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In combination with the Swedish royal wedding, i thought some people would appreciate knowledge and facts about how the House of Bernadotte came to be.



The rise of a General
It all started the year of 1763, in a small and simple house in the village Pau, Southern France. Jean was born to the world. His father was a simple lawyer, but also a christian. Due to this, and the fact that his brother also was called Jean, he got the nickname Jean "Baptiste" Bernadotte, a nickname he didn't appreciate, and therefore never used in his adult life. The entire family, expected to see Jean follow his fathers footsteps, into the practice of Law and order. His father died however, at an early stage of his life, and his mother, Probably, must have been really shaken, when he signed up for the Army as a Private in 1780. It's also important to note, that for a uncommon at this age, it was very socialy reducing, because there was no prospect in the army unless you were of a noble House(You couldn't climb in rank to Officer as a uncommon). But none the less, 17 year old Jean signed up for Eight years of service in the French army, Infantery regiment Royal-la-Marine. And military he would be, for the most part of his life. He quickly climbed to the rank of Staff Cadet, a Under Officer rank, and the highest rank he could possibly get as a uncommon. But during his Second period of Service, something happened that would change his life forever. The French Revolution started to take form. And due to this, the noble-privileges was abolished. Simple soldierboys could climb as any noble, uncommon or not. And Jean's prospects was, yet again, higher than he could ever imagine. Shortly after the outbrake of the revolution, war broke out in 1792, and this would form his life forever. Revolutionary France was in war with all of Europe that had joined forces, to crush this threat of the Kingdoms. Jean would soon taste the reality of war. Constantly promoted to Higher ranks. Familiar with leading men, he would soon enough get a nickname of "Belle Jambes" or "Sergeant Nicelegs", due to his tall and nicely build body. In 1793 his soldiers voted him up to Lieutenant Colonel. An Officer's rank between Major and Colonel. Something that interprets that he was a popular leader. The year after, he would play an important role in the French victory over a Österreich-Holland army in Fleurus, Belgium. And was named, at the battlefield, to General, in 1794, the highest rank in the French army. That means that Bernadotte now was ahead in the career, in comparison to the six year younger Artillery-General, Napoleon Bonaparte. The Emperor to be, achieved the highest rank one year later in 1795, after he had crushed a rebellion to the Revolution-Government.



The Generals Meet
Very soon, Bernadotte and Napoleon would come to meet, when Bernadotte got the order to aid Napoleon against a superior Österreich's army. Bernadotte marched across the wintery Alps, three years before Napoleon himself tried this brave move. Their first meeting, is said, to have been very tense. Two Generals, with high ambition seeking to measure their strenght, and to find eachothers weaknesses and flaws. The victory, was at hand.



Found his love
After a peacetreaty with Österreich, Bernadotte moved home to Paris, to socialize and rest up. This is when he met his future wife, Désirée Clary, daughter of a wealthy silktrader in the South France city of Marseilles. She was once in time fiancée to the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte(Was this a coincident, that the General Bernadotte, took his competes,Napoleons ex as his partner?😉). In 1798 Désirée became Bernadottes wife. At this time, Napoleon had already got France in his iron hand, during a coup, that Bernadotte, wouldn't support with his army, and decided to lay low during this process. But from now on, Bernadotte would be inferior to his competior and (by law) relative Napoleon Bonaparte. Well aware that his future was completely dependent on Napoleons benevolence.



The relation to Napoleon
1804 Napoleon was named Emperor of France, Bernadotte swore his allegiance to Napoleon and assured the Emperor that he would stay loyal. In thanks for this, Emeror Napoleon promoted Jean Bernadotte to Marshal of France, Superior Officer of the Honorlegion and Governor of the occupied German province of Hannover. By this, Bernadotte got to taste how it was to rule a land of his own, something he proved to have talant for. Emperor Napoleon was generous, and handed over conquered lands to relatives, and made his favorite Generals sovereign's of their own small Kingdoms. Jean Bernadotte was made sovereign of Ponte Corvo. A microscopic piece of land in Italy, that had belonged to the Vatican. The inhabitants never got to meet their ruler in person, but the money made of the region, filled the House of Bernadotte's wallet to the max. The name Ponte Corvo, however, means "The curved Bridge" and is yet today, picturised in the Bernadotte's Weapon Shield.

The way to the Swedish Crown
Sweden, under the rule of Gustav IV was now, in war with France. An attack was planned from the North in Sweden. However, the attack never took place, and if it would, who know what would've happened? Of different reasons Jean Bernadotte came in conflict with the suspicious Emperor Napoleon and in the year 1809 Bernadotte was granted time off because of "Health condition". At the same time, great things happened in Sweden. King Gustav IV Adolf was set aside in a coup, his uncle, Duke Charles, took over the throne as Charles XIII, and the Danish Prince Charles August was named at the start of 1810 to succeeder of the Swedish Crown. But during a troopinspection in Scania he fell of his horse and died. The cause of Death was natural, probably a stroke. That, however, didn't stop the rumors, that Prince Charles August was poisoned by powers that wanted Gustav IV Adolfs son on the throne. This ended up with the Marshal Axel von Fersen(A long known supporter to Gustav IV Adolf), being lynched by an angry mob at the Knightssquare in Stockholm. A Parliament was called shortly after this, in the city of Örebro, to avoid angry Stockholmers. The choice of a succeeder was high priorited and the one being on top of the list was the suddenly killed prince's brother Christian Frederik of Denmark. But in Paris, Jean Bernadotte got a surprising offer. A young Swedish Officer named Carl Otto Mörner, had with difficulty managed to get a meeting with the French Marshal. He sai😛 "What would Marshal Bernadotte say about being the Swedish Crownprince?". There was, Mörner said, a strong opinion to get a strong and military competent leader. Gladly someone that had Napoleons sympathy, and could help Sweden to retake Finland that was lost to Russia in 1808-09. Bernadotte ofcourse didn't know what to think, being told this by a simple Lieutenant in the Swedish army. But when the same question popped up from far more superior official Swedes, he noticed it was a serious offer. The most important is that he send a message to Örebro, a messenger named Antoine Fournier, who proved to be a first class "Spin Doctor". At first Bernadotte wasn't very supported. But Antoine gave a few tempting reasons to why they should choice Bernadotte as a succeeder. If he would be choicen, he would loan Eight million Francs to the Swedish treasure hold. Another promise he made was to make sure that Swedish merchants with France claims, would get paid immediately. Fournier also brought a portrait of Bernadotte to Örebro, that displayed the General with a sabel in his hand, ready for combat. The opinion swiftly changed to the advantage of Jean Bernadotte, and the riksdag's four stands unanimously declared Jean Bernadotte to succeeder the 21 of August 1810. After a quite chilly farewell to Emperor Napoleon, Jean Bernadotte moved to Sweden. Napoleon tried to make a pact with his former General saying that he should never raise his weapon against his former homeland(During this age Sweden was a strongly respected military power, with roots of war centuries back in time). In the city of Helsingör, Denmark, Bernadotte went a Crash course in the Protestant teaching, which was a demand for him to do, before he sets foot on Swedish soil. His name was now, Charles XIV Johan of Sweden. The choice he had to do now, would be very dangerous. Should he support france, or declare war? He carefully studied the Great powers of Europe, England, Russia and France. The Swedes wanted Finland back, something he couldn't care less about. He decided early that Norway, indeed, was far more interesting. Finally, Sweden assembeled, with the rest of the Great powers of Europe, a final battle. Karl XIV Johan himself led an army at the bloody battle of Leipzig 1813. Most likely he thought that he would succeed the France throne after Napoleon was defeated. France was now, however, tired of all the bloody soldiers and it was Ludvig XVIII that was named the new king of France. Charles XIV Johan, forced an attack against Denmark-Norway, and in less than 2 weeks, Norway was under Swedish command, and forced to be in union with Sweden.

This, surely, sets a mark in history. The last act of Sweden as a military power, had claimed far more vast territories than it's surrounding brothers. Not only through Russo-Swedish wars, but also against the Northen lands. All this glorious history, thanks to it's rulers.

The house of Bernadotte, we salute you.







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Sources: Multiple history books and own knowledge.

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