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United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway Förenade Konungarikena Sverige och Norge (Norwegian) De forenede Kongeriger Norge og Sverige (Norwegian) | ||||||
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Capital | Stockholm | |||||
Languages | Swedish | |||||
Government | Semi-constitutional monarchy | |||||
King | ||||||
- | 1814—1818 | Charles XIII | ||||
- | 1818—1838 | Charles XIV John | ||||
- | 1838—1848 | Oscar | ||||
Legislature | Riksdag of the Estates Storting | |||||
History | ||||||
- | Treaty of Kiel | 14 January 1814 | ||||
- | Election of Charles XIII as King of Norway | 4 November 1814 | ||||
- | Abdication of Charles XIV | 22 June 1838 | ||||
- | Abdication of Oscar | 7 April 1848 | ||||
Currency | Swedish krona |
Sweden and Norway or Sweden-Norway, officially the United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway and commonly referred to as the United Kingdoms, was a personal union between Sweden and Norway that shared the same monarch and followed similar policies from 1814 until its ultimate demise in the Revolution of 1848. The two kingdoms had different constitutions, legislatures, governments, military, among other things, although Sweden was typically considered the bigger partner within the union, with a Swedish viceroy representing the Norwegian part of the union until 1829.
History[]
Creation of the Union (1810-1814)[]

An 1804 portrait of Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte by François Kinson
On 21 August 1810, after months of searching for a new Swedish crown prince following the sudden death of Charles August, Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was elected by the Riksdag of the Estates as the future successor to Charles XIII, who had no legitimate children. He adopted the name "Charles John" as his regnant name, and once he properly moved into Sweden, started implementing changes to the nation, such as repairing the disastrous economy, and strengthening Sweden's political independence from Napoleon I's French Empire, although he was forced to join the Continental System and declare war against the Kingdom of Great Britain. In January 1812, French troops suddenly invaded Swedish Pomerania and the island of Rügen, citing Swedish violation of the Continental System. In response to this attack, Charles John declared neutrality and began working towards forming a coalition against France. The Treaties of Örebro successfully ended the Anglo-Swedish and Anglo-Russian wars, and formed the Sixth Coalition. Charles John also encouraged Frederick William III of Prussia to end Prussia's alliance with France, and join the Coalition.
Charles John fought on the frontlines with Coalition armies against French troops, and despite early losses, the Crown Prince successfully encouraged troops to continue fighting, and helped in the drafting of the Trachenberg Plan during the Truce of Pläswitz. After defeating two French attacks on Berlin, Bernadotte then helped troops strike a huge blow in Leipzig, forcing Napoleon to return to Paris and forcing the French army to retreat to west of the Rhine. Charles John then went his own way, fighting the Danes in a swift campaign, successfully forcing Denmark to a peace settlement. The Treaty of Kiel granted Denmark Swedish Pomerania in exchange for Sweden gaining Norway, which had been the Crown Prince's goal. The Norwegians refused to accept the treaty, and declared independence with Danish crown prince Christian as its King; consequently, a brief war between Sweden and Norway took place, with the Norwegian kingdom surrendering in less than a month. However, rather than outright annexing Norway, Charles John agreed to recognise the liberal Norwegian constitution and keep the two kingdoms separate under a personal union.
Early years (1814-1838)[]
Slow demise of the union (1838-1847)[]
Dissolution (1847-1848)[]
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