Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden

Gustav IV Adolf (November 1, 1778 – February 7, 1837), was King of Sweden from 1800 until his abdication in 1809. He was the son of Gustav III of Sweden and his queen consort Sophie Magdalen.

Early life

Gustav Adolf was born in Stockholm. It has been suggested that Gustav Adolf was the biological son of Count Adolph Fredric Munck of Fulkila, though this has never been established. The Count is implied to have been given the task to father a son to the king, who supposedly had different leanings. These rumors however did not prevent Gustav III from taking an active role in the education of his heir, which took place under the direction of Nils von Rosenstein. In August 1796 his uncle the regent Charles, duke of Sudermannia, visited St. Petersburg for the purpose of arranging a marriage between the young king and Catherine II's granddaughter, the grand-duchess Alexandra. The betrothal was actually fixed for September 22, when the whole arrangement foundered on the obstinate refusal of Gustav to allow his destined bride liberty of worship according to the rites of the Greek Orthodox Church — a rebuff which undoubtedly accelerated the death of the Russian empress. Nobody seems to have even suspected at the time that serious mental derangement lay at the root of Gustav's abnormal piety. On the contrary, there were many who prematurely congratulated themselves on the fact that Sweden had now no disturbing genius, but an economical, God-fearing, commonplace monarch to deal with.

Related Topics:
Stockholm - Charles - Sudermannia - St. Petersburg - Catherine II's - Greek Orthodox Church

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