Arvid Horn and the Age of Freedom

The death of the childless Charles XII left his younger sister Ulrika Eleonora in charge as Queen. The staunch parliamentarian, Chancellor Arvid Horn, immediately seized this opportunity to bring down the absolutism and strengthen the powers of Parliament. While his democratic leanings were in a way commendable, his actions were to completely destabilize Sweden and make her a puppet of foreign interests for the next 50 years. This so-called Age of Freedom also saw the aristocracy regain some of their lost ground. However, the young queen saw no clear alternative that would not upset her war weary people too much.