Swedish Monarch. Born the son of Gustav III, he came to the throne in 1792 after his father's assassination. During the five years of his minority, Sweden was under the control of regents headed by the infamous Baron Reuterholm. Soon after gaining his majority in 1797, he married Princess Frederica of Baden. In 1805, he brought Sweden into the European coalition against Napoleon. When Russia became allied with France through the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807, Alexander I of Russia tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Swedish king to join the Continental System against Great Britain. In 1807, Denmark-Norway declared war on Sweden, isolating the nation. He rebuffed all overtures from Russia for an alliance, and in 1808, Russia attacked. The brief war which followed, resulted in the surrender of Finland to Russia. A conspiracy among officers of the army, determined to depose the king, came to a head on March 13, 1809 when seven conspirators broke into the royal apartments and seized the king, confining him to Gripsholm Castle. The king's uncle and former regent Carl, Duke of Sudermania was easily persuaded to accept the leadership of a provisional government in his nephew's place. Hoping to save the crown for his son, he voluntarily abdicated; but the Riksdag declared that he and his immediate family were then barred from the throne. In June, Sudermania was proclaimed King Carl XIII. In December, the deposed king and his family were exiled to Germany. Eventually, the former monarch divorced his wife, and settled in Switzerland under the alias of Colonel Gustavson. At the age of fifty-eight, he succumbed to a stroke.
Swedish Monarch. Born the son of Gustav III, he came to the throne in 1792 after his father's assassination. During the five years of his minority, Sweden was under the control of regents headed by the infamous Baron Reuterholm. Soon after gaining his majority in 1797, he married Princess Frederica of Baden. In 1805, he brought Sweden into the European coalition against Napoleon. When Russia became allied with France through the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807, Alexander I of Russia tried unsuccessfully to persuade the Swedish king to join the Continental System against Great Britain. In 1807, Denmark-Norway declared war on Sweden, isolating the nation. He rebuffed all overtures from Russia for an alliance, and in 1808, Russia attacked. The brief war which followed, resulted in the surrender of Finland to Russia. A conspiracy among officers of the army, determined to depose the king, came to a head on March 13, 1809 when seven conspirators broke into the royal apartments and seized the king, confining him to Gripsholm Castle. The king's uncle and former regent Carl, Duke of Sudermania was easily persuaded to accept the leadership of a provisional government in his nephew's place. Hoping to save the crown for his son, he voluntarily abdicated; but the Riksdag declared that he and his immediate family were then barred from the throne. In June, Sudermania was proclaimed King Carl XIII. In December, the deposed king and his family were exiled to Germany. Eventually, the former monarch divorced his wife, and settled in Switzerland under the alias of Colonel Gustavson. At the age of fifty-eight, he succumbed to a stroke.
Bio by: Iola
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