Absolutystyczny zamach stanu w Sztokholmie w 1789 r. w świetle doniesień „Pamiętnika Historyczno-Polityczno-Ekonomicznego”
The absolutist coup d’état in Stockholm in 1789 in the light of the reports of “Pamiętnik Historyczno-Polityczno-Ekonomiczny”

Summary/Abstract: In this article, the authors analyses issues related to the coup d’état carried out by the King of Sweden, Gustav III, during the Riksdag meeting in 1789, which allowed him to concentrate all the power in his hands. In the first part of study, the actions of Gustav III in the years 1771–1788 are briefly discussed. Attention was drawn to the king’s slow deviation from the rules of his constitution of August 1772. When the ruler of Sweden decided to attack Russia in the end of June 1788, he faced serious trouble. Some officers in the army revolted, due to their opposition to the war started without consent of the Riksdag. When Denmark joined the war on the side of Russia, it seemed nothing could save Gustav III from defeat, yet the course of events took a different path. British diplomatic intervention stopped the Danish troops, and with the support of three lower estates, the king forced the nobility into obedience during the Riksdag of 1789, made a coup d’état and dealt with the rebellion in the army. All the events occurring in Sweden in the years 1788–1789 were discussed in detail in the “Pamiętnik Historyczno-Polityczno-Historyczny” published by Piotr Świtkowski. It is worth emphasizing that Świtkowski was very sympathetic to the ruler of Sweden and fully approved the strengthening of his power at the expense of noblemen’s privileges. Articles published in Świtkowski’s journal provided the readers with a good understanding of the situation in Sweden in 1788 and 1789. Finally, the authors briefly describe Gustav III’s actions after 1789, leading up to the attempt on his life and the death of the ruler on March 29, 1792.

• Details
• Contents