Sweden History
The first contact of Sweden with other countries of Europe was established during the Viking era, when arms and furs were first traded by the country to Russia, via the eastern channel. The main milestones of Sweden history in the thirteenth century include birth of feudalism, establishment of hereditary nobility, and emergence of a prosperous middle-class of burghers. Another turning point during the period was the attainment of the throne by Margaret, the Norwegian ruler, in 1387. |
The most important events in 15th and 16th centuries included the 1520 Stockholm Massacre, the National Revolt led by Gustav E. Vasa, establishment of the House of Vasa headed by Gustav I in the year 1523, development of Protestantism in 1593, and crowning of Gustav II Adolf as King of Sweden in the year 1611. Gustav II entered into the 30-year War in year 1629 with the sole objective of changing the Baltic into the Swedish lake. Numerous other significant events followed in the political, cultural, and social areas until King Gustav II finally died in 1632 in Battle of Lutzen. Sweden was proclaimed a super power by the 1648 Peace Treaty of Westphalia.
However, after Gustav’s daughter Christina stepped down the throne in 1654, the rule of her 3 major successors that lasted until 1718 was marked by violent military campaigns, slow retreats into Austria and Russia, and remarkable victories like Narva (1701).
The 18th century saw the defeat of Sweden outside Scandinavia, establishment of absolutism by King Karl XI, its subsequent abolishment by his successor Eleanor, the famous Russian War and other European conflicts around 1772, and the assassination of King Gustav III in 1792. Peace of Kiel was established in year 1814, after which Sweden occupied Norway but lost Finland and German area to Russia and Denmark respectively. The 19th century was marked by the absolute eradication of absolutism due to liberal opposition by Karl XV and subsequent declaration of Norway as an independent state in 1905. Thereafter, Sweden established its own parliament, led by the Social Democrats, who remained in power till year 1976. The country had chosen to remain neutral in both the World Wars, owing to which it enjoyed economic expansion, prosperity, and overall welfare in the post-war period and continues to do so until today.
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