Sweden's 1809 Coup: The Constitution That Changed Everything

In 1809, Sweden experienced a dramatic coup d'état that deposed King Gustav IV Adolf and replaced him with his elderly uncle, Charles XIII. But the real revolution was the new constitution, which ended absolute monarchy and established a separation of powers that still shapes Sweden today. This episode explores the background: the disastrous Finnish War, the loss of Finland to Russia, and the simmering discontent that led a group of army officers and nobles to act. We follow the key figures—Georg Adlersparre, Carl Johan Adlercreutz, and the king's own uncle—as they orchestrated the coup. The new Instrument of Government borrowed ideas from Montesquieu and the American and French Revolutions, creating a balance between king, Riksdag, and judiciary. But it also had conservative features, like a four-estate parliament that lasted until 1866. We discuss how the 1809 constitution served as Sweden's fundamental law for over 160 years, until the current constitution replaced it in 1974. It's a story of crisis, compromise, and the birth of modern Swedish governance.

#SwedishHistory #1809Coup #GustavIVAdolf #CharlesXIII #InstrumentOfGovernment1809 #FinnishWar #GeorgAdlersparre #CarlAdlercreutz #Constitution #Monarchy #Riksdag #SeparationOfPowers #NapoleonicWars #SwedenRussia #FexingoHistory #ScandinavianHistory #History #PoliticalHistory #VikingAge #SwedishEmpire

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo