Sweden History, Language and Culture

Described as ‘a land of frozen seas and the midnight sun’ by Greek explorer and trader Phytheas of Massilia in AD550, by the time of the ninth century, Sweden’s icy waters were proving an outlet for explorers of its own. From 800 until the mid-11th century, Sweden's Vikings took eastern Europe and Byzantium by storm; sacking monasteries, carrying off shiploads of plunder and providing some of the most memorably monikered characters to walk the Earth, including Ingvar the Far-Travelled and Eric the Victorious.

Towards the end of this period, the modern kingdom of Sweden came into being and some sense of order followed the accession of Margaret – Regent of Denmark and ruler of Norway – in 1387. She attempted to establish a united Scandinavia, but this did not last long and during the 15th century the nobility was able to do much as it pleased.
 

The most significant event of this period was the Massacre of Stockholm in 1520, occasioned by Christian of Denmark’s attempt to reassert his authority in Sweden. During the resulting revolt, headed by Gustav Ericksson Vasa, the Danes were defeated and Gustav established the House of Vasa as monarchs. Much of the foreign policy of the 17th century was expansionist and despite his Protestantism, Gustav II allied with Catholic France as Sweden won the last remaining Baltic territories not under its control – Prussia and Pomerania.

The next couple of centuries saw the country lose the majority of its territory outside of Scandinavia as a succession of royal dynasties playing a gilded sort of musical chairs with the throne. By 1818, the Bernadotte family (which still rules) had taken control, but while the country’s political leadership was assured, its overseas territories remained in a state of flux thanks to the emergence of Norwegian nationalism, which culminated in Norway’s declaration of full independence in 1905.

By this time, parliamentary government had emerged in Sweden. The Social Democrats first gained power in the early 1920s and rule almost continuously from 1932 until 1976. Since the end of World War 2, in which Sweden remained neutral (as it had done in World War 1), the country has enjoyed growing economic prosperity with continued investment in, and expansion of, the welfare state.

Did you know?

• The Roman historian Tacitus was the first to write about Sweden in the Germania.

• Sweden has not been at war since it allied with Napoleon against Norway in 1814.

• On 6 June 2016, to mark the 50th anniversary of the day they first met, ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, were joined by fellow members Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad to perform at a private party.