It is needless to say that this period was followed immediately by one of revolution and reformation, characterized by much heroism and patriotism, and bringing into prominence those splendid warriors, Gustavus Vasa, Gustavus Adolphus, Charles XII, and others, and the memorable battle of Pultowa and other lesser engagements.

After this came a period of political grandeur under various rulers, notably Queen Christine, followed by what has been called the period of Liberty, or the Aristocratic Republic, under Queen Ulrica Eleonore, when literature and the arts and sciences flourished, and Swedenborg, Linnaeus, Dahlin, Tegner, and many others came into prominence.

One of the most loved rulers of this period was Gustavus III.  By his influence a revolution similar to that in France was put down, for which, at a mask ball in the Royal Opera, he was assassinated by conspiritors.  It is true, historians tell us, that he was superficial, that he violated the law, had no regard for a constitutional government, and led the people into adventurous and expensive wars.  Yet his noble patriotism, frank heroism, brilliant genius, and great generosity compelled the love of his countrymen.  In this mixture of patriotism and universal cosmopolitanism, true genius and superficiality, earnestness and recklessness in the character of Gustavus III, the Swedes recognized peculiarities of their own national temperament, for which they love him dearly, and Tegner has voiced this love in a few lines of his eulogy: 

  There rests o’er Gustav’s days a golden shimmer,
  Fantastic, foreign, frivolous, if you please;
  But why complain when sunshine caused the glamour? 
  Where stood we now if it were not for these? 
  All culture on an unfree ground is builded,
  And barbarous once the base of patriotism true;
  But wit was planted, iron-hard language welded,
  The song was raised, life more enjoyed and shielded,
  And what Gustavian was, is, therefore, Swedish too.

On his death-bed, Gustavus III appointed his brother Charles and Charles Gustavus Armfelt members of the government during the minority of his son.  Gustavus IV Adolphus was declared of age and took charge of the government when eighteen (in 1796).  His guardians retired, and the new monarch ruled alone, without favorites or influential advisers.  This proved most unfortunate for Sweden, for he was entirely without the gifts of a regent.  He was a lover of order, economy, justice, and pure morals, but through lack of mental and physical strength his good qualities were misdirected.  His father’s tragic fate had a sinister effect upon his mind, the equilibrium of which was also shaken by the outrages of the revolutionists in France.  Of a morbid sensibility, and without inclination to confide in any one, his religious mysticism led him into a state close to insanity.  He imagined himself to be the reincarnation of Charles XII, while in Napoleon he recognized the monster of the Apocalypse, which he himself was sent to fight and conquer.