Privy Council of Sweden

The Swedish Senate: Riksrådet, from 1809 Statsrådet, from 1975 "Regeringen" was and is the principal government institution of Sweden.

Parliamentarism vs. Absolute Monarchy

The translation of Senate and Senator to Council and Councillor is often seen, but is none the less wrong. "Privy Council", as found here, is an absolute aberration. The word "råd" in Swedish has a dual meaning, both the advisor and the advise given, but "council" is a different thing altogether from Senate.

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The Senators of the Realm had the highest rank in the Kingdom after the Royal family and were styled the Kings Cousins. But a "councillor" may be found in a range of circumstances; City councillor and so on. Also, the 1809 name for the Swedish Government: Council of State, in Spain refers to a constitutional body distinct from the Government, and "Councillor of State" was in many countries an honorary title.

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For the period 1680 to 1719 there is however, some justification for this misunderstanding.

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From around 1672, the year of the coming of age of Charles XI, the Senate was assembled less and less frequently. The King ruled from his Cabinet "in Council", that is he formed an ad hoc group of a couple of trusted relations, maybe a Senator or two, a few secretaries and whomever could be knowledgeable, to discuss a particular matter or group of matters.

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Then, as a consequence of the "Scanian war" 1674-1679, Charles XI was able to establish - with the approval of the Estates - an absolute Monarchy along the lines of Renaissance Absolutism. Senate, Parliament, local government, legal system, Church of Sweden, all were brought within the power of the King and his Secretaries.

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This was the culmination of a long power-struggle between the Absolutist Kings and the republican leanings of the Aristocracy. The first of the Riksdag Acts ratifying the change of system was a declaration, that the King was not bound by the 1634 Constitution, which no King or Queen had ever consented to out of free will.

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The Rikets Råd, the Senators of the Realm, were now called Kungliga Råd, Royal, being appointed and dismissed at the King's pleasure.

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In 1713 the son and successor of Charles XI Charles XII issued a new working order for the Chancellery to enable him to conduct government from the battle-field, but his sudden death at the siege of Fredricshald in Norway in 1718 provided the opportunity for the Riksdag of the 4 Estates to write a new Constitution in 1719 and 1721, that gave Sweden half a century of first renewed Senatorial, and then Parliamentary government.

Related Topics:
Charles XII - Riksdag of the 4 Estates - Constitution - 1721

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The first Estate, the Nobility dominated both the 4 Estates of the Riksdag, the Parliament and the Senate. This now had 16 members and was chaired by the King, each Senator having one vote except for the King, who as chair had two.

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The Senate was the government of the Kingdom but also the supreme judicial authority.

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From 1738 the Estates would remove Senators to create a majority corresponding to that of the Estates, the Estates also appointing the President of the Chancellery, the prime minister, along party lines.

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The Freedom of the Press Act was established during this period, 1766.

Related Topics:
Freedom of the Press Act - 1766

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This "Age of Liberty" lasted until the bloodless Coup d'Etat or Revolution of king Gustav III in 1772 which restored royal sovereignity under the guise of the 1634 Constitution.

Related Topics:
Bloodless Coup d'Etat - Gustav III - 1772

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In 1789, by the Förenings- och Säkerhets Acten, the Act of Union and Security, the exclusive right of the Nobility to high office was abolished and the Estates of the Burghers and the Yeomanry received Priviliges - a step towards modern democracy. The Aristocratic stronghold of the Senate was discontinued, although the then Senators retained this style for life. It's judicial function devolved on the Konungens Högsta Domstol, the Highest Court of the King, composed of an equal number of noble and non-noble members.

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The loss of the Finnish War in 1809 prompted a military coup which removed Gustav IV Adolf, replacing the Gustavian Era with a new dynasty and a new constitution restoring initiative to the Estates.

Related Topics:
Finnish War - 1809 - Gustav IV Adolf

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