Keisariajan

Keisariajan refers to the period of Swedish history from 1809 to 1818. This era is characterized by the transition from the Gustavian era to the reign of Charles XIV John. It began with the Finnish War and the subsequent cession of Finland to Russia, a significant territorial loss for Sweden. Following this upheaval, the Swedish throne became vacant. In 1809, the Riksdag of the Estates deposed King Gustav IV Adolf and adopted a new constitution, establishing a constitutional monarchy. The ensuing years saw a search for a new monarch. Initially, the crown prince, Gustav Adolf of Holstein-Gottorp, was chosen, but his untimely death in 1810 led to a surprising development. The Swedish parliament elected Napoleon Bonaparte's marshal, Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, as crown prince. He adopted the Swedish name Carl Johan and played a crucial role in Swedish politics and foreign policy during the remainder of Keisariajan and beyond. This period was marked by efforts to restore Sweden's international standing and secure its future after the loss of Finland and the tumultuous Napoleonic Wars. The era concluded with the death of King Charles XIII in 1818, upon which Carl Johan ascended to the throne as Charles XIV John, initiating the Bernadotte dynasty.