This thesis analyses speeches by Charles XIII of Sweden to the Assembly of the Estates from 1809 to 1818, showing how Charles legitimised himself, the new regime he represented and his two successors, Charles August, and Charles John. The legitimisation focuses on the rhetorical meaning that Charles chronologically gives to the key concepts he utilises in independence, citizens, and freedom and how this relates to the periods before his rule. The thesis shows that independence was the key concept of Charles’ legitimisation as he constructed a myth around the Coup d’état of 1809, why it was needed and why the new ruling system and constitution he represented was legitimate. This was also connected to the concept of citizens and freedom, where Charles acknowledges and recognises that citizens have the authority to decide the nation’s future freely, and to uphold the freedom that belonged to their ancestors. Charles's role as king was to protect the nation's independence and the authority and freedom of its citizens. Charles presented contrasting images for the two successors, with Charles August not needing or having much legitimisation due to his early demise and lack of action being legitimised as a promise for a better future. For Charles John, his legitimisation comes in two forms: he would continue the example of a constitutional monarch that Charles had shown and as a warrior king who, through his military actions, deserved the throne more than any before him. The thesis concludes by showing that Charles legitimised his power as king by embracing the constitutional monarchy, expressing that he and Charles John would protect the independence and freedom of the Swedish citizens and their authority guaranteed by the constitution.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-530247 |
| Date | January 2024 |
| Creators | Söderlund, Joel |
| Publisher | Uppsala universitet, Historiska institutionen |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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