Sweden
Sweden was a nation in Northern Europe, bordering the Russian Empire.
History
Sweden had been a powerful influence in northern Europe for centuries. During the wars against Napoleon, Sweden simultaneously went to war with Russia, where they lost Finland in 1804, and sided with the coalitions, gaining Norway from Denmark in 1815. Sweden gained French Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte as king in 1818, only for the king to side against Napoleon. This had an impact on Napoleon's eventual downfall.
During the Austro-Prussian War in 1866, Prussia managed to gain the support of Sweden after Austria called upon their alliance with Russia. Being on the victorious side, Sweden regained the territory of Finland. Sweden then began to be known as the United Nordic Kingdom, though remained colloquially known as Sweden. Sweden also gained influence over the recently independent Estonia after Prince August, brother of Swedish King Charles XV, as king.
During the Berlin Conference in 1884, Sweden argued for their possession of the Congo. While the other major powers of Europe desired the region as well, it was agreed Sweden would gain it as a compromise.
Disbandment
In 1905, nationalism in Norway came to a boiling point, alongside that in Finland. Sandwiched between the two, Sweden felt compelled to make concessions, and Norway and Finland were granted permission to elect their own monarchs, with the Swedish king as the Nordic Emperor. Norway elected Prince Haakon of Denmark, and Finland elected Prince Heinrich of Prussia in 1907. This was modeled after the German Empire.
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