Page "History of Sweden" Paragraph 24

Following half a century of parliamentary domination came the reaction.

King Gustav III ( 1746 – 1792 ) came to the throne in 1771, and in 1772 led a coup d ' état, with French support, that established him as an " enlightened despot ," who ruled at will.

The Age of Freedom and bitter party politics was over.

Precocious and well educated, he became a patron of the arts and music.

His edicts reformed the bureaucracy, repaired the currency, expanded trade, and improved defense.

The population had reached 2. 0 million and the country was prosperous, although rampant alcoholism was a growing social problem.

But when Gustav made war on Russia and did poorly he was assassinated by a conspiracy of nobles angry that he tried to restrict their privileges for the benefit of the peasant farmers.