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Lot Essay
Carl XIV Johan (1763 - 1844), born Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, was King of Sweden and Norway from 1818 up until his death in 1844.
French by birth, Bernadotte served a long and successful career in the French Army. However, his service to France ended in 1810 when he was elected as heir to the Swedish throne. He went to Stockholm the same year and was adopted by the King under the name Carl Johan, becoming Crown Prince. He went on to lead the Swedish army against France in the final years of the Napoleonic Wars and as a result of Napoleon's defeat was responsible for Sweden's acquisition of Norway. After the death of Karl XIII in 1818, Karl Johan succeeded the throne. His reign was one of uninterrupted peace during which his kingdoms experienced great material development. He was remarkably popular in both Sweden and Norway up until his death in 1844.
French by birth, Bernadotte served a long and successful career in the French Army. However, his service to France ended in 1810 when he was elected as heir to the Swedish throne. He went to Stockholm the same year and was adopted by the King under the name Carl Johan, becoming Crown Prince. He went on to lead the Swedish army against France in the final years of the Napoleonic Wars and as a result of Napoleon's defeat was responsible for Sweden's acquisition of Norway. After the death of Karl XIII in 1818, Karl Johan succeeded the throne. His reign was one of uninterrupted peace during which his kingdoms experienced great material development. He was remarkably popular in both Sweden and Norway up until his death in 1844.