Birth of Charles XV – King of Sweden & Norway
Charles was born on 3rd May 1826 at Stockholm Palace, Stockholm. dubbed Duke of Skåne at birth.
As the eldest son of King Oscar I and Josephine of Leuchtenberg, he was dubbed the Duke of Skåne at birth.
Charles was second in line to the throne of his grandfather, the ruling King Charles XIV John of Sweden.
As Crown Prince, Charles’ brusque manner led many to regard his future accession with some apprehension.
Yet he proved to be one of the most popular of the Scandinavian kings, and a constitutional ruler in the best sense of the word.
On 19th June 1850 Charles married Louise of the Netherlands.
The couple were complete opposites.
Louise was a cultured and refined woman, however, she was considered to be quite plain and Charles was disappointed with her appearance.
Princess Louise was hopelessly in love with her dashing husband, whereas he neglected his shy wife for other women, which saddened Louise deeply.
One of his more well-known mistresses was the celebrated Swedish actress, Elise Hwasser.
Although he regularly sought to be away from his wife, Charles relationship with his only daughter Louise, was warm and close.
The royal couple also had a son, but he sadly died in infancy.
Charles became king on the death of his father, on 8th July 1859.
Charles was an advocate of Scandinavianism, and the political solidarity of the three northern kingdoms.
His reign was remarkable for its reforms.
Sweden’s existing municipal law, ecclesiastical law, and criminal law, were appropriately upheld under the direction of a king whose motto was:
“Land skall med lag byggas”
“With law shall the land be built”
Charles also attained some eminence as a painter and a poet.
Charles died from tuberculosis in Malmö, on 18th September 1872, aged 46.
He was buried at Riddarholmen Church, the former medieval Greyfriars Monastery in Stockholm, Sweden.
The church serves as the final resting place of most Swedish monarchs.
A few weeks before Charles’ death, his daughter Louise the Crown Princess of Denmark, gave birth to her second son.
The young Prince of Denmark became christened as his grandfather Charles’ namesake.
In 1905 this grandson, Prince Carl of Denmark, ascended the throne of Norway, and assumed the reign name Haakon VII.
The present king, Harald V of Norway, is Charles’ great-great-grandson, through both his father and mother.
👑 King Charles XV of Sweden
Gotthelf Rudolf Asel
