Oscar I of Sweden

Oscar I, born Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte (July 4, 1799–July 8, 1859), was King of Sweden and Norway from 1844 to his death. He was the only son of Charles XIV John of Sweden and his wife, Queen Desideria. When, in August 1810, Bernadotte was elected Crown Prince of Sweden, Oscar and his mother removed from Paris to Stockholm (June 1811).

Politics

In 1824 and 1833, the Crown Prince was briefly Viceroy of Norway. In 1838 the king began to suspect his heir of plotting with the Liberal party to bring about a change of ministry, or even his own abdication. If Oscar did not actively assist the Opposition on this occasion, his disapprobation of his father's despotic behaviour was notorious, though he avoided an actual rupture. Yet his liberalism was of the most cautious and moderate character, as the Opposition, shortly after his accession (March 8, 1844), discovered to their great chagrin. He would not hear of any radical reform of the cumbrous and obsolete Constitution of 1809. But one of his earliest measures was to establish freedom of the press. He formally established equality between his two kingdoms by introducing new flags with a common union badge and a new coat of arms for the union. Most of the legislation during Oscar I's reign aimed at improving the economic position of Sweden, and the Riksdag of the Estates, in its address to him in 1857, rightly declared that he had promoted the material prosperity of the kingdom more than any of his predecessors. In foreign affairs Oscar I was a friend of the principle of nationality. In 1848 he supported Denmark against Prussia in the First War of Schleswig; placed Swedish and Norwegian troops in cantonments in Funen and North Schleswig (1849-1850); and mediated the Truce of Malmö (August 26, 1848). He was also one of the guarantors of the integrity of Denmark (the London protocol, May 8th, 1852). As early as 1850 Oscar I had conceived the plan of a dynastic union of the three Scandinavian kingdoms, but such difficulties presented themselves that the scheme had to be abandoned. He succeeded, however, in reversing his father's obsequious policy towards Russia. His fear lest Russia should demand a stretch of coast along the Varanger Fjord induced him to remain neutral during the Crimean War, and, subsequently, to conclude an alliance with Great Britain and France (November 25, 1855) for preserving the territorial integrity of Scandinavia.

Related Topics:
1824 - 1833 - Viceroy of Norway - 1838 - Abdication - Despotic - Liberalism - March 8 - 1844 - Constitution of 1809 - Freedom of the press - Flag - Legislation - Economic - Riksdag of the Estates - 1857 - Foreign affairs - Nationality - Denmark - Prussia - First War of Schleswig - Cantonment - Funen - Schleswig - Truce of Malmö - August 26 - 1848 - London protocol - Scandinavia - Russia - Varanger Fjord - Crimean War - Great Britain - France - November 25 - 1855

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