King of Sweden and Norway
|
As the union King, Charles XIV John in Sweden and Charles III John in Norway, who succeeded to that title on 5 February 1818 following the death of Charles XIII & II, he was initially popular in both countries. Upon his accession he converted from Roman Catholicism to the Lutheranism of the Swedish court. He never learned to speak Swedish or Norwegian; however, this was a minor obstacle as French was widely spoken by the Swedish aristocracy.
Charles John's reign witnessed the completion of the southern Göta Canal, begun 22 years earlier, to link Lake Vänern to the sea at Söderköping 180 miles to the east. Though his ultra-conservative views were unpopular, particularly from 1823 onwards, his dynasty never faced serious danger, as the Swedes and the Norwegians alike were proud of a monarch with a good European reputation.
Although the Riksdag of the Estates of 1840 meditated compelling him to abdicate, Charles John survived that abdication controversy and he went on to have his silver jubilee, which was celebrated with great enthusiasm on 18 February 1843. He reigned as King of Sweden and Norway from 5 February 1818 until his death.
Read more about this topic: Charles XIV John Of Sweden
Famous quotes containing the words king of, king and/or norway:
“The poorest man may in his cottage bid defiance to all the forces of the Crown. It may be frailits roof may shakethe wind may blow through itthe storm may enterthe rain may enterbut the King of England cannot enter!all his forces dare not cross the threshold of the ruined tenement!”
—William Pitt, The Elder, Lord Chatham (17081778)
“You can put a Miss America in a room with a group of other attractive women and youll find you will know exactly who she is. Its almost like a magnet. There is an inner beauty, an inner glow.”
—Rebecca King Dreman (b. c. 1954)
“Write about winter in the summer. Describe Norway as Ibsen did, from a desk in Italy; describe Dublin as James Joyce did, from a desk in Paris. Willa Cather wrote her prairie novels in New York City; Mark Twain wrote Huckleberry Finn in Hartford, Connecticut. Recently, scholars learned that Walt Whitman rarely left his room.”
—Annie Dillard (b. 1945)