Charles XIII

Charles XIII or Carl XIII (; 7 October 1748 – 5 February 1818) was King of Sweden from 1809 and King of Norway from 1814 to his death. He was the second son (and younger brother to King Gustav III) of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, sister of Frederick the Great.

Though known as King Charles XIII in Sweden, he was actually the seventh Swedish king by that name, as Charles IX (reigned 1604–1611) had adopted his numeral after studying a fictitious history of Sweden. In Norway, he is known as Charles II.

Charles was, however, his father's favorite, and similar to him in personality. He was also described as close to his brother Gustav during their childhood. His numerous affairs gave him the reputation of being a libertine.

thumb|Prince Charles in his princely attire for his brother Gustav III's coronation in 1772. His coronet can be seen on the left.thumb|Medal issued when Charles married his cousin Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp in 1774.The Duke was known for his interest in the supernatural and mysticism, and he was engaged in several secret societies. He was a member of the Freemasons. He was reportedly a client of the fortune teller Ulrica Arfvidsson, and he also favored the medium Henrik Gustaf Ulfvenklou. In 1811, he founded the Order of Charles XIII, a Swedish order of chivalry awarded only to a maximum number of 33 knights, on the condition of confessing the Lutheran Evangelic Religion and being Freemasons. All Princes and Kings of the Bernadotte dynasty, the royal house of Sweden are from baptism, incorporate parts of the royal order of knights and freemasons. In addition are the order of merit granted to members of foreign Grand Lodges affiliated to the so-called Swedish System, such as the Grande Loge Nationale Française, if of royal rank. When the Swedish order of Freemason's states that "Freemasonry in Sweden has continued to develop under leadership of their Grand Masters, all of them belonging to the Royal House since more than 200 years", the origin of which arrives in large from King Charles II of Norway, XIII of Sweden.

Duke Charles was given several political tasks during his tenure as a duke. In 1777, he served as regent during Gustav III's stay in Russia. In 1780, he served as formal chief commander during the king's stay in Spa. The same year, Gustav III named him regent for his son should he succeed him while still a minor. This however never materialized.

thumb|Duke Charles as admiral of the Swedish fleet, by Giovanni Battista Lampi the Elder, 1799.

On the outbreak of the Russo-Swedish War of 1788 he served with distinction as admiral of the fleet, especially at the battles of Hogland (7 June 1788) and Öland (26 July 1789). On the latter occasion he would have won a signal victory but for the remissness of his second-in-command, Admiral Liljehorn.

The autumn of 1789, Duchess Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte wished to depose Gustav III and place her husband Duke Charles upon the throne. Her ideal was the Swedish Constitution of 1772, which she saw as a good tool for an enlightened aristocracy, and the war and the Union and Security Act had made her a leading part of the opposition. She cooperated with Prince Frederick Adolf of Sweden and Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm.

Reign of Gustav IV Adolf

On the assassination of Gustav III in 1792, Charles acted as regent of Sweden until 1796 on behalf of his nephew, King Gustav IV, who was a minor when his father was shot in the Stockholm opera. Gustav III had designated him regent in his earlier will. When he was dying, he altered the will, and while still appointing Charles regent of his minor son, he was no longer to rule absolute, but restricted by a government consisted of the supporters of Gustav III. In 1808, Charles was again chief commander during Gustav IV Adolf's stay in Finland. He is presumed to have been, if not involved, aware of the plans to depose Gustav IV Adolf in 1809.

Charles was the 872nd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Spain.

Family

He married his 15-year-old cousin, Princess Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp (1759–1818), on 7 July 1774 in Stockholm. They had two children who died in infancy:

Stillborn daughter (2 July 1797)
Carl Adolf, Duke of Värmland (Stockholm, 4 July 1798 – Stockholm, 10 July 1798). Lived six days; buried at Riddarholm Church.

With Augusta von Fersen, he had an extramarital son:

Carl Axel Löwenhielm (1772–1861)

Adopted sons:

Charles August, Crown Prince of Sweden
Charles XIV John of Sweden

Honours and arms

Honours

Sweden:
Knight of the Order of the Seraphim, 7 October 1748
Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Sword, 7 October 1748; Grand Cross, 1st Class, 27 July 1788
Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star, 7 October 1748
Commander Grand Cross of the Order of Vasa, 7 October 1748
Founder of the Order of Charles XIII, 27 May 1811
Kingdom of Prussia: Knight of the Order of the Black Eagle, 18 October 1770
:
Knight of the Order of St. Andrew, 28 August 1796
Knight of the Order of St. Alexander Nevsky, 28 August 1796
: Knight of the Order of the Elephant, 10 February 1810
Spain: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, 23 September 1814

Arms

File:Armoiries du Prince Charles de Suède duc de Södermanland.svg|Coat of Arms as Prince of Sweden, Duke of Södermanland

File:Armoiries des rois Adolphe Frédéric, Gustave III et Charles XIII de Suède.svg|Coat of Arms as King Charles XIII of Sweden, 1809–1814

File:Coat of Arms of Charles XIII of Sweden and Norway.svg|Coat of Arms as King Charles XIII of Sweden and Charles II of Norway, 1814–1818

File:Royal Monogram of King Charles XIII of Sweden.svg|Royal Monogram of King Charles XIII of Sweden

Reign of Gustav IV Adolf

Family

Honours and arms

Honours

Arms

Ancestors

See also

References

Citations

Sources

Further reading

Written sources

External links