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II. THE SWEDISH PEOPLE.
Bearing Home of the Dead, Body of Charles XII.
From a painting by G. o. Cederström.
tion of the Riksdag, which underwent important developments during the
seventeenth century. Still, it was never once called together by King Charles XII.
The position within the political system of Europe to which, during this time,
Sweden had been raised, has been of immeasurable importance in the history
of her cultural development; but this position in itself was out of all proportion
to the numbers and material resources of the nation, and it was but natural,
therefore, that it was of brief duration. The downfall occurred during the
reign of that illustrious monarch, Charles XII, as a result of what is called
the Great Northern War (1700—21). The titanic struggles of Charles XII —
finally against the whole of northern and eastern Europe -— gained for him the
admiration of the world; and he was followed by his people, upon whose powers
of self-sacrifice he made almost superhuman demands, with a devotion as
unswerving in adversity as in success. The struggles and sufferings of Sweden and
Finland during this period are, without doubt, among the most stirring incidents
the history of the world has to tell. The final result of the conflict with such
an enormously superior force was, of course, never doubtful; but the period of
Sweden’s political greatness has not therefore been in vain. The Swedish nation
cannot be robbed of the imperishable glory of having saved for all mankind, at
a most critical moment, the sacred cause of liberty of conscience.
By the treaties of peace which concluded the Great Northern War (1720 and
1721) Sweden lost her possessions east and south of the Baltic, with the
exception of the northernmost part of Hither Pomerania and the town of Wismar;
the south-eastern part of Finland was also forfeited. Sweden had then ruled
for about 150 years in Esthonia, almost 100 years in Livonia, and about 65
years in southern Pomerania. Comparatively short though these epochs are, the
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