When we think about Sweden Royal Court we see, King Gustav XVI, Queen Silva, Crown Princess Victoria, Crown Prince Daniel, Princess Estelle, Prince Carl and Princess Sophia, Princess Madeline, Mr Christopher O'Neil, Princess Leonore and Prince Nikolaus , we may not know much about their family name the Bernadottes and how this family came to rule Sweden since 1818
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| L-R Mr Christopher O'Neil, Princess Madeline carry Princess Leonore, Crown Prince Daniel, Crown Princess Victoria carrying Princess Estelle, Prince Carl and Princess Sophia Down L-R Queen Silva and King Gustaf XVI © Kungahuset |
The House of Bernadotte has been ruling Sweden since 1818 and also rule the Royal House Norway from 1818-1905. Previous to 1818, Sweden, Norway and Finland were ruled by the House of Holstein-Gottorp.
History
The House of Holstein-Gottorp was the ruling House in Sweden during the Napeolonic and a branch member of the Oldenburg Household which rules and has ruled a good part of many European royal family(Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Greece, Russia,) current Royal Heads of Household have roots here: Queen Margrethe of Denmark, ex King Nikolaus of Greece, King Gustav XVI and Prince Consort Philip of England.
After losing the Finnish War in 1809, which led to Sweden realm to lose possession Finland, the Swedish people at that time became angry and resented ruling King Gustav IV Aldorf, which led to a coup d'etat which overthrew King Gustav IV and his heir Gustav V. Back in the 19th century when a ruling King was overthrown members of parliament or members of the Court get together and elect a new King of which King Gustav IV's uncle Charles XIII was chosen. Unfortunately due to an older age of 61 King Charles XIII who was quite known as a senile man was unable to reproduce heirs to the throne(one stillborn and another child died after only one week) This led to the down fall of the House of Holstein-Gottorp. In his place the Riksdag(Sweden's parliament) chose Prince Christian August of Augustenborg from neighboring country Denmark as heir to the throne later known as King Charles August but unfortunately he passed away later during the year. Which left the seat to the throne empty.
With Emperor Napoleon of France controlling a vast part of continental Europe now define as Western Europe. The Riksdag wrote a letter to Napoelon about their anguish on who will rule Sweden and had agreed on taking whomover is chosen by him.
Here's where comes Bernadotte. Yup as you may know have guessed from the reading the Bernadotte household as roots from France. Ancestor Jean Baptist Bernadotte was born in Pau in Bearn France and quickly rose through the ranks in the Bonaparte Army as a Marshall of France. Married to Desiree Clary, he was indirectly a member of the Bonaparte Family. Wife Desiree's sister was married to Napoleon's elder Brother Joseph(King of Naples and Sicily 1806-1808, King of Spain 1808-1813 as Jose I). Many history facts states that due to this mariage Bernadotte was given the position on Marshall of France, Prince of Pontecurvo and hence Crown Prince of Sweden. Whereas others state that Bernadotte was never a fan of the Bonparte but was later convince.
Bernadotte who later adopted the name Karl Johan(Charles Carl) when he became regent for the rest of Charles XIII's reign. During his reign in 1813, he separate himself from Napoleon which led to Sweden creating an Anti-Napoleonic alliance. During that same year, Norway which still belonged to Sweden due to the Treaty of Kiel, which led to Norway declaring its independence which triggered a wedge between Sweden and Norway. After this war, Norway became a kingdom instead of a province with a twist of which both countries now had the same monarch, parliament and foreign policy. After the death of Charles XIII, he took the name of Charles XIV of Sweden and Charles III of Norway from 1818-1844(year of death)
After his passing away, the House of Bernadotte ruled both countries until the passing of the dissolution of the Union between Norway and Sweden. His great great- grand son Prince Carl of Denmark became the King of Norway and was known as King Haakon VII. King Haakoon is the grand son of King Charles XV.
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| The Bernadotte Family From King Charles XIV(Jean Bernadotte) to His Ruling descendant King Carl XVI © Kungahuset |
Watch out for part 2 of the House of Bernadotte influence on Norwegian Royal family
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