Editing Charles XIV John (section)

==King of Sweden and Norway==
[[File:Medalj, 1818 - Skoklosters slott - 100167.tif|thumb|150px|left|Coronation medal 1844]]
[[File:Porträt av Karl XIV Johan, verk av Fredric Westin.png|thumb|218px|left|King Charles XIV John at ''[[Ladugårdsgärdet]]'']]
[[File:Karl XIV. Johan Coronoation,1818.jpg|thumb|right|218px|Coronation of Charles XIV John as King of Sweden in [[Stockholm Cathedral]]]]
[[File:Coronation of Charles III John of Norway, Trondheim 1818.jpg|thumb|right|218px|Coronation of Charles III John as King of Norway in [[Nidaros Cathedral]], Trondheim]]
Charles John had been regent and ''de facto'' head of state upon his arrival, and took an increasing role in government from 1812 onward, with Charles XIII reduced to a mute witness in government councils following a stroke.

Upon Charles's death on 5 February 1818, Charles John ascended the throne. He was initially popular in both countries.{{sfnp|Bain|1911|p=932}} The democratic process and forces steadily matured under the King's restrained executive power.{{sfnp|Scott|1962|p=286}}

{{quote box
| width = 17em
| quote = "Separated as we are from the rest of Europe, our policy, as well as our interest, will make us carefully abstain from mixing in any discussion foreign to the two people of Scandinavia; but my duty and your dignity will always be the rule of our conduct, and both one and the other prescribe to us never to permit interference in our internal affairs."|source=Speech of the King on the day of taking the oaths of allegiance and homage, 19 May 1818.{{sfnp|Meredith|1829|pp=311–312}}}}

The foreign policy applied by Charles John in the post-Napoleonic era was characterized by the maintenance of balance between the Great Powers and non-involvement into conflicts that took place outside of the Scandinavian peninsula.{{sfnp|Killham|1993|pp=17–19}} It made a sharp contrast with Sweden's previous hegemonic expansionism resulting in uninterrupted wars with neighboring countries for centuries, and he successfully kept his kingdoms in a state of peace from 1814 until his death.<ref name=Britannica/>{{sfnp|Agius|2006|pp=61–62}} He was especially concerned about the conflict between the UK and Russia. In 1834, when the relationship between the two countries strained regarding the [[Eastern Question|Near East Crisis]], he sent memoranda to British and Russian governments and proclaimed neutrality in advance. It is pointed out as the origin of [[Swedish neutrality]].{{sfnp|Wahlbäck|1986|pp=7–12}}

[[File:Statue of Charles XIV John at Slussplan, Stockholm.jpg|170px|thumb|left|Equestrian statue in Stockholm depicting Charles XIV John]]
His domestic policy particularly focused on promotion of economy and investment in social overhead capital, and the long peace since 1814 led to an increased prosperity for the country. During his long reign of 26 years (34 years if one counts his time as regent from 1810 to 1818), the population of the Kingdom was so increased that the inhabitants of Sweden alone became equal in number to those of Sweden and Finland before the latter province was torn from the former, the national debt was paid off, a civil and a penal code were proposed for promulgation, education was promoted, agriculture, commerce, and manufactures prospered, and the means of internal communication were increased.{{sfnp|Barton|1930|p=374}}

On the other hand, radical in his youth, his views had veered steadily rightward over the years, and by the time he ascended the throne he was an ultra-conservative. His autocratic methods, particularly his censorship of the press, were very unpopular, especially after 1823.  His dynasty faced little danger, as the Swedes and the Norwegians alike were proud of a monarch with a good European reputation.<ref name=Britannica>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-XIV-John|title=Charles XIV John &#124; king of Sweden and Norway &#124; Britannica|website=www.britannica.com|access-date=14 June 2022|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032859/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-XIV-John|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfnp|Bain|1911|p=932}}

[[File:Det Kongelige Slott 1.jpg|thumb|left|170px|The monument outside the [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] in Oslo]]
He also faced challenges in Norway. The Norwegian constitution gave the Norwegian parliament, the [[Storting]], more power than any legislature in Europe. While Charles John had the power of absolute veto in Sweden, he only had a suspensive veto in Norway. He demanded that the Storting give him the power of absolute veto, but was forced to back down.<ref name=Norway/> Charles John's difficult relationship with Norway was also demonstrated by the Storting's unwillingness to grant funds for the construction of a [[Royal Palace, Oslo|Royal Palace]] in the Norwegian capital [[Oslo]]. The construction began in 1825, but the Storting halted the funding after the costly foundation was laid and demanded that the appointed architect, [[Hans Linstow]], construct a simpler palace. This was seen by many as a protest against unnecessary spending and the king's authority. The palace itself was not completed until 1849, long after the death of Charles John, and was inaugurated by [[Oscar I of Sweden|Oscar I]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=33470&sek=33469|title=History of the Royal Palace|website=www.kongehuset.no|language=no|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=5 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805203112/http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=33470&sek=33469|url-status=live}}</ref> The main street in Oslo, ''Slottsgaten'', would later be named after Charles John as [[Karl Johans gate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=28686|title=King Carl Johan (1763–1844)|website=www.kongehuset.no|language=no|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103335/http://www.kongehuset.no/artikkel.html?tid=28686|url-status=live}}</ref>

His popularity decreased for a time in the 1830s, culminating in the [[Rabulist riots]] after the [[Lèse-majesté]] conviction of the journalist [[Magnus Jacob Crusenstolpe]], and some calls for his abdication.<ref name=Britannica/> Charles John survived the abdication controversy and he went on to have his [[silver jubilee]], which was celebrated with great enthusiasm on 18 February 1843. He reigned as King of Sweden and Norway from 5 February 1818 until his death on 8 March 1844.{{sfnp|Bain|1911|p=932}}
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