Gustav III was the King of Sweden from 1771 to 1792. He played a key role during a time called the Age of Liberty, which lasted from 1718 to 1772. This was a time of big changes in Sweden's government. Gustav III wanted to make the monarchy stronger and improve culture in Sweden.

Political Changes

1. Changing the Constitution:

   • Gustav III wanted to take power away from the Riksdag, which is like Sweden’s parliament.
   • In 1772, he staged a coup to become more powerful. This led to the 1772 Constitution that limited the parliament’s power and returned more control to the king.

2. More Power for the King:

   • He made rules that allowed him to hire officials without needing permission from the parliament.
   • Under this new setup, the King could help make laws, which helped him create a smarter and stronger monarchy.

3. Improving the Justice System:

   • Gustav III wanted to modernize the courts.
   • He worked on making the judicial system fairer and focused on the rule of law, which reflected the new ideas of the Enlightenment.

Boosting Culture

• A Cultural Boom:

  • Gustav III loved the arts and wanted to improve Swedish culture.
  • He started the Royal Swedish Opera in 1773 and the Swedish Academy in 1786, which helped the culture grow.

• Fun Fact:

  • By the end of his time as king, Sweden had ten theaters! It started with just one at the beginning of his reign.

Economic Changes

• Farm Improvements:

  • Gustav helped change farming methods to make them better.
  • For example, he introduced crop rotation that helped increase food production.

• Boosting Trade:

  • He pushed for new trade deals that helped the Swedish economy.
  • During his reign, exports from Sweden grew by 50%, showing how he helped strengthen the economy.

His Lasting Impact

Gustav III wanted to create a wise and strong monarchy, and his efforts changed Sweden’s politics, culture, and economy. While his time marked the end of the Age of Liberty, it helped build a modern Sweden with a rich cultural identity. Today, we can still see the good effects of his work in Swedish society.