IV. The Early Modern Period, 1500–1800 > B. Early Modern Europe, 1479–1815 > 5. National Patterns, 1648–1815 > h. Scandinavia > 1. Sweden and Finland > 1808
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1808
 
Sweden lost Finland to Russia.  1
 
1809, March
 
Georg Adlersparre arrested Gustav IV, who abdicated on March 29. Gustav left Sweden (Dec. 24, 1809). Gustav's uncle, Duke Charles, accepted the regency again.  2
 
1809, May 1
 
A riksdag called which established a constitutional committee.  3
 
1809
 
The committee drafted the constitution, which reaffirmed the king's sovereignty but only within its constitutional limits. It established a balance of powers, giving the riksdag and king vetoes over legislation. The king had both executive and legislative power; the riksdag only legislative. The constitution also established an independent high court that included the king (granting him two votes, which he never used). The constitution did not resolve the difficulties created by a system of four estates.  4
The riksdag also lifted bans on private distilling and created an income tax to replace older taxes on windows, cards, and so on.  5
 
1809, June 6
 
Duke Charles accepted the crown after approval of the riksdag (June 5). However, he had no heirs. Prince Christian August of Norway was chosen as heir, but he died on May 28, 1810.  6
 
1810, Aug. 21
 
General Bernedotte (See 1810) elected as crown prince and successor to the throne. Bernedotte arrived in Sweden and converted to Lutheranism, changing his name to Charles Johan. Charles Johan easily assumed effective control of the government because Charles XIII was in poor health. Charles Johan showed concern over the Swedish consumption of alcohol and encouraged agricultural reforms.  7
 
1814, Jan. 14
 
The Treaty of Kiel. Sweden received Norway from Denmark in exchange for Pomerania and payment of Norway's share of the Danish national debt. Denmark retained Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroes. (See Sweden and Norway)  8
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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