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with Russia, which soon led to the loss of Finland (1741). On the
death of the queen without issue, Adolphus Frederick of
Holstein-Gottorp, a relation of the crown-prince of Russia, was elected as
Frederick’s successor, on condition (Peace of Abo; 1743) that the
greater part of Finland should be restored. The remainder of
Frederick’s reign was tranquil, and he died in 1751.
The prerogatives of his successor, Adolphus Frederick, were
farther limited by the Estates. An attempt on the part of the
king to emancipate himself led to a confirmation of the existing
constitution , and to a resolution that a stamp bearing the king’s
name should be impressed without his consent on documents
approved by the Estates (1756). The court vainly attempted to
rebel, and the king was bluntly reminded that the Estates had
power to depose him. In 1757 the ‘Hats’ recklessly plunged into
the Seven Years’ War, and after an ignoble campaign peace was
concluded at Hamburg in 1762. The ‘Caps’ were next in the
ascendant, but the party disputes of this period were not
conducive to national progress.
In 1771 Adolphus was succeeded by his son Gustavus III.,
who by means of a preconcerted military revolution or coup-détat
(1772) succeeded in regaining several of the most valuable
prerogatives of the crown, including the sole executive power, whereby
the government was converted from a mere republic into a limited
monarchy. The king used his victory with moderation, abolished
torture, introduced liberty of the press, promoted commerce,
science, and art, and strengthened the army. On the other hand
he was extravagant and injudicious, and in 1788 committed the
error of declaring war against Russia without the consent of the
Estates. His officers refused to obey him, and his difficulties
were aggravated by a declaration of war and invasion of Sweden
by the Danes. Gustavus now succeeded, with the aid of the
middle and lower classes, in effecting a farther change in the
constitution (1798), which gave him the sole prerogative of
making war and concluding peace, while the right of acquiring
privileged landed estates (frälsegods) was bestowed on the peasantry.
An armistice was concluded with Denmark, and the not
unsuccessful hostilities with Russia led to the Peace of Värälä (1790),
which precluded Russia from future interference with Swedish
affairs. Shortly afterwards, on the outbreak of the French
Revolution, the king proposed to intervene , together with Russia and
Austria, in favour of Louis XYI. and proceeded to levy new taxes,
whereupon the disaffected nobles entered into a new conspiracy
against him, and in 1792 this chivalrous and enlightened, though
sometimes ill-advised monarch, fell by the dagger of Captain
Anckarström.
IIis son Gustavus Adolphus succeeded him as Gustavus IV.,
under the regency of his uncle Duke Charles of Södermanland,
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