesman and soldier was born at Mölleröd in Scania. Toll proposed to raise a second revolt in the province of Scania, and to secure the southern fortress of Kristianstad. Scania ( in Swedish and Danish) is a geographical region on the southernmost tip of the Scandinavian peninsula, a traditional province ( Kristianstad kri'ɧansta (older spelling Christianstad) is a city in the province of Scania in southernmost Sweden and After some debate, it was finally arranged that, a few days after the Finnish revolt had begun, Kristianstad should openly declare against the government.

Duke Charles (Karl), the eldest of the king's brothers, would thereupon be forced to hastily mobilize the garrisons of all the southern fortresses, for the ostensible purpose of crushing the revolt at Kristianstad; but on arriving before the fortress he was to make common cause with the rebels, and march upon the capital from the south, while Sprengtporten attacked it simultaneously from the east. Charles XIII (Karl XIII ( 7 October, 1748 - 5 February, 1818) was King of Sweden from 1809 and King of Norway (where he

Photo of Gustav III's uniform worn in 1772.

On 6 August 1772 Toll succeeded, by sheer bluff, in winning the fortress of Kristianstad. Events 1538 - Bogotá, Colombia, is founded by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada. Year 1772 ( MDCCLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a On August 16 Sprengtporten succeeded in surprising Sveaborg. Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting But contrary winds prevented him from crossing to Stockholm, and in the meanwhile events had occurred which made his presence there unnecessary.

Monarchical Styles of King Gustav III by the Grace of God, King of the Swedes, the Goths and the Vends
Reference style	His Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty
Alternative style	Ers Majestät

On 16 August, the Cap leader, Ture Rudbeck, arrived at Stockholm with the news of the insurrection in the south, and Gustav found himself isolated in the midst of enemies. A style of office, or honorific, is a term which by Tradition or Law precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or Title, or to the Events 1384 - The Hongwu Emperor of Ming China, Emperor Dong hears a case of a couple who tore paper money bills while fighting Sprengtporten lay weather-bound in Finland, Toll was five hundred miles away, the Hat leaders were in hiding. Gustav thereupon resolved to strike the decisive blow without waiting for the arrival of Sprengtporten.

He acted promptly. On the evening of August 18 all the officers whom he thought he could trust received secret instructions to assemble in the great square facing the arsenal on the following morning. Events 293 BC - The oldest known Roman temple to Venus is founded starting the institution of Vinalia Rustica. At ten o'clock on 19 August Gustav mounted his horse and rode straight to the arsenal. Events 43 BC - Octavian, later known as Augustus compels the Roman Senate to elect him Consul. On the way his adherents joined him in little groups, as if by accident, so that by the time he reached his destination he had about two hundred officers in his suite.

After parade he reconducted them to the guard-room, which is located in the north western wing of the palace and it is where the Guard of Honour had, and has, its headquarters, and unfolded his plans to them. He told the assembled officers that:

"If you follow me, just like your ancestors followed Gustav Vasa and Gustavus Adolphus, then I will risk my life and blood for you and the salvation of the fatherland!"

A young ensign then spoke up:

"We are willing to sacrifice both blood and life in Your Majesty's service!"Source

Gustav then dictated a new oath of allegiance, and every one signed it without hesitation. Gustav I, born Gustav Eriksson (Colloquial 15th century Upplandic Gösta Jerksson) and later known as Gustav Vasa (12 May 1496 – 29 September For the other Swedish kings known as Gustavus Adolphus see Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden or Gustav VI Adolf of Sweden An oath of allegiance is an Oath whereby a subject or Citizen acknowledges his/her duty of Allegiance and swears loyalty to his Monarch It absolved them from their allegiance to the estates, and bound them solely to obey "their lawful king, Gustav III".

Meanwhile the Privy Council and its president, Rudbeck, had been arrested and the fleet secured. The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm (in Swedish Riksrådet until 1687 sometimes Latinised as Senatus Regni Sueciae) consisted originally The Royal Swedish Navy ( Swedish: Marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. Then Gustav made a tour of the city and was everywhere received by enthusiastic crowds, who hailed him as a deliverer. A special song was also composed by Carl Mikael Bellman called Toast to king Gustav!

On the evening of 20 August heralds perambulated the streets proclaiming that the estates were to meet at the Palace on the following day; every deputy absenting himself would be regarded as the enemy of his country and his king, and on August 21, a few moments after the estates had assembled, the king in full regalia appeared, and taking his seat on the throne, delivered his famous philippic, viewed as one of the masterpieces of Swedish oratory, in which he reproached the estates for their unpatriotic venality and license in the past. ( February 4, 1740 - February 11, 1795) was a Swedish Poet and Composer. "Gustafs skål", literally Toast to Gustaf, is a song written by Carl Michael Bellman as a salutation to King Gustaf III of Sweden, following Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. A philippic is a fiery damning speech or Tirade, delivered to condemn a particular political actor

Part of the speech by Gustav III to the Estates;

. . . have given birth to hatred, hatred to revenge, revenge to persecution, persecution to new revolutions which finally has passed into a period of disease, which has wounded and degraded the whole nation. The ambition and lust for glory in a few people has damaged the realm, and blood has been shed by both parties, and the result of this has been the suffering of the people. To establish their own power base, has been the rulers’ sole goal, often at the cost of other citizens, and always at the cost of the nation. In times when the law was clear, the law has been distorted, and when this was not possible, it was broken. Nothing has been sacred to a populace bent on hatred and revenge, and the lunacy has finally reached as far, so as one has assumed members of parliament to be above the law, them not having any other guidance than their own conscience. By this Freedom, the most noble of human rights, has been transformed by an unbearable aristocratic despotism in the hands of the ruling party, which in its self has been subdued by a few. . . source

A new Constitution was read to the estates and unanimously accepted by them. Sweden's Constitution of 1772 took effect through a bloodless Coup d'état carried out by King Gustav III, establishing a brief Absolute monarchy in Sweden The diet was then dissolved.

Between constitutionalism and absolutism

Gustav worked towards reform in the same direction as other contemporary sovereigns of the "age of enlightenment". The Age of Enlightenment or The Enlightenment is a term used to describe a phase in Western philosophy and cultural life centered upon the eighteenth century Criminal justice became more lenient, the death penalty was removed for many crimes, and torture was abolished.

He took an active part in every department of business, but relied far on extra-official counsellors of his own choosing than upon the senate. The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm (in Swedish Riksrådet until 1687 sometimes Latinised as Senatus Regni Sueciae) consisted originally The effort to remedy the widespread corruption that had flourished under the Hats and Caps engaged a considerable share of his time and he even found it necessary to put on trial the entire Göta Hovrätt, the superior court of justice in Jönköping. Jönköping is a city in Småland in southern Sweden with 84423 inhabitants (2005

Measures were also taken to reform the administration and judicial procedures. In 1774 an ordinance was proclaimed providing for the liberty of the press, though "within certain limits". Freedom Constitutional or statutory protections pertaining to freedom of the press The national defences were raised to a "Great Power" scale, and the navy was so enlarged as to become one of the most formidable in Europe. The dilapidated finances were set in good order by the "currency realization ordinance" of 1776. The riksdaler was the name of a Swedish coin first minted in 1604

Gustav also introduced new national economic policies. In 1775 free trade in grain was promoted and a number of oppressive export tolls were abolished. The poor law was amended, limited religious liberty was proclaimed for both Roman Catholics and Jews, and Gustav even designed and popularized a national dress, which was in general use among the upper classes from 1778 until his death. This article deals chiefly with the English Poor Laws covering England and Wales Freedom of religion is the freedom of an individual or community in public or private to manifest religion or belief in teaching practice worship and observance PLEASE TAKE NOTE************ (It is still worn by the ladies of the court on state occasions. ) The king's one great economic blunder was the attempt to make the sale of alcohol a government monopoly, which clearly enfringed upon the privileges of the estates. In Chemistry, an alcohol is any Organic compound in which a Hydroxyl group ( - O[[hydrogen H]]) is bound to a Carbon

His foreign policy, on the other hand, was at first both restrained and cautious. Thus, when the king summoned the estates to assemble at Stockholm on September 3, 1778, he could give a highly positive account of his six years' stewardship. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Year 1778 ( MDCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or The parliament was quite obsequious towards the king. "There was no room for a single question during the whole session. "

Short as the session was, it was quite long enough to open the eyes of the deputies to the fact that their political supremacy had departed. They had changed places with the king. He was now indeed their sovereign lord; and, for all his gentleness, the jealousy with which he guarded, the vigour with which he enforced the prerogative, plainly showed that he meant to remain so.

Even those who were prepared to acquiesce in the change by no means liked it. If the diet of 1778 had been docile, the diet of 1786 was mutinous. The consequence was that nearly all the royal propositions were either rejected outright or so modified that Gustav himself withdrew them.

Absolute monarchy

The Riksdag of 1786 marks a turning-point in Gustav's history. Henceforth he showed a growing determination to rule without a parliament; a passage, cautious and gradual, yet unflinching, from semi-constitutionalism to semi-absolutism.

At the same time his foreign policy became more adventurous. At first he sought to gain Russian support to acquire Norway from Denmark. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe When Catherine II refused to abandon her ally Denmark, Gustav declared war on Russia in June 1788, while it was deeply engaged in a war with the Ottoman Empire to the south. Catherine II, called Catherine the Great (Екатерина II Великая Yekaterina II Velikaya;) reigned as Empress of Russia for 34 years The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish In embarking on a war of aggression without the consent of the estates, Gustav violated his own constitution of 1772 - which led to a serious mutiny, the Anjala Confederation, among his aristocratic officers in Finland. Sweden's Constitution of 1772 took effect through a bloodless Coup d'état carried out by King Gustav III, establishing a brief Absolute monarchy in Sweden Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Denmark declared war in support of its Russian ally, but was soon neutralized through British and Prussian diplomacy. The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 Prussia ( Latin: Borussia, Prutenia; Prūsija Prūsija Prusy Old Prussian: Prūsa) was most recently a historic state

Returning to Sweden, Gustav aroused popular indignation against the mutinous, aristocratic officers, ultimately quelled their rebellion, and arrested its leaders. Capitalizing on the powerful anti-aristocratic passions thus aroused, Gustav summoned a Riksdag early in 1789, at which he put through an Act of Union and Security on February 17, 1789 with the backing of the three lower estates. The Act of Union and Security (Swedish Förenings- och säkerhetsakten) was proposed by king Gustav III of Sweden to the assembled Estates of the Realm Events 1500 - Battle of Hemmingstedt. 1600 - Philosopher Giordano Bruno is burned alive at Campo de' Fiori Year 1789 ( MDCCLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common This powerfully reinforced monarchical authority, even though the estates retained the power of the purse. In return, Gustav abolished most of the old privileges of the nobility.

Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)

Trophies from the Battle of Svensksund brought into the Stockholm Cathedral. The Second Battle of Svensksund ( fi: Ruotsinsalmi ru: Rochensalm was a naval engagement fought in the Gulf of Finland outside the present Sankt Nikolai kyrka ( Saint Nicolaus Church) most commonly known as Storkyrkan ( The Great Church) is the oldest church in Gamla Stan, the
Painting by Pehr Hilleström. Pehr Hilleström ( 1732 - 1816) was a Swedish artist and since 1794 a professor at the Swedish Royal Academy of Art.

Gustav as Apollo Belvedere, landing on the quays of Stockholm, returning from the war to offer a twig of peace to the burghers of Stockholm.
Statue at Skeppsbron by Johan Tobias Sergel. Skeppsbron ( Swedish: "The Ship's Bridge" is as street and a quay in Gamla stan, the old town of Stockholm, Sweden, stretching from Johan Tobias Sergel ( September 7, 1740 - February 26, 1814) Swedish sculptor was born in Stockholm.

Throughout 1789 and 1790 Gustav conducted the war with Russia, finally winning the Battle of Svensksund, on July 9, regarded as the greatest naval victory ever gained by the Swedish Navy. The Russo-Swedish War of 1788–90, known as Gustav III's Russian War in Sweden, Gustav III's War in Finland and Catherine II's Swedish The Second Battle of Svensksund ( fi: Ruotsinsalmi ru: Rochensalm was a naval engagement fought in the Gulf of Finland outside the present Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. The Royal Swedish Navy ( Swedish: Marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. The Russians lost one-third of their fleet and 7,000 men. A month later, on August 14, 1790, peace was signed between Russia and Sweden at Värälä. Events 1183 - Taira no Munemori and the Taira clan take the young Emperor Antoku and the three sacred treasures Year 1790 ( MDCCXC) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The Treaty of Värälä was a Treaty signed in Värälä, Elimäki Municipality, Finland, between Russia (represented by Iosif Only eight months before, Catherine had declared that "the odious and revolting aggression" of the king of Sweden would be "forgiven" only if he "testified his repentance" by agreeing to a peace granting a general and unlimited amnesty to all his rebels, and consenting to a guarantee by the Swedish diet ("as it would be imprudent to confide in his good faith alone") for the observance of peace in the future. The Treaty of Värälä saved Sweden from any such humiliating concession, and in October 1791 Gustav concluded an eight years' defensive alliance with the empress, who thereby bound herself to pay her new ally an annual subsidy of 300,000 roubles. The Treaty of Värälä was a Treaty signed in Värälä, Elimäki Municipality, Finland, between Russia (represented by Iosif

Gustav now aimed at forming a league of princes against the Jacobins, and subordinated every other consideration to this goal. The Jacobin Club was the largest and most powerful political club of the French Revolution. His profound knowledge of popular assemblies enabled him, alone among contemporary sovereigns, accurately to gauge from the first the scope and bearing of the French Revolution. The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an He was, however, hampered by poverty and the lack of support from the other European Powers, and, after the brief Gävle diet January 22–February 24, 1792, he fell victim to a widespread conspiracy among his aristocratic enemies. Gävle is a city in east central Sweden with 68700 inhabitants ( 2005) Events 565 - Eutychius is deposed as Patriarch of Constantinople by John Scholasticus. Events 303 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year In a political sense conspiracy refers to a group of persons united in the goal of usurping or overthrowing an established political power

Assassination

A masked ball took place at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm at midnight on March 16, 1792. The Kungliga Teatern ( "Royal Theatre") or Royal Swedish Opera is the national stage for Opera in Sweden. Events 597 BC - Babylonians capture Jerusalem, replace Jehoiachin with Zedekiah as king Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Gustav had arrived earlier that evening to enjoy a dinner in the company of friends. During dinner, he received an anonymous letter that contained a threat to his life, but, as the king had received numerous threatening letters in the past, he chose to ignore it, and, after dining, left his rooms to take part in the masquerade.

Soon upon entering, he was surrounded by Anckarström and his co-conspirators Claes Fredrik Horn and Adolf Ribbing. Jacob Johan Anckarström ( May 11, 1762 - April 27, 1792) was a Swedish military officer and Regicide. The king was easily spotted, mainly due to the breast star of the Order of the Seraphim which glowed in silver upon his cape. The conspirators were all wearing black masks and accosted him in French with the words:

Bonjour, beau masque ("Good-day, fine mask")

Anckarström moved in behind the King and fired a pistol-shot into the left side of his back. The King jumped aside, crying in French:

Ah! Je suis blessé, tirez-moi d'ici et arrêtez-le ("Ah! I am wounded, take me away from here and stop him!")

The King was immediately carried back to his quarters, and the exits of the Opera were sealed. Anckarström was arrested the following morning, and immediately confessed to the murder, although he denied a conspiracy until informed that Horn and Ribbing had also been arrested and had confessed in full.

The king had not been shot dead, but was alive, and continued to function as head of state. The coup was a failure in the short run. However, the wound became infected and on March 29 he finally died, his last words being:

Jag känner mig sömning, några ögonblicks vila skulle göra mig gott ("I feel sleepy, a few moments rest will do me good")

Ulrica Arfvidsson, the famous medium of the Gustavian era, had told him something that could be interpreted as a prediction about it in 1786 when he visited her anonymously - a coincidence, but she was known to have a large network of informers all over town to help her with her predictions, and was in fact interrogated about the murder. Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Anna Ulrica Arfvidsson (1734–1801 was a Swedish Fortune-teller during the reign of Gustav III of Sweden and commonly known as "Mamsell Arfvidsson" (Mademoiselle

Contributions to culture

See also: Bollhuset

Although he may be charged with many foibles and extravagances, Gustav III is regarded one of the leading sovereigns of the 18th century. Bollhuset, also called by the names sv Stora Bollhuset, sv Bollhusteatern, and sv Lejonkulan during the centuries was the name of the first theater of

Gustav was, moreover, active as a playwright. He is largely credited with creating the Swedish theatre, where his own historical dramas were performed, and he promoted the careers of many native singers and actors, among them the dramatic stars Fredrique Löwen and Lars Hjortsberg and the operatic stars Elisabeth Olin and Christoffer Christian Karsten, by letting them perform in his plays, and founded both the Royal Dramatic Theater, the Royal Swedish Opera and the Royal Swedish Ballet. Jeanette Fredrique Löwen, née Johanna Fredrika Löf (October 1760&ndash17 July 1813 was a Swedish Actor, counted as the greatest and most popular actress Lars Hjortsberg, ( 22 November 1772 &ndash 8 July 1843) was a Swedish actor Elisabeth Olin, née Lillström, (born December 1740 dead 26 March 1828) was one of the first professional female Singers in Sweden Christoffer Christian (or Kristofer Kristian Karsten, (1756-1827 was a Swedish opera singer sometimes called the greatest male opera singer in Swedish history The Royal Dramatic Theatre or in Swedish Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern, colloquially known in Sweden as Dramaten, is Sweden's national The Kungliga Teatern ( "Royal Theatre") or Royal Swedish Opera is the national stage for Opera in Sweden. The Royal Swedish Ballet is one of the oldest ballet troupes in Europe His historical essays, notably the famous anonymous eulogy on Lennart Torstenson crowned by the Swedish Academy, which he established in 1786, are full of feeling and exquisite in style, his letters to his friends are delightful. Lennart Torstenson, Count of Ortala, Baron of Virestad ( 17 August 1603 – 7 April 1651) was The Swedish Academy (Svenska Akademien founded in 1786 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies of Sweden. Every branch of literature and the arts interested him, every poet and artist of his day found in him a liberal and sympathetic protector.

He became a Freemason in 1780, and introduced the Rite of Strict Observance into Sweden. The Rite of Strict Observance was a Rite of Freemasonry, a series of progressive degrees that were conferred by the Order of Strict Observance That year, he named his brother, the Duke of Södermanland (later Charles XIII), to the office of Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of Sweden. sometimes referred to under its Latin form Sudermannia, is a historical province or landskap on the south eastern coast of Sweden. Charles XIII (Karl XIII ( 7 October, 1748 - 5 February, 1818) was King of Sweden from 1809 and King of Norway (where he This article relates to mainstream 'Craft Freemasonry' sometimes known as 'Blue Lodge Freemasonry' The Grand Lodge conferred upon him the title "Vicarius Salomonis" (Vicar of Solomon). ^[1]

Opera

The assassination of Gustav III became the basis of an opera libretto by Scribe, set by both Daniel Auber in 1833 under the title Gustave III, and with the specifics changed by censorship, by Giuseppe Verdi in 1859 as Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball). Augustin Eugène Scribe ( December 24, 1791 – February 20, 1861) was a French dramatist and Librettist. Daniel François Esprit Auber ( January 29, 1782 – May 13, 1871) was a French Composer. Gustave III ou Le bal masqué ( Gustavus III or The Masked Ball) is an opéra historique or Grand opera in five acts by Daniel Auber Censorship is the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material which may be considered objectionable harmful or sensitive as determined by a censor Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball, is an Opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi with text by Antonio Somma.

Saint-Barthélemy and Gustavia

It was under King Gustav III that Sweden gained in 1785 the small Caribbean island of Saint-Barthélemy from France, in exchange for French trading rights in Gothenburg. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Saint Barthélemy (Saint-Barthélemy officially the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy) is an Overseas collectivity This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Gothenburg ( Swedish:) /jœte'bɔrj/ is a city, a municipality, and an urban area on the west-coast of Sweden.

The island's capital bears up to the present the name Gustavia in honour of Gustav III. Though it was sold back to France in 1878, many streets and locations there still bear Swedish names. Also, the Swedish national arms, the three crowns along with the grey heron, still appear in the island's coat of arms.

See also: Slave trade under King Gustav III. Swedish slave trade occurred in the early History of Sweden and resurfaced during the 17th century around the time Swedish overseas colonies were established in

Ancestors

See also

• History of Sweden: Absolute Monarchy in Sweden, Swedish slave trade
• Carl Michael Bellman: Gustafs skål
• Joseph Martin Kraus: Riksdagsmusiken
• Culture of Sweden
• List of successful coups d'état

The coat of arms shown here is the one adopted by Benadotte when he became king. Eleonore d'Olbreuse ( Olbreuse near La Rochelle, January 3 1639 &ndash Celle, February 5 1722) was Countess Modern Sweden emerged out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century The Enlightened Despot See also Gustav III of Sweden Adolf Frederick of Sweden died on February 12, 1771. Swedish slave trade occurred in the early History of Sweden and resurfaced during the 17th century around the time Swedish overseas colonies were established in ( February 4, 1740 - February 11, 1795) was a Swedish Poet and Composer. "Gustafs skål", literally Toast to Gustaf, is a song written by Carl Michael Bellman as a salutation to King Gustaf III of Sweden, following Joseph Martin Kraus was a composer in the classical era who is sometimes referred to as "the Swedish Mozart. Riksdagsmusiken, or the Riksdag Music, is a suite of music composed by Joseph Martin Kraus, for the grand opening in 1789, of the Riksdag of the Estates The Culture of Sweden is typically perceived as Egalitarian, simple and open to international influences Coups d'état are listed by country in alphabetical order A-E Afghanistan in 1973 by Mohammed Daoud Khan against Mohammad The House of Holstein-Gottorp, a cadet branch of the Oldenburg dynasty ruled Sweden from 1751 until 1818, and Norway from The House of Oldenburg is a North German dynasty and one of Europe 's most influential Royal Houses It first became royal when Count Christian I Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1746 ( MDCCXLVI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Events 1461 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Towton - Edward of York defeats Queen Margaret to become King Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Adolf Frederick (Adolf Fredrik ( 14 May 1710 – 12 February 1771) was King of Sweden from 1751 until his death This is a list of Swedish Monarchs, that is the Kings and ruling Queens of Sweden, with Regents and Viceroys of the Kalmar Union Year 1771 ( MDCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Year 1792 ( MDCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Gustav IV Adolf (November 1 1778 &ndash February 7 1837 was King of Sweden from 1792 until his abdication in 1809

Notes and references

• ^A note on dates : Sweden changed from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1753, when February 17 was followed by March 1.