The rise of Sweden into the top league of European Nations during the time of The 30 Years War under their King, Gustavus Adolphus, is one of the most intriguing of European stories. It maintained the position of 'Great Northern Power' until the defeat of Charles XII in 1709 by Peter the Great of Russia at the Battle of Poltava, fought in Ukraine.
Sweden remained a great Scandinavian Power with the acquisition of Norway in 1814 (only ending with Norwegian freedom in 1905).
In the later 19th century and in the 20th Sweden pioneered a new form of social democracy and a new policy of neutrality.
Such policies are now under attack both from within (resistance to high levels of taxation), and from without (growing threat of Russia).
Can the outward looking and peaceful Swedes find a way today for themselves and for others in the wider democratic world to uphold their twin beliefs in democracy and non aggression?
History of Sweden in The Captivating History series (a short introduction published earlier this year)
A Warrior Dynasty (Sweden 1611-1721) by Henrik O Lunde. One of those history books that can rightly be hailed as excellent
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