Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XVII. Reign of Gustavus IV Adolphus, 1792–1809 - D. Deposition of Gustavus IV Adolphus - XVIII. Reign of Chales XIII, 1809–1818 - A. The New Constitution
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
312 A History of Sweden
from his family, and for some time led a roving life.
He finally settled down in Switzerland, where he lived
in humble circumstances till his death, February 7,
1837.
CHAPTER XVIII
REIGN OF CHARLES XIII, 1809-1818
A. THE NEW CONSTITUTION
The Work of the Committee. When King Gustavus
IV Adolphus was arrested, his uncle, Duke Charles,
assumed the government as regent. The Riksdag which
later assembled and deposed the king now found it-
self confronted with the task of choosing a new king.
But first a new constitution must be provided a con-
stitution that would forestall a repetition of the evils
of absolutism. Twice had the abuse of absolute power
brought the country to the brink of destruction. The
task was now to divide in a happier and more definite
way the power between the king and the Riksdag. Such
was the problem of the committee now appointed by
the Riksdag to draft a new constitution.
With enthusiasm the members of the committee ad-
dressed themselves to their important and laborious
task. The leading man of the committee was its secre-
tary, Hans Jarta, who as a youth had been an enthusi-
ast for the liberalizing efforts of the French Revolu-
tion, and was known as one of the most dangerous
opponents of absolutism, feared for his sharp pen. En-
dowed with a keen intellect, developed by a thorough
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
