Adolf Frederick of Sweden
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| Adolf Frederick | |
|---|---|
 Adolf Frederick byLorens Pasch the Younger | |
| King of Sweden | |
| Reign | 25 March 1751 – 12 February 1771 |
| Coronation | 26 November 1751 |
| Predecessor | Frederick I |
| Successor | Gustav III |
| Prince-Bishop of Lübeck | |
| Reign | 1727 – 1750 |
| Predecessor | Charles August |
| Successor | Frederick August |
| Born | 14 May 1710 Gottorp,Schleswig,Duchy of Schleswig |
| Died | 12 February 1771(aged 60) Stockholm Palace,Stockholm,Sweden |
| Burial | 30 July 1771 Riddarholm Church,Stockholm, Sweden |
| Spouse | |
| Issue | Gustav III of Sweden Charles XIII of Sweden Prince Frederick Adolf, Duke of Östergötland Sophia Albertina, Abbess of Quedlinburg |
| House | Holstein-Gottorp |
| Father | Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin |
| Mother | Princess Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach |
| Religion | Lutheranism |
| Signature |  |
Adolf(orAdolph)Frederick(Swedish:Adolf Fredrik;German:Adolf Friedrich;14 May 1710 – 12 February 1771) wasKing of Swedenfrom 1751 until his death in 1771. He was the son ofChristian August of Holstein-Gottorp, Prince of Eutin,andAlbertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach.He was an uncle ofCatherine the Greatand husband toLouisa Ulrika of Prussia.[1][2]
The first king from theHouse of Holstein-Gottorp,Adolf Frederick was a weak monarch, installed as first in line to the throne following the parliamentary government'sfailure to reconquer the Baltic provincesin 1741–1743. Aside from a few attempts, supported by pro-absolutistfactions among the nobility, to reclaim the absolute monarchy held by previous monarchs, he remained a mere constitutional figurehead until his death.
His reign saw an extended period of internal peace. However, the finances stagnated following failedmercantilistdoctrines pursued by theHatadministration. The Hat administration ended during the 1765–1766 parliament, where theCapopposition took over the government and enacted reforms towards greatereconomic liberalism,as well as aFreedom of Press Act.The Freedom of Press Act is unique for the time for its curtailing of all censorship, retaining punitive measures only for libeling the monarch or theChurch of Sweden.[3]
Ancestry[edit]
Adolf Frederick's father wasChristian Augustus(1673–1726)[4]duke and a younger prince of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp,prince-bishopof Lübeck, and administrator, during theGreat Northern War,of the duchies ofHolstein-Gottorpfor his relativeCharles Frederick.[5]
His mother,Albertina Frederica of Baden-Durlach(1682–1755),[4]was a descendant of earlier royal dynasties of Sweden, great-granddaughter ofPrincess Catherine of Sweden,mother of KingCharles X of Sweden.On his mother's side, Adolf Frederick was descended from KingGustav VasaandChristina Magdalena,a sister ofCharles X of Sweden.[6]
Reign[edit]
From 1727 to 1750 Prince Adolf Frederick was the prince-bishop ofLübeck.This meant he ruled a fief around and includingEutin.After his first cousin,Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp,died in 1739, Adolf Frederick became the administrator of Holstein-Kielduring the minority of the duke's orphan son, Charles Peter Ulrich. Shortly afterward, the young boy was invited to Russia by his maternal aunt, EmpressElizabeth,who soon declared him her heir. He later became known asPeter III of Russia.[7]
In 1743, Adolf Frederick was elected heir to the throne of Sweden by theHat faction(Swedish:Hattarna). The Hat faction wanted to obtain better conditions at theTreaty of Åbofrom Empress Elizabeth.[5]He succeeded to the Swedish throne on 25 March 1751.[8]
During his 20-year reign, Adolf Frederick was little more than afigurehead,the real power being with theRiksdag of the Estates,often distracted by party strife. Twice he endeavored to free himself from the tutelage of the estates. The first occasion was in 1756. Stimulated by his consortLouisa Ulrika of Prussia(sister ofFrederick the Great), he tried to regain a portion of the attenuated prerogative through theCoup of 1756to abolish the rule of the Riksdag of the Estates and reinstate absolute monarchy in Sweden. He nearly lost his throne in consequence. On the second occasion during theDecember Crisis of 1768,under the guidance of his eldest son,Gustav,he succeeded in overthrowing the "Cap" (Swedish:Mössorna) senate, but was unable to make any use of his victory.[5][9]
Death[edit]
Adolf Frederick died suddenly in Stockholm on 12 February 1771 with symptoms resembling either heart failure or poisoning. Popular stories about his death having resulted from a large meal (consisting oflobster,caviar,sauerkraut,kippers,andchampagneas well as 14 helpings of his favourite desserthetväggofsemlapastries and hot milk)[10][11]are considered propaganda by modern writers.[12]
Following his death, his sonGustav IIIseized power in 1772 ina military coup d'état,reinstating absolute rule.[13]
Legacy[edit]
The King was regarded as dependent on others, a weak ruler, and lacking of any talents as a statesman. However, he was allegedly a good husband, a caring father, and a gentle master to his servants. He was scientifically talented and especially interested in astronomy. He also had talent in military matters and in music. His favourite pastime was woodworking, especially to makesnuffboxes,which he reportedly spent a great deal of time doing. His hospitality and friendliness were witnessed by many who deeply mourned him at his death.[14]
Children[edit]
By his marriage to PrincessLouisa Ulrika of Prussia(which took place on 18 August/29 August 1744 inDrottningholm), he had five children:
- (Stillborn) (18 February 1745 inStockholm)
- Gustav III(1746–1792)
- Charles XIII(1748–1818)
- Frederick Adolf(1750–1803)
- Sofia Albertina(1753–1829)
WithJeanne Du Londelhe had one son:
- Adolf Fredriksson (c. 1734-1771), Captain in the Swedish Army.[15]
WithMarguerite Morelhe had one son who died as a child:
- Frederici (c. 1761 - 1771)[16]
Adolf Frederick may have been the father ofLolotte ForssbergbyUlla von Liewen,but this has never been confirmed.[17]
Ancestors[edit]
References[edit]
- ^L. Stavenow."Adolf Fredrik".Svenskt biografiskt lexikon.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"Christian August, Herzog von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp".Christian August (Herzog von Holstein-Gottorf).Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie. 1876. p. 192.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"Adolf Fredrik".Nordisk familjebok.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^abEncyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 1 (15th ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. 1991. p. 105.ISBN9780852295298.
- ^abcOne or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain:Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911). "Adolphus Frederick".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 211–212.This cites:
- R. Nisbet Bain,Gustavus III. and his Contemporaries,vol. i. (London, 1895).
- ^Nina Ringbom."Kristina Magdalena av Pfalz-Zweibrücken".historiesajten.se.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"Peter III".Saint-Petersburg.Com.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"Hattpartiet, Hattarna".Nordisk familjebok.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"Mösspartiet, Mössorna".Nordisk familjebok.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^"The lowdown on Sweden's best buns".The Local.February 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 16 February 2008.
- ^Carlstedt, Magnus."Hetvägg".semlor.nu. Archived fromthe originalon 3 August 2020.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^Such as Claes Rainer 2021 inSofia Magdalena: kärlek, revolutioner och mordISBN 9789198624915 pp. 152-153
- ^"Gustav III (January 24, 1746 – March 29, 1792)".European Royal History.Retrieved1 January2019.
- ^Booklisted atLIBRISp. 209
- ^Rainer, Claes (2019). Lovisa Ulrika: konst och kuppförsök. Stockholm: Bokförlaget Langenskiöld
- ^Gunilla Roempke (1994). Gunilla Roempke. ed. Vristens makt – dansös i mätressernas tidevarv (The power of the ankle - dancer in the epoch of the royal mistresses) Stockholm: Stockholm Fischer & company.ISBN91-7054-734-3
- ^af Klercker, Cecilia, ed. Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok [The diary of Hedvig Elizabeth Charlotte] (in Swedish). VI 1797-1799. (1927) Translated by Cecilia af Klercker. Stockholm: P.A. Norstedt & Söners förlag. pp. 290–291
- ^Genealogie ascendante jusqu'au quatrieme degre inclusivement de tous les Rois et Princes de maisons souveraines de l'Europe actuellement vivans[Genealogy up to the fourth degree inclusive of all the Kings and Princes of sovereign houses of Europe currently living] (in French). Bourdeaux: Frederic Guillaume Birnstiel. 1768. p. 28.
External links[edit]
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