1801
- January 14
- Britain threatens to seize Swedish, Russian, and Danish ships trading with France. [113.53]
- (month unknown)
- English ships destroy the Danish fleet at Copenhagen. [267.125]
1803
-
- A new financial scheme is introduced, including mortgaging the town of Wismar on the Baltic coast of Germany to the Duke of Mecklenburg for 100 years, for about 2 million riksdaler. [48.288] [267.124] [277.6] (1802 [47.159]) (1.25 million riksdaler [48.288])
- England agrees to pay Sweden compensation for the seizure of Swedish ships. [47.160]
- A commercial treaty of England is concluded. [267.125]
- The king prohibits the import of Danish books. [48.288]
- The enskifte system of consolidating peasant farmland holdings into larger fields is enacted for Skåne. [1.299] [48.291] [267.124]
1804
-
- Import of books from France is banned. [47.159]
- Sweden and Britain conclude a convention allowing the British to use Swedish Pomerania as a military base against France, in exchange for payments. [47.160]
1805
-
- King Gustav IV Adolf signs the Treaty of Bäckaskog with England, Austria, and Russia. [48.293]
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- Sweden, England, and Russia form a third coalition against French Emperor Napoleon. [1.303]
- The Swedish West India Company closes. [47.170] [48.275]
- Sweden declares war on France. [47.161] [267.125]
- Population of Skåne: 270,000. [48.292]
1806
- July 1
- King Gustav IV Adolf offers Gotland to the Knights of Malta, who had been expelled from Malta by Napoleon. They reject his offer. [120.79,161]
- (month unknown)
- Changes are made to governing rules for Pomerania: German nobles lose their special priviledges, estates are broken up, serfdom is abolished, Swedish law is introduced, a new constitution is approved by the Estates. [47.159] (1807 [1.299])
- Swedish forces take the province of Lauenburg. [48.293]
- Swedish forces loses the province of Lauenburg. [48.293]
1807
-
- Sweden signs an armistice with France. [47.161]
- The enskifte system is enacted for the rest of Sweden. [1.299]
- July
- At Tilsit, Russia and France form an alliance. [1.303] [267.125]
- August
- Sweden's army in Pomerania is surrounded at Rügen by French troops. They manage to embark for Sweden. [1.303]
- October
- Denmark forms an alliance with France. [1.304]
1808
- February 21
- Russian troops attack Finland. [1.304] [47.161] [48.294] [267.125]
- February
- Russia issues an ultimatum to Sweden, to join an alliance with Denmark, France, and Russia. [1.304]
- March
- Russian Tsar Alexander I declares Finland incorporated into Russia. [1.309] [48.295]
- Denmark declares war on Sweden. [1.304] [47.161] [267.125]
- April
- In Finland, Swedish troops retire to the extreme north. [1.304]
- April 22
- A Russian force of 2,000 men under Admiral Bodisko land on the southeast coast of Gotland, at Sles near Grötlingbo. Residents decide to allow their march into Visby, treating the force more as guests than invaders. [120.79]
- April
- Swedish troops in Finland counterattack at Siikajoki. [1.306]
- May
- Carl Olof Cronstedt surrenders the strong fortress of Sveaborg to Russia, surrendering 7,000 men, 2,000 cannon, and 110 ships. [47.162] [48.294]
- May 16
- Swedish troops force Russian Admiral Bodisko on Gotland to capitulate without a fight. [120.80]
- (month unknown)
- The king approves Baltzer von Platen's plans for a canal across Sweden. [48.288]
- June
- King Gustav sails to join soldiers in Finland. [47.161]
- November
- Swedes evacuate Finland. [1.306]
- December
- An armistice is reached with Norway. [1.309]
1809
- January
- Russian troops begin attacks on the Swedish homeland. [1.306]
- March 9
- Lieutenant-Colonel Georg Adlersparre, in the officers' corp of the Western Army, begins a march from Karlstad to Stockholm. [1.307] [47.163] [267.125]
- March 12
- The King learns of the Western Army's approach to Stockholm. [1.308]
- March 13
- In Stockholm, General Carl Johan Adlercreutz and six officers arrest King Gustav IV Adolf in his castle. [1.308] [48.295] [267.125]
- Duke Karl forms a Regency. [1.309]
- March 14
- A Riksdag is summoned. [1.309]
- March 22
- Georg Adlersparre arrives in Stockholm with a force of 2900 from the Norwegian border. [48.295]
- March 29
- King Gustav IV Adolf abdicates the throne. He is imprisoned in Gripsholm castle. [48.295]
- May 1
- A Riksdag meets in Stockholm. Gustav IV and his heirs are declared to have forfeited the Crown. Duke Karl is to be named king, subject to acceptance of a new constitution to be drafted. [1.310] [47.163] [48.295] [150.21] [267.127]
- (month unknown)
- The Riksdag decides the Göta Canal should be built through the country from the Baltic Sea to the Kattegat. [1.355]
- May 12
- The constitutional committee of the riksdag begins work drafting a new constitution. [48.295]
- June 5
- The Estates of the riksdag accept the new constitution. [48.296]
- June 6
- The new draft constitution is accepted by Duke Karl, who is then declared King Karl XIII. In the constitution, the king is the head of the executive, who appoints members of a council of nine of which only two of the king's ministers (foreign affairs and justice) must be members; all council members are responsible to the Riksdag; a Riksdag is to be called at least once in 5 years; the Riksdag can reject the budget, and veto legislation; freedom of press and worship are guaranteed; an ombudsman elected by the Estates is established to investigate complaints of abuse of power by public servants. [1.311] [47.164] [48.296] [71.17] [159.17] [267.127]
- (month unknown)
- Two position in Council are created, higher in rank than others: Ministers of State for Justice and for Foreign Affairs. [1.366]
- September 17
- Sweden is forced to make peace with Russia, ceding all of Finland, the Åland islands, and a north-eastern strip of Sweden. In total, Sweden loses one-third of its territory. [1.314] [47.164] [48.296] [267.128] [268.163]
- (month unknown)
- Christian August of Augustenborg, Danish commander-in-chief in Norway, is elected crown Prince by the Riksdag. Christian accepts on condition of peace with Denmark. [47.164] [48.299] [267.128]
- December 10
- Peace is concluded with Denmark. [1.314] [47.164] [48.296] [267.128]
- December 24
- Former king Gustav IV Adolf leaves Sweden forever. [48.295]
1810
- January 10
- Sweden signs peace with France, regaining Pomerania, at a cost of breaking all trade with England except for salt imports. [1.314] [47.165] [48.296] [267.128]
- (month unknown)
- King Karl XIII adopts Christian August of Denmark, naming him Prince Karl August, heir to the throne. [1.314] [48.299] [267.129]
- March 13
- A group favoring the return of Gustav IV Adolf's son calls off a planned coup, due to King Karl XIII refusing to cooperate. [48.300]
- May 28
- In Skåne, Prince Karl August has a stroke, falls from a horse while attending a military review, and dies within a half hour. [1.315] [47.165] [48.299] [267.129]
- June 20
- In Stockholm, a funeral procession for the late Karl August is lead by marshal Axel von Fersen. Fersen is accused of poisoning Prince Karl, and is slowly beaten to death while soldiers and police look on. [48.299]
- (month unknown)
- A Royal decree preserves the ruins of Visby on Gotland. This is the first such decree of its kind. [120.161]
- The Act of Succession of 1809 is replaced by a new act. [149.11] [267.128]
- The Caroline Medical Institute is founded. [47.226]
- The Aurora Society is initiated in Uppsala. [47.219]
- The journal Phosphoros is first published by Neo-romantics. [1.325]
- The Riksdag Act of 1809 is adopted. [267.127]
- The Freedom of the Press Act of 1809 is adopted. [267.127]
- The constitution committee of the riksdag recommends replacing the four-Estate riksdag with a two-chamber system. (It will take another 55 years for it to happen.) [48.298]
- Work begins on the Göta Canal. [47.171] [62.12]
- July
- The Riksdag chooses the Prince Frederik Kristian, brother of the late Prince Karl August, as the next king, but decides to first seek the approval of Napoleon of France. [47.165] [48.303] [267.130]
- (month unknown)
- Lieutenant Otto Mörner is appointed as a second emissary to Napoleon. [48.302]
- An envoy is sent to Paris to seek the approval of Napoleon on the Riksdag's choice of king. Lieutenant Mörner is also sent. [47.165]
- In Paris, Lieutenant Mörner delivers his diplomatic paper, then visits a friend who confirms that French marshal Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte should be a candidate for crown prince of Sweden. [48.302]
- Napoleon favors his ally King Frederik VI of Denmark to be named crown prince of Sweden, but is willing to accept Prince Frederik Kristian of Augustenburg, brother to Karl August. [48.302]
- Lieutenant Mörner visits Bernadotte, Prince of Pontecorvo, brother-in-law of Louis Bonaparte. Bernadotte agrees to be considered as king of Sweden. [47.165] [48.303]
- Napoleon publicly agrees with the Riksdag's choice of Frederik Kristian as crown prince, but also gives consent to Bernadotte being chosen. [47.165]
- August 16
- Lieutenant Mörner is disciplined for approaching Bernadotte without authorization, but he convinces the riksdag that Bernadotte would be the best choice for Sweden. The crown prince committee of the riksdag votes ten to two in favor of Bernadotte. [47.165] [48.304]
- August
- The council gives its approval of Bernadotte for crown prince. [48.304]
- August 21
- In Örebro, the Riksdag elects Jean Baptiste Bernadotte crown prince of Sweden. [1.316] [48.304] [267.132] [269.128]
- (month unknown)
- Shortly before leaving France, Jean Baptiste Bernadotte is asked to sign a document promising never to go to war with France. He refuses, and tells Emperor Napoleon that as Swedish Crown Prince he could not be commanded by any foreign country. [184.174]
- October 20
- Jean Baptiste Bernadotte arrives in Sweden, converts to the Lutheran faith, and is given the name Prince Karl Johan. [1.316] [47.166] [48.304] [267.132]
- (month unknown)
- King Karl XIII and Queen adopt Karl Johan as their son. [1.316] [48.304]
- Napoleon demands Sweden declare war on Britain, and to exclude British goods from Pomerania. [48.307]
- November
- The Swedish government declares war on Britain. The English fleet is informed that it would be a phantom war. [47.166] [48.307] [267.132]
- (month unknown)
- King Karl XIII has a stroke. Price Karl Johan becomes regent. [48.305]
- December 10
- Prince Karl Johan's wife Desirée and their 11-year old son Oskar arrive in Sweden from Paris. [48.304]
- (month unknown)
- Population is about 2.4 million. [1.327]
1811
- June
- Prince Karl Johan's wife Desirée son Oskar leave Sweden, returning to Paris. [48.304]
- (month unknown)
- Tegnér writes the political and patriotic poem Svea. [1.325]
- Prince Karl Johan approves of the establishment of an agriculture school. [48.306]
- The Gothic Society (Götiska förbundet) is founded in Stockholm. [1.325] [47.219]
1812
- January
- Napoleon sends troops to occupy Pomerania, to end the illegal trade with England from Sweden. [1.317] [47.166] [48.308] [184.175] [267.132]
- (month unknown)
- Prince Karl Johan proclaims the neutrality of Sweden. [47.166]
- April
- Sweden and Russia establish a treaty of alliance. Russia promises to help Sweden gain Norway from Denmark. In return, Sweden pledges assistance to Russia against the French. [1.318] [47.166] [48.308] [267.132]
- (month unknown)
- Former king Gustav IV Adolf divorces his wife. [48.295]
- The Freedom of the Press Act of 1809 is revised. [267.127]
- The Gotland Militia is formed, the first such territorial force in Sweden. [120.80] (1811 [120.161])
- Sweden and Russia make peace with England. [1.318]
- August
- Tsar Alexander of Russia meets with Prince Karl Johan in Åbo, Finland. Alexander explains that he can not commit troops in aid against Denmark. [1.318] [48.308] [267.132]
- The Riksdag introduces conscription, and grants supplies for armament. All men aged 20 to 25 must perform military service. [1.318] [267.133]
1813
- March 3
- Prince Karl Johan concludes an alliance with England. England cedes Guadeloupe island in West Indies to Sweden, and agrees to Sweden's demands on Norway. [1.319] [47.167] [48.309] [269.129]
- April
- Prussia gives its support for Sweden's territorial demands in Norway. [1.319] [48.309] [267.133]
- May
- Prince Bernadotte and army embark for Northern Germany. [184.176]
- (month unknown)
- Prince Karl Johan lands an army into Pomerania, in hopes that Russia will aid in an attack on Denmark. [1.319]
- The Swedish East India Company (Svenska Ostindiska Companiet) ends operations. Over 82 years, 132-135 voyages to Asia were made with 37 ships. [40.12] [47.170] [48.265] [234.18]
- Russia and Prussia are forced to make a truce with Napoleon. [1.319] [47.167] [48.309]
- July 9
- At Trachenberg palace in Silesia, over four days, a meeting is held including Prince Karl Johan, King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia, tsar Alexander of Russia, and diplomats from Austria and England. They make plans for action against Napoleon in the autumn. The Trachenberg Plan is created, in which the three main armies would form a semi-circle to converge on Napoleon. Prince Karl Johan is given command of the Northern Army of 160,000 men with 30,000 Swedish soldiers. [1.319] [48.310] [184.176] [267.133]
- August 11
- The armistice with Napoleon is denounced. Austria declares war. [48.310]
- August 23
- Prince Karl Johan's force attacks at Grossbeeren. [48.310]
- September 6
- Prince Karl Johan's force attacks at Dennewitz. [48.310]
- October 16
- At Leipzig, over four days, allied forces converge on Napoleon's position, defeating him. Total forces number 320,000 Allies vs. 160,000 French. About 94,000 are killed or wounded. [47.167] [48.311] [123.30] [267.133] [270.313]
- December
- Prince Karl Johan's army launches an attack on Danish troops in Holstein. [1.320] [267.133]
1814
- January 14
- By the Treaty of Kiel, peace with Denmark is concluded. Danish King Frederik cedes to the king of Sweden and his successors the kingdom of Norway. Denmark is to receive 1 million riksdaler and the province of Pomerania. Sweden is to pay Norway's per-capita share of Denmark's national debt. Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe islands are retained by Denmark. [1.320] [47.167] [48.311] [184.176] [267.133] [268.163] [269.129]
- February
- A group of Norwegians meet in Eidsvold, and write a constitution for an independent monarchy, with Danish viceroy Prince Christian Frederick as king. [47.167]
- May 17
- Norway proclaims a new constitution, and elects Danish Governor Christian Frederick as King of Norway. [1.321] [48.312] [267.134] [269.134] [295.2]
- May 30
- In Paris, France, the Treaty of Paris is signed, bringing peace between Great Britain and her Allies (including Sweden) and France. France recognizes the Union of Norway and Sweden. The King of Sweden and Norway restores Guadeloupe to France, with England paying 24 million francs to Sweden as compensation. Most of the money goes toward Sweden's foreign debt. [267.134] [272.1]
- July
- Prince Karl Johan attacks Norway, quickly subduing resistance, and negotiating for peace. [1.321] [47.168] [48.313]
- August 14
- In Moss, Norway and Sweden sign a convention joining the two countries. The Norwegian King renounces his throne, and Sweden recognizes the Norwegian constitution and Storting parliament. [1.322] [47.168] [48.313] [267.134] [269.137]
- November 4
- The Norwegian storting approves the treaty with Sweden. Norway retains the constitution of Eidsvold, modified to recognize the king of Sweden as the king of Norway. [1.322] [48.313] [267.134] [269.139]
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