Swedish Parliament of 1738

Swedish politics from 1721 to 1772 was dominated completely by the paralyzing bickering between the so-called Hat and Cap parties. The Caps, initially led by Arvid Horn, were backed by Russia and England, whereas the Hats were supported by France. The foreign meddling increased steadily, and when Gustavus III seized power in 1772 the most powerful political figure in Sweden was the Russian ambassador. At the Riksdag of 1738 the Hats managed to outmaneuver the peaceful Arvid Horn and seize power. Horn had made the mistake of renewing the defensive alliance of 1724 with Russia and at the same time trying to negotiate a subsidy treaty with France, which was still officially supporting Stanislaw Leszczynski against the Russians in Poland.