CHARLES XIV., king of Sweden and Norway (1818-1844), originally JEAN BAPTISTE JULES BERNADOTTE, was b. at Pau, in the s. of France, Jan. 26, 1764. He was the son of a lawyer. He entered the French army as a common soldier; became an ardent par tisan of the revolution; greatly distinguished himself in the wars of Napoleon, and soon attained the highest military rank. But he was distrusted by Bonaparte, whose ambi tious schemes he took no part in promoting; and Napoleon having taken offense at his conduct after the battle of \Vagrant, Bernadotte left the army in disgust, and returned to Paris. He was afterwards sent by the ministerial council to oppose the 13ritish, who had landed at Walcheren, but the breach between the emperor and him grew wider. In 1810, he was elected crown-prince, and heir to the throne of Sweden. Almost the only condition imposed on him was that of joining the Protestant church. He changed his name to Charles John; and the health of the Swedish king, Charles XIII., failing in the following year, the reins of government came ahnost entirely into his hands. He refused to comply with the demands of Napoleon, which were opposed to the interests of Sweden, particularly as to trade with Britain, and was soon involved in war with him. He commanded the army of the allies in the n. of Germany, and defeated Ondinot at
Grossbeeren, and Ney at Dennewitz. He showed great reluctance, however, to join in the invasion of France, and was tardy in his progress southward.—He became king of Sweden nn the death of Charles XIII., Feb. 5, 1818. He won for himself the character of a wise and good king. Education, agriculture, manufactures, commerce, and great public works, as well as the military strength of the kingdom, were promoted by his care. He died Mar. 8, 1844, and was succeeded by his son Oscar.
cmutLEs XV., 1826-72; King of Sweden and Norway, succeeding his father, Oscar I., who was a son of Charles The nde of C. was liberal and popular. The most important event wits the change kin 1866) in the constitutiOn. Of the parliament, which from that time has consisted not of four, but of two chambers, one elected by the provincial representatives and the other by the people. Charles's kindly nature was shown in his firm refusal to sanction capital punishment. He had a taste for literature and art, and published a volume of poems. In 1850, he married Louisa, daughter of the king of the Netherlands, by whom he had one daughter, who became the wife of prince Frederick of Denmark.