Editing Charles XIII (section)

==Reign of Gustav IV Adolf==
On the assassination of Gustav III in 1792, Charles acted as [[regent]] of Sweden until 1796 on behalf of his nephew, King Gustav IV, who was a minor when his father was shot in the Stockholm opera. Gustav III had designated him regent in his earlier will. When he was dying, he altered the will, and while still appointing Charles regent of his minor son, he was no longer to rule absolute, but restricted by a government consisted of the supporters of Gustav III.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> After the death of the monarch, however, Charles successfully contested the will and was given unlimited power as sole regent.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

[[File:King Charles XIII of Sweden by unknown artist.jpg|thumb|King Charles XIII of Sweden by unknown artist]]

The Duke-regent was in practice not willing or capable to manage the state affairs, reportedly because of his lack of energy and staying power.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Instead, he entrusted the power of government to his favorite and adviser [[Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm]], whose influence over him was supreme. 
These four years have been considered perhaps the most miserable and degrading period in Swedish history; an Age of Lead succeeding an [[Age of Gold]], as it has been called, and may be briefly described as alternations of fantastic [[jacobinism]] and the ruthless [[despotism]].{{sfn|Bain|1911}} Reuterholm ruled as the uncontested regent [[de facto]] the entire tenure of the regency, "only seldom disturbed by other influences or any personal will of charles".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The unexpectedly mild sentences of the involved in the regicide of Gustav III attracted attention.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In 1794 the discovery of the Armfelt Conspiracy exposed the opposition of the [[Gustavian Party]]. The marriage negotiations of the young king disturbed the relationship to Russia, and the alliance with revolutionary France was greatly disliked by other powers.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

On the coming of age of [[Gustav IV Adolf]] of Sweden in November 1796, the duke's regency ended. His relationship to Gustav IV Adolf was cordial though never close, and he was not entrusted with much responsibility during the rule of his nephew.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> In 1797 and 1798, he and his consort had their first children, though in neither case the child lived. After this, the Duke and Duchess made a journey through Germany and Austria in 1798–99.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

In 1803, the Boheman affair caused a severe conflict between Gustav IV Adolf and the ducal couple. The mystic [[Karl Adolf Boheman]] (1764–1831) had been introduced to the couple by Count Magnus Stenbock in 1793 and gained great influence by promising to reveal scientific secrets about the occult. Boheman inducted them into a secret society [[Yellow Rose (society)|Yellow Rose]] in 1801, where both sexes were accepted as members, and to which the Counts and Countesses Ruuth and Brahe as well as the [[Landgravine Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt|mother of the queen]] were introduced. Boheman was arrested upon an attempt to recruit the monarch, who accused him of revolutionary agendas and expelled him. The ducal couple were exposed in an informal investigation by the monarch, and the duchess was questioned in the presence of the royal council.<ref>
{{cite book
 |author=Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte, Queen Consort of Charles XIII of Sweden
 | editor =  Cecilia af Klercker
 | title = Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok VII 1800–1806 (The diaries of Hedvig Elizabeth Charlotte VIII 1800–1806)
 | publisher =  P. A. Norstedt & Söners förlag Stockholm
 | year = 1936
| pages =497–527
 | language = sv
 | id=362103
}}
</ref> In 1808, Charles was again chief commander during Gustav IV Adolf's stay in Finland. He is presumed to have been, if not involved, aware of the plans to depose Gustav IV Adolf in 1809.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> He kept passive during the [[Coup of 1809]], and accepted the post of regent from the victorious party after having assured himself that the deposed monarch was not in mortal danger.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Charles was initially not willing to accept the crown, however, out of consideration for the former king's son.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>