Riksrådet

Riksrådet, or the Council of the Realm, was the central governing body and the principal advisory council to the Swedish monarch during large parts of the late Middle Ages and the early modern era. Its members were drawn from the highest nobility, and the clergy often held seats as well. The council acted as a forum where the king consulted about state affairs, and it wielded substantial influence over foreign policy, finances, justice, and military matters.

The roots of the Riksrådet lie in medieval royal councils, which over time developed into a formal body that could limit or condition royal power. During the Kalmar Union and the ensuing periods of dynastic crisis, the council often acted as a counterweight to the crown and could play a decisive role in legislation, the appointment of regents, and the selection or removal of kings. Membership tended to be hereditary within powerful noble families, and the council's consent was usually required for major decisions.

A gradual process of centralization under the monarchy reduced the Riksrådet’s power. By the 16th century, increasingly centralized authority under kings such as Gustav Vasa diminished the council’s practical influence. The traditional institution effectively ceased to function as a governing body after the late 17th century, culminating in its dissolution in 1680 under Charles XI as part of the move toward an absolute monarchy. The Riksrådet remains a key concept in studies of early modern Sweden and the Kalmar Union, illustrating the shift from noble-dominated governance to centralized royal authority.