Talk:BL: Part 18
From Alternative History
After the Great Northern War, in which Sweden was defeated by Russia, the power of the king was diminished and a Parliamentary system was adopted. Sweden also fall from one of the European powers to a puppet of other European powers, mainly France and Russia.
This was not the first, not the last, war between Sweden and Russia. In 1741, a new war sprang, which further affected the power of Sweden.
During the Seven Year War, as an abnormality, Sweden fought in the Russian side.
In 1769, the pro-Russian Caps manage to hold power in Sweden, leading the way for a partition of the country between Russia, Prussia and France. The Hats fail to see an ally in France and turn to Britain.
Worried by the situation in Sweden, after the attempts of Gustav III to suppress the Parliamentary system, and prompted by the successful dismembering of Poland, Russia moves into invading Finland in 1773. The Swedes react, and both Caps and Hats unite around the king, declaring war to the invader and seek support on France and Britain.
Britain, worried by the possibility of Russia and Prussia breaking the balance of power, provide the Swedes with military support, but does not declare war to Russia. Prussia does not participate, preferring to hold the territories gained from Poland. Anyhow, the British supported Swedes are doing fine against the Russians.
Despite the successful defense of Finland, the Swedes were convinced that they should stop being puppets of the other European powers. The Parliament introduced a series of reforms to give more power to the King, while not granting the absolute monarchy. Unwilling to start a civil war, Gustav III accepted those new powers, and attempted to rebuild Sweden.
However, the political prestige of Gustav after the war of 1773, was so high, that he had little problem in passing most of his agenda in the Parliament. Gustav build the Swedish Academy and the Royal Swedish Opera.
Russia, under Catherine II, got involved in a war against Turkey in 1787. Britain, Prussia and the Netherlands tried to push a western front in Russia, by having another nation to declare war to Russia, and the candidate was Sweden. Gustav dodged the situation and even give some limited support to Russia.
However, this support, the situation in Finland was still hot, mainly after Catherine's death. In 1809, a rebellion in Finland was proved to have been supported by Russia.
