Early Modern State in Sweden: Time of Absolutism

The formation of the early modern state in Scandinavia during the period c.1500-1800 is relatively similar between the two blocks Denmark-Norway and Sweden while it get in conflict with each other and go through the same steps. What are the main steps and influence that leads to the formation of the state in Sweden? In what way Denmark diverse ?

The first step in the emergence of modern state in Scandinavia is the dissolution of the Kalmar Union in 1523. Originally wished by the Swedish aristocracy to balance the influence of the Hanseatic league in the region (Kent p.31), the Union is gradually considered as an illegitimate supremacy of the Danish kings supported by the archbishop of Uppsala (Voltaire p.12) by the same aristocracy and by the early 16th century start to rebel and follow its own national course (Helle p.768-770).

Member of the rebel Swedish aristocracy, Gustav Vasa will manage to take the control over Sweden and is elected King and coronated hereditary monarch in 1528. Thus bringing not only stability to his position but to the state as well. (Kent p.51)

But the remarkable turning point of this period in both Sweden and Denmark is the separation with the Pope authority and the later proclamation of the national reformatted churches. The Lutheran reformation of 1517 had already made adepts in Scandinavia but for the monarch it became a skilful manoeuvre to recover the Church property (21 per cent of landed estates and one third of all arable land in 1521 (Kent p.55)) to the benefit of the State and the nobility to inspire their loyalty. (Kent p.53) This reform reaches its peak in 1540 when Gustav Vasa is able to have himself proclaimed king by Divine Right By that time Gustav Vasa also expended the administration and centralized the country increasing the state’s wealth and authority. By strengthening the state like that he became even able to play on equal level in the diplomatic game with the different cities of the Hanseatic League (Kent p.51) and face to the great kingdoms of Europe.

The descendent of Gustav Vasa will consolidate his work and turn Sweden as a highly centralized and militarized country. (Kent p.70) This open a constant war era with an aggressive attitude towards its neighbours around the Baltic Sea. (Kent p.72) It is during the 30 years war that Sweden extend its territories, officially to protect the Lutheran German princes it profits from the help of the Pope and the France of Richelieu (Voltaire p16) all profiting from the reduction the Habsburg family’s power. Sweden acquires valuable territories in Pomerania, Bremen and Baltic region (Kent p.72) and becomes what is then called the Swedish Empire and remain in a resourceful alliance with France.

At the opposite Denmark is during this time ruled by a powerful aristocracy which induce a slower state formation, during the Reign of Gustav II Adolf we see a permanent change in the order of power between the two Scandinavian kingdoms.

This superpower was still insecure and extremely expensive to maintain, (Kent p.76, 87) and invite enemies as Russia and Denmark to attack Sweden. Under the Reign of Karl X the state formation will get a step further simultaneously for Denmark and Sweden when in 1660 Sweden is again victorious and integrate Skåne, Halland, Blekinge and Bohuslän in its realm after a second attack to invade all Denmark he is stopped and made peace with all states involved. (Kent p.77) The Scandinavian states get at the end of this war, borders they still have today on the Kattegat and Öresund coast.

This mark as well a big turn in both interior and exterior politic in Sweden and Denmark. This is the time Denmark change its institutions and will proclaim absolute monarchy and a series of reform of the military system to be able to face the advanced military power of Sweden and secure themselves as a modern country after a major loss of land.

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Karl XI in Sweden will turn his interest towards its subjects. He puts an end to the bellicose attitude, to expensive, secures the new borders, (for example in Skåne, Swedish law is introduced and Swedish language made obligatory (Kent p.87)) and changes the alliances, France and its subsequent financial support in war time is laid back in favour of maritime powers (England and the Netherlands). All over Europe it is the time of absolutism and Karl XI following the wish of his predecessor will be proclaimed absolute monarch by the Riksdag in 1693 after the “reduction” reform that hands over 80 per cent of the land transferred to the nobility back to the crown (Kent p.88), which gives back money quickly and increase tax revenues to and makes all nobility dependent of the state then even more centralized around the person of the King.

The aristocracy accepts this situation and give their support to the new regime under Karl XI and Karl XII reign because they both benefits from their prestige at war first and in making Sweden prosperous with the decade of peace during the years 1680 and 1690.

This situation with reverse during the great northern war. A coalition of all hereditary enemies, (Russia, Poland, Prussia and Denmark) attacks Sweden. After a series of victories, the war gets too expensive to be supported and as the war fatigue grows in all society layers, aristocracy gets disabused face to absolutism and could lead them to catastrophe and is then a menace for Sweden. (Kent p.94)

While Absolutism will remain stable in Denmark through the 18th century, In Sweden after the death of Karl XII on the battlefield, will mark the end of the great northern war and reduce the power and the land of Sweden drastically to the today Sweden and Finland, the new king is forced to accept the abolition of absolutism by aristocrats. (Kent p.102) This open the era of a rather weak monarchy under the control of a bicameral political system, the Age of Liberty. The House of Estates, in the hand of the nobility and clergy, and the Riksdag where all layers of society are represented, share the power. There will fight the Hats and Caps, two different opinion on the future of Sweden. The domination of the Hats at the Riksdag will lead Sweden in a rather similar foreign policy which consist on regain lost territories in Russia and Pomerania in the frame that provide alliances (Kent p.106) but without success and leading to chaos again.

This version of power system did not prove of a better administration for the country, and furthermore did not succeed in giving more power to layers of society that still could be in Riksdag and have access to information through freedom of press (Kent p.106)

In the years 1770, under the influence of enlighten philosopher like Le Mercier and the physiocrats the future king Gustav III and his mother Lovisa Ulrika prepared his future as an “hereditary sovereign with unlimited power conducting the good of each class” (Barton p15-16). Which he achieved progressively for both personal thinking and absence of full support to his coup. Starting by giving Sweden a new constitution in 1772, (Barton p.21) support came later in 1789 by using the social conflict between the commoners and the nobility. Supporting that by giving more rights to the first group he was rescuing the second one. Peasants also allied with the new autocrat and got the right to become self holders.(Kent p.130) By that time the Danish king has only abolished serfdom recently.

While taking the leading role (the act of union and security), he introduced partial freedom of religion that would stimulate the economy with immigration. He also consolidated national production notably in architecture and arts and encouraged all facets of cultural life stimulating national pride. (Barton p.25)

French Revolution inspire the Swedish nobility for the assassination of Gustav III as overthrow of royal despotism. (Barton p 119) a process ending with the deposition of his successor in 1809 after the loss of Finland to Russia. The aristocracy managed then to take power again reintroducing a more balanced power between the parliament and the king.(Kent p.153)