Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - XIV. Reign of Ulrica Eleonora and Frederick I, 1719–1751 - A. Introduction - B. Peace Treaties
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242 A History of Sweden
To work for his faithful people and help them out of
their distress was a matter entirely foreign to his
thoughts. No, "Live and let live" was his maxim. As
he grew older he was given more and more to pleasure,
idleness, and slackness, and the people’s love was grad-
ually changed to contempt.
B. THE END OF THE GREAT WAR. PEACE TREATIES
Continued Attacks and Ravages by the Enemies.
The cry of the people for peace became stronger and
stronger during the last years of absolutism. One only
had stood in the way of the wishes of a whole people,
only one, he who "could not yield, only fall/’ His war
plans fell with him. During nearly two decades his
people had bled away their strength on battle fields
over half of Europe. Where could now be found the
power or the will for war to win back the lost posses-
sions, when the people were practically starving to
death?
The enemies would not allow the exhausted land any
rest. The western coast was harassed by the brave
Norwegian sea captain, Tordenskjold. He did much
harm to Sweden. But the Russian ravages along the
Baltic coasts were the worst. From the coasts of East
Gothland up to the northernmost point of Norrland
the Russian fleet plundered and burnt nearly all the
cities and many factories and villages. They set fire
to forests, destroyed the crops, and carried off or killed
the stock. The people thus ravaged had during twenty
years borne the burdens of a continuous war.
The Peace Treaties. No foreign aid could be expect-
ed. Sweden had to conclude peace with her many ene-
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