History

From the 8th until the mid-11th century, Sweden’s Vikings spread throughout eastern Europe and Byzantium; sacking monasteries, plundering as much as their ships could carry, and providing some legendary characters, including Leif the Lucky and Ivar the Boneless.

The modern kingdom of Sweden, along with the advent of Christianity, came into being towards the end of the Viking era. When Margaret – then Regent of Denmark and ruler of Norway – acceded to the throne in 1387, an attempt was made to establish a united Scandinavia (the Union of Kalmar) but it was not destined to last much past her death. During the 15th century, the aristocracy were able to do much as they pleased at the expense of royal authority.

The Massacre of Stockholm in 1520 was occasioned by Christian of Denmark’s poorly thought-out attempt to reassert his authority in Sweden. During the subsequent rebellion, led by Gustav Ericksson Vasa, the Danes were defeated and Gustav was crowned King in 1523, establishing the House of Vasa and heralding Sweden’s rise to power within Europe. In 1611, Gustav II Adolf (better known as Gustavus Adolphus), one of the most famous names in Swedish history, ascended to the throne. Much 17th century foreign policy was dominated by attempts to transform the Baltic into a Swedish lake. By allying himself with Catholic France, Gustav won the last remaining Baltic territories not under their control – Prussia and Pomerania – but was killed at the battle of Lützen in 1632.

Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries Sweden lost of its non-Scandinavian territories; meanwhile political upheavals led to a string of royal dynasties ascending the throne. By 1818, the struggle for power had been concluded, with the Bernadotte family (which still rules) coming out on top. But while the country’s political leadership was assured, its overseas territories remained in a state of flux as a result of the rise of nationalism in Norway, which culminated in Norway’s transition to full independence in 1905.

By the beginning of the twentieth century parliamentary government had established itself in Sweden, despite strong Socialist opposition. The Socialdemokratiska Arbetarepartiet (SAP, Social Democrats) first gained power in the early-1920s and then, except for a short break in 1936, held power continuously from 1932 until 1976. Since the end of the Second World War, in which Sweden remained neutral (as it had done in the First World War), the country continues to enjoy economic growth and an expanding welfare state.