1241. Eric VI. 1250. Abel: assassinated his elder brother Eric: 1523. Frederick I., duke of Holstein, uncle to Christian II.; a liberal ruler. killed in an expedition against the 1534. Christian III., son of Frederick; estaFrisons. 1252. Christopher I.: poisoned. blished the Lutheran religion: esteemed 1559. Frederick II., son of Christian III. 1648. Frederick III.: changed the constitution 1259. Eric VII. 1670. Denmark. 1699. Frederick IV.; leagued with the czar Christian VI., his son. Frederick V., his son: married the princess Louisa of England, daughter of George II. Christian VII., son of the preceding: married Caroline-Matilda, sister of George III. In a fit of jealousy he banished his queen to Zell (where she died in 1775), and put to death his ministers Brandt and Struensee. Regency. The crown prince Frederick declared regent, in consequence of the mental derangement of his father. Frederick VI., previously regent, now king. Christian VIII., son of the preceding. Frederick VII., son of Christian VIII.; born Oct. 6, 1808. The PRESENT (1850) King of Denmark. The KING. Frederick-Charles-Christian; succeeded his father, Christian VIII., Jan. 20, 1848; married (March 1, 1828) Wilhelmina, danghter of Frederick VI. of Denmark, from whom he was divorced, Sept. 1837; married, 2nd (June 10, 1841), Caroline-Charlotte-Marianna (born Jan. 10, 1821), daughter of George V., grand-duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, from whom, also, he was divorced, Sept. 1846. UNCLE: Prince Frederick-Ferdinand, born Nov. 22, 1792; married (Aug. 1, 1829) Caroline, daughter of Frederick VI. of Denmark, born Oct. 28, 1793. This prince is at present heir-presumptive to the throne. SWEDEN. THE ancient inhabitants were the Fins, now the inhabitants of Finland, who retired to their present territory on the appearance of the Scandinavians or Goths, and these latter became masters of Sweden. Hence the country was comprehended under the early name of Scandinavia, given to it in common with other northern climes that were peopled by the same race. The internal state of this kingdom is little known previously to the 11th century. By the union of Calmar, in 1394, Sweden became a mere province of Denmark, and was not rescued from this subjection until 1521, when Gustavus Vasa recovered the kingdom from the Danish yoke. For this he was raised to the throne in 1523, and the crown made hereditary in his descendants, who successively reigned until 1809. In this last-mentioned year, Gustavus IV., having brought the nation to the verge of ruin by his misgovernment, was deposed, and the duke of Sudermania became king; and the next year Bernadotte1 was elected regent and successor to the throne, which he ascended in 1818. Norway, which had belonged to Denmark from 1397, was ceded to Sweden by the treaty of Kiel, signed January 14, 1814, confirmed by the Diet, Oct. 14, same year. 1 The choice made of this great soldier of fortune excited the surprise of all Europe at the time, but the wisdom of it was soon demonstrated by his prudent conduct. He had distinguished himself from all Napoleon's other marshals by his clemency in victory. For half a century before his accession, Sweden had not known the peace and prosperity in which he let the country in the hands of his son, Oscar, at his death in 1844. KINGS OF SWEDEN. and died in prison. 1568. John III., brother of Eric. 1592. [Many antiquaries trace the reigns of the kings | 1560. Eric XIV., son of Gustavus: dethroned, of Sweden as early as from the 5th century, and place Swartman as sovereign in 481, A. D. But the authorities so differ in the early succession, that we prefer commencing our account with the 11th century.] 1001. Olaf Skotkonung, or Olif Schotkonung; the Infant. Christianity introduced in this reign. 1220. John I. 1223. Eric XII. le Begue. 1251. Waldemar. 1279. Magnus I. 1290. Birger II. 1320. Magnus II.: dethroned. 1363. Albert of Mecklenburg: his tyranny causes a revolt of his subjects, who invite Margaret of Denmark to the throne. 1387. Margaret, queen of Sweden and Norway, now also Denmark, and Eric XIII. 1397. [Union of Calmar, by which the three kingdoms are united under one sovereign.] 1412. Eric XIII. governs alone: deprived. 1441. Christopher III. 1448. Charles VIII., surnamed Canuteson. 1470. [Interregnum.] 1483. John II. (I. of Denmark.) 1502. [Interregnum.] 1520. Christiern or Christian II. of Denmark, styled the "Nero of the North:" deposed for his cruelties. 1523. Gustavus Vasa; by whose valour the Swedes were delivered from the Danish yoke. 1604. Sigismund, king of Poland, son of John III. : disputes for the succession continued the whole of this reign. Charles IX., brother of John III. Gustavus (Adolphus) II., the Great: fell on the plains of Lutzen; supposed to have been treacherously slain. 1633. [Interregnum.] 1633. Christina, daughter of Gustavus-Adolphus. 1654. Charles X. (Gustavus), son of John Casi- 1719. Ulrica-Eleanora, his sister, and her consort 1741. Frederick reigned alone. 1751. Adolphus-Frederick, of Holstein Gottorp, 1792. Gustavus (Adolphus) IV. Dethroned, and 1809. Charles XIII., duke of Sudermania. 1818. Charles (John) XIV., Bernadotte, the 1844. Oscar, who ascended the throne, March 8. The PRESENT (1850) King of Sweden and Norway. The KING. Joseph-Francis-Oscar, king of Sweden and Norway, son of Charles (John) XIV. and Eugenia-Bernardina-Désirée de Clary; born July 4, 1799; married, June 19, 1823, Josephine-Maximiliana-Eugenia (born March 14, 1807), daughter of Eugene, duke of Leuchtenberg; and has issue: 1. Charles-Louis-Eugene, crown prince, duke of Scania, born May 3, 1826. 2. Francis-Gustavus-Oscar, duke of Upland, born June 18, 1827. 3. Oscar-Frederick, duke of Ostrogothia, born Jan. 21, 1829. 4. Charlotte-Eugenia-Augusta-Amelia-Albertina, born April 24, 1830. 5. Nicholas-Augustus, duke of Delecarlia, born Aug. 24, 1831. The LATE KING. Charles-John Bernadotte (one of Napoleon's marshals), born Jan. 26, 1764; married, Aug. 16, 1798, Eugenia-Bernardina, the present dowager queen; elected crown prince, Aug. 21, 1810; succeeded Charles XIII. as king, Feb. 5, 1818; died March 8, 1844. This extraordinary and intrepid prince, in 1700, when but 18 years of age, gained a wonderful victory over the Russians at Narva, where with only 20,000 men, he attacked them in their entrenchments, and slew 30,000; the remainder, exceeding that number, surrendering to the mercy of the conqueror. In this battle he had several horses shot under him, and as he was mounting a fresh one, he said, "These people seem disposed to give me exercise." While dictating despatches to his secretary, a bomb fell through the roof of the house into an adjoining room, and his secretary let drop his pen in fright. "What is the matter?" said Charles. "O! the bomb, sire," he answered. "The bomb!" exclaimed the king, "What have we to do with the bomb? Write on." Life of Charles XII. ABOUT three centuries before the Christian era this country was possessed by the Venedi, who were conquered by a people called the Borussi, and from these it obtained the name of Burussia; though some historians contend that the name is derived from Po, signifying near, and Russia-Po-Russia, easily modified into Prussia. After a succession of sanguinary wars the Borussi were conquered by the Teutonic knights, with whose followers, and with the Poles (by whom they were afterwards subdued), they eventually intermixed. Prussia continued long under the dominion of Poland, but at length threw off the dependence of its dukes upon that power. Frederick-William laid the foundation of the present monarchy, and his son and successor, in Jan. 1701, assumed the title of king, and was acknowledged as king by the emperor Leopold and all his allies. AND DUKES OF PRUSSIA. 1619. George-William. 1640. Frederick-William, his son; generally styled the "Great Elector." 1688. Frederick, son of the preceding; crowned king, Jan. 18, 1701. KINGS OF PRUSSIA. 1701. Frederick I.; king. 1713. Frederick-William I., son of Frederick I. 1740. Frederick II. (Frederick III., styled the Great), son of the preceding: [The Prussian monarchy was raised to its high rank as a military power, under this prince.] 1786. Frederick-William II.; nephew of the preceding king. 1797. Frederick-William III. He had to contend against the might of Napoleon, and after extraordinary vicissitudes, he aided England in the overthrow of that usurper. 1840. Frederick-William IV., son of the last monarch; succeeded June 7. The PRESENT (1850) King of Prussia. The KING. Frederick-William IV., born Aug. 3, 1795; married Nov. 29, 1823, Elizabeth-Louisa (born Nov. 13, 1801), daughter of Maximilian-Joseph, king of Bavaria: has no issue. BROTHERS and SISTERS of the king: 1. Frederick-William-Louis, prince of Prussia, born March 22, 1797; married, June 11, 1829, Mary-Louisa-Augusta-Catherine (born Sept. 30, 1811), daughter of Charles-Frederick, grand-duke of Saxe-Weimar; and has issue: I. Frederick-William-Nicholas-Charles, born Oct. 18, 1831. II. Louisa-Mary-Elizabeth, born Dec. 3, 1838. 2. Frederica-Louisa-Charlotte-Wilhelmina, born July 2, 1798; empress of Russia. 3. Frederick-Charles-Alexander, born June 29, 1801; married, May 26, 1827, Mary-LouisaAlexandrina (born Feb. 3, 1808), daughter of Charles-Frederick, grand-duke of SaxeWeimar issue, a son (Frederick-Charles-Nicholas), born March 20, 1828, and two daughters. 4. Frederica-Wilhelmina-Alexandrina, born Feb. 23, 1803; married, May 25, 1822, to the late grand-duke Paul-Frederick, of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. 5. Louisa-Augusta-Wilhelmina-Amelia, born Feb. 1, 1808; married to William-FrederickCharles, of Orange. 6. Frederick-Henry-Albert, born Oct. 4, 1809; married Wilhelmina-Frederica-Louisa-Charlotte-Marianne, danghter of William I., king of Holland; and has issue, a son (FrederickWilliam-Nicholas-Albert), born May 8, 1837, and two daughters. SAXONY. THE country to whose people the Britons, in the 5th century, when forsaken by their Roman defenders, turned for protection against the Picts and Scots. Little is known of Saxony after the memorable expeditions into England, until Charlemagne directed his arms to the right bank of the Rhine. He experienced much resistance from the Saxons under Wittikind, but they, in the end, submitted to him; and among the consequences of their subjection to this great conqueror, was the conversion of the country to Christianity. He conferred the title of Duke upon their chief. The first who became elector was Bernard III. of the house of Ascania, and on the extinction of that line, Frederick the Warlike, margrave of Misnia or Meissen, was made elector. Saxony continued an electorate until 1806, when the title of elector was changed to king, conformably with the treaty of peace between France and Frederick-Augustus, signed at Posen, Dec. 11, in that year. DUKES. DUKES, ELECTORS, AND KINGS. 880. Otho I., styled the Great. 912. Henry, surnamed the Fowler; elected emperor in 918. 936. Otho II., his son; elected emperor. 959. Herman-Billing. 973. Bernard I. 1010. Bernard II. 1062. Otho III. 1073. Magnus. ERNESTINE BRANCH. 1464. Ernest, eldest son of Frederick II. 1525. John, his brother, surnamed the Constant. 1548. 1553. [Of this line were previously, in 1464, Maurice, cousin to the deposed elector Augustus, the Just and the Pious, his 1586. Christian I., son of Augustus. 1611. John-George I., brother of the preceding. 1691. John-George IV., his son. 1733. Frederick-Augustus II., his son; king of 1763. Frederick-Christian, his son. Feb. 1763. Frederick-Augustus III. Dec. Ruled as elector until 1806. 1423. Frederick I., the Warrior, Landgrave of 1806. 1428. Frederick II., the Peaceable and the Good. 1827. 1836. KINGS OF SAXONY. Frederick-Augustus III.; first king; conformably with the treaty of Posen, signed Dec. 11. Anthony-Clement (Theodore), brother of the preceding. Frederick - Augustus II. (IV. as elector), nephew of Anthony-Clement, whom he succeeded June 6. The PRESENT (1850) King of Saxony. The KING. Frederick-Augustus II., born May 18, 1797; son of the duke Maximilian (brother of the late king); married, Oct. 7, 1819, the arch-duchess Caroline of Austria; and 2nd (April 24, 1833), Maria-Anne-Leopoldina, daughter of Maximilian-Joseph I., king of Bavaria, born Jan. 27, 1805: without issue. His BROTHER. Duke John-Nepomuc-Mary-Joseph, born Dec. 12, 1801; married, by proxy, Nov. 10, and in person, Nov. 21, 1822, Amelia-Augusta (born Nov. 13, 1801), daughter of the king Maximilian-Joseph, of Bavaria; and has issue: 1. Mary-Augusta-Frederica, born Jan. 22, 1827. 2. Frederick-Augustus-Albert, born April 23, 1828. 6. Anna-Maria, born Jan. 4, 1836. 7. Margaret-Caroline-Frederica-Cicely, born May 24, 1840. The GRAND-DUKE. Charles-Frederick, born Feb. 2, 1783; married, Aug. 3, 1804, the grandduchess Mary-Paulowna (born Feb. 16, 1786), daughter of the emperor Paul, of Russia, and has issue: 1. Mary-Louisa-Alexandrina, born Feb. 3, 1808; married to Frederick-Charles-Alexander, 2. Mary-Louisa-Augusta-Catherine, born Sept. 30, 1811; married to the prince of Prussia. SAXE-GOTHA ALTENBURG. 1605. Ernest I., surnamed the Pious, 7th son of John, of Saxe-Weimar, who was duke in 1573. 1675. Frederick I., son of Ernest. 1691. Frederick II., his son. 1732. Frederick III., his son. 1772. Ernest-Louis, son of Frederick III. On the extinction of the line of Saxe-Gotha, in 1825, a new arrangement or political division took place between the princes of Saxony. By a convention concluded Nov. 12, 1826, Hildbourghausen and Saalfeld were transferred to the house of Meiningen, and the rights of the late duke of Saxe-Gotha Altenburg were assigned to the two conceding powers. DUKES OF SAXE-MEININGEN. 1675. Bernard, 3d son of Ernest I. of Saxe- | 1782. George-Frederick, his brother. Gotha. 1706. Ernest-Louis, his son. 1724. Ernest-Louis II., his son. 1803. Bernard-Erich, a minor, son of GeorgeFrederick, the preceding duke. Assumed the reins of government, Dec. 17, 1821. 1729. Charles - Frederick, brother of the pre- 1826. [Succeeded, by the convention of Nov. 12, ceding. 1743. Anthony-Ulric, uncle of Charles-Frederick. 1763. Augustus-Frederick, son of the last-named; succeeded by of this year, to the principality of Hildbourghausen, Saalfeld, &c.] The PRESENT (1850) Duke of Saxe-Meiningen. The DUKE. Bernard-Erich-Freund, born Dec. 17, 1800; succeeded his father, duke George, Dec. 24, 1803, under the guardianship of his mother, the duchess Louisa, born princess of HohenloweLangenbourg (died April 29, 1837); assumed the reins of government Dec. 17, 1821; married, March 23, 1825, Mary-Frederica-Wilhelmina (born Sept. 6, 1804), daughter of William, elector of Hesse; and has issue: 1. George, hereditary prince; born April 2, 1826. 2. Augusta-Louisa-Adelaide-Caroline-Ida, born Aug. 6, 1843. The Duke's SISTERS: 1. Adelaide-Amelia-Louisa-Theresa-Caroline, born Aug. 23, 1792; married July 11, 1818, William, duke of Clarence, afterwards William IV., king of Great Britain. She died dowager queen of England, Dec. 2, 1849. 2. Ida, born June 25, 1794; wife of duke Bernard of Saxe-Weimar. |