Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden

Gustav IV Adolf became King of Sweden in 1792 at thirteen, inheriting a realm that still included Finland. For nearly two decades he ruled, until Russian forces occupied Finland in 1808-09. The loss triggered a violent coup led by officers in his own army. On 29 March 1809, he abdicated. Within weeks, a hastily written Instrument of Government stripped the monarchy of its absolute powers and was adopted on 6 June - now Sweden's National Day. The crown passed to his uncle Charles XIII under the new constraints. Gustav Adolf lived twenty-eight more years in exile, the last Swedish king to rule Finland and the last to fall by force.