Gustav III of Sweden

Reign: 1771 – 1792
Life: 1746–1792

Gustav was a vocal opponent of what he saw as the abuse of political privileges seized by the nobility since the death of King Charles XII in the Great Northern War. Seizing power from the government in a coup d'état, called the Swedish Revolution, in 1772 that ended the Age of Liberty, he initiated a campaign to restore a measure of royal autocracy. This was completed by the Union and Security Act of 1789, which swept away most of the powers exercised by the Swedish Riksdag of the Estates during the Age of Liberty, but at the same time, it opened up the government for all citizens, thereby breaking the privileges of the nobility. Nonetheless, his successful leadership in the Battle of Svensksund averted a complete military defeat and signified that Swedish military might was to be countenanced after its major defeats earlier in the century.

During Gustav III of Sweden's reign, George III of Great Britain ruled Great Britain, Catherine II of Russia ruled Russia, and Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor ruled Holy Roman Empire.

Want to learn more? Further reading

Gustav III and His Contemporaries by H. A. Barton

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Gustav III and His Contemporaries

H. A. Barton

Barton on Gustav III's enlightened despotism, theatre, and assassination at the Stockholm opera.

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