Charles XV of Sweden

Karl XV. (full name Karl Ludvig Eugen Bernadotte, May 3, 1826 in Stockholm, † September 18, 1872 in Malmö ) was King of Sweden and, as Charles IV, king of Norway from 1859 to 1872, he led the government business already as crown prince from. September 25, 1857, after his father was seriously ill.

Life

Karl XV. was the eldest son of Oscar I of Sweden and his wife Josephine Beauharnais. In 1856 he was viceroy of Norway.

Karl was a supporter of the idea of a unit of Scandinavia, the Scandinavianism. In the border dispute with Denmark, Germany, he promised support Denmark, but was overruled in this suggestion by Parliament, when Denmark in 1864 Schleswig-Holstein declared war. During his reign the old stands the Reichstag was transformed into the two-chamber Parliament 1865/66. Karl was seen as fun loving and flamboyant character with artistic talent. His political assertiveness was low, not least because he pursued rapidly changing interests. The dominant figure of the Swedish policy of this time was the first Prime Minister Louis De Geer.

As Karl XV. had no son, his brother Oskar followed him on the throne. King Karl XV. is buried in the Stockholm Riddarholmskyrkan.

Survival

The composer August Söderman wrote on his death a funeral march.

Marriage and issue

He was with Louise of Orange-Nassau (1828-1871), daughter of Wilhelm Friedrich Karl of Orange- Nassau (1797-1881) married, with whom he had one daughter:

• Louise Josephine (* October 31, 1851, † March 20, 1926 ) ∞ 1869 Frederick VIII, King of Denmark

His illegitimate son Rudolf Carl Bernadotte Nordenstam (1863-1942) was a well-known magician in Norway.