Gustav IV Adolf

Gustav IV Adolf
Gustav IV Adolf
	Portrait by Per Krafft the Younger, 1809
King of Sweden
Reign	29 March 1792 – 29 March 1809
Coronation	3 April 1800
Predecessor	Gustav III
Successor	Charles XIII
Regent	Charles, Duke of Södermanland (1792–1796)
Born	1 November 1778; Stockholm Palace, Kingdom of Sweden
Died	7 February 1837 (aged 58); St. Gallen, Swiss Confederacy
Burial	29 May 1884; Riddarholm Church, Sweden-Norway
Spouse	Frederica of Baden (m. 1797; div. 1812)
Issue	Gustav, Prince of Vasa; Sophie, Grand Duchess of Baden; Princess Amalia; Cecilia, Grand Duchess of Oldenburg;
House	Holstein-Gottorp
Father	Gustav III of Sweden
Mother	Sophia Magdalena of Denmark
Religion	Lutheran
Signature

Gustav IV Adolf or Gustav IV Adolph^[1] (1 November 1778 – 7 February 1837) was King of Sweden from 1792 until he was deposed in a coup in 1809. He was also the last Swedish monarch to be the ruler of Finland.

The occupation of Finland in 1808–09 by Russian forces was the immediate cause of Gustav Adolf's violent overthrow by officers of his own army. Following his abdication on 29 March 1809, an Instrument of Government was hastily written, which severely circumscribed the powers of the monarchy. The "Instrument" was adopted in 1809 on 6 June, the National Day of Sweden now as well as in his time. It remained in force until replaced in 1974. The crown, now with strictly limited powers, passed to Gustav Adolf's uncle Charles XIII.^[2]

^ David Williamson in Debrett's Kings and Queens of Europe ISBN 0-86350-194-X pp. 125, 134, 194, 207
^ Cronholm, Neander N. (1902). A History of Sweden from the Earliest Times to the Present Day. ch 37 pp. 203–219

[1] David Williamson in Debrett's Kings and Queens of Europe ISBN 0-86350-194-X pp. 125, 134, 194, 207

[2] Cronholm, Neander N. (1902). A History of Sweden from the Earliest Times to the Present Day. ch 37 pp. 203–219

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