Sweden's 1772 Coup: Gustav III and the End of the Age of Liberty

In 1772, Sweden's Age of Liberty came to a dramatic end when King Gustav III staged a bloodless coup, tearing up the 1719 constitution that had made the Riksdag the supreme power. This episode dives into the political crisis of the 1760s, where the Hats and Caps parties paralyzed the government with infighting and bribery from foreign powers—Russia and France. Lucas and Luna explore how Gustav III, educated in Enlightenment ideals, used a carefully planned military intervention from Finland to seize control, backed by a new Instrument of Government that restored royal authority while preserving some Riksdag powers. They discuss the role of the Riksdag of the Estates, the secret committee, and the shocking moment when Gustav dramatically locked the doors and read the new constitution. The episode also touches on the immediate aftermath, including the king's subsequent reforms like freedom of the press, and sets the stage for his later assassination in 1792.

#History #FexingoHistory #GustavIII #AgeofLiberty #Coup1772 #Sweden #InstrumentofGovernment #HatsandCaps #Riksdag #Enlightenment #Absolutism #Finland #Stockholm #RoyalPalace #Constitution #Sverige #18thCentury #NordicHistory #VikingAge #SwedishEmpire

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