Sweden's 1866 Parliamentary Reform: The End of the Four Estates

In 1866, Sweden quietly transformed its political system. The ancient Riksdag of the Estates — where nobles, clergy, burghers, and peasants voted in separate chambers — was abolished and replaced by a modern bicameral parliament. Episode 178 of our History of Sweden series unpacks the reform that set Sweden on the path to democracy. We meet Louis De Geer, the aristocratic statesman who orchestrated the change, and King Charles XV, whose support was decisive. We explore why the old system was broken, how the new two-chamber Riksdag worked, and who still couldn't vote — property requirements meant only about 5% of the population could elect the lower house. This episode is about a quiet revolution that shaped modern Sweden.

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