Oscar II of Sweden

Oscar II (Oscar Fredrik) (January 21, 1829 – December 8, 1907) was King of Sweden and Norway from 1872 until his death. He was the third son of King Oscar I of Sweden and Josephine of Leuchtenberg. Through his mother he was a descendant of Gustav I of Sweden and of a sister of Charles X of Sweden.

Early life

At birth he was created Duke of Östergötland. He entered the navy at the age of eleven, and was appointed junior lieutenant in July 1845. Later he studied at Uppsala University, where he distinguished himself in mathematics. On June 6, 1857 he married Princess Sophia Wilhelmina, youngest daughter of Duke William of Nassau.

Related Topics:
Östergötland - Navy - Uppsala University - Mathematics - June 6 - 1857 - Sophia Wilhelmina - William of Nassau

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He succeeded his brother Charles XV, on September 18, 1872, and was crowned as king of Norway in the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondhjem on July 18, 1873. At the accession he adopted as his motto Brödrafolkens väl ("The Welfare of the Brother Peoples"). While the King and the Royal Court resided mostly in Sweden, Oscar made the effort of learning to be fluent in Norwegian and from the very beginning he realized the essential difficulties in the maintenance of the union between the two countries. The political events which led up to the final crisis in 1905, by which the thrones were separated, could hardly have been attained but for the tact and patience of the king himself. He declined, indeed, to permit any prince of his house to become king of Norway, but better relations between the two countries were restored before his death, which occurred at Stockholm on the December 8, 1907.

Related Topics:
Charles XV - September 18 - 1872 - Nidaros Cathedral - Trondhjem - July 18 - 1873 - His motto - Sweden - Norwegian - Final crisis - 1905 - Stockholm - December 8 - 1907

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