Swedish Empire
the years 1611–1721 in the history of Sweden
Key facts
- Capital
- Stockholm
- Common languages
- Swedish
- Religion
- Church of Sweden ( official )
- Government
- Absolute monarchy (1680–1719) Parliamentary constitutional monarchy (1611–1680; 1719–1721)
- 1611 1632 first
- Gustavus Adolphus
- 1632 1654
- Christina
- 1654 1660
- Charles X Gustav
- 1660 1697
- Charles XI
- 1697 1718
- Charles XII
- 1718 1720
- Ulrika Eleonora
- 1720 1721 last
- Frederick I
- Legislature
- Riksdag of the Estates
- Coronation of gustavus adolphus
Article
Swedish Empire including overseas territories The Swedish Empire, referred to in Sweden as the Great Power Era (Swedish: stormaktstiden), was the period in Swedish history spanning much of the 17th and early 18th centuries during which Sweden was a European great power that exercised territorial control over much of the Baltic region. During this period, it also held territories on the North Sea including overseas colonies, such as New Sweden. The beginning of the period is usually taken as the reign of Gustavus Adolphus, who ascended the throne in 1611, and its end as the loss of territories in 1721 following the Great Northern War.
After the death of Gustavus Adolphus in 1632, the empire was controlled for lengthy periods by part of the high nobility, such as the Oxenstierna family, acting as regents for under-aged monarchs.