Charles XIV

Charles XIV., of Sweden and Norway (1764-1844), was by birth a Frenchman (Jean Baptiste Jules Bernadotte), the son of a lawyer at Pau. In 1780 he became a soldier, and by 1804 he had worked his way up to the rank of Marshal of France, and had greatly distinguished himself under Napoleon in Italy and in Germany. But eventually Napoleon became jealous of his great general, and Bernadotte left the army and returned to Paris. In 1810 he was elected Crown Prince of Sweden and heir to the throne. He took part with the Allies against Napoleon, but an unaccountable delay, which prevented him from doing anything of importance, is supposed to have arisen from his unwillingness to attack France. In 1818 he succeeded to the throne, and did much to further the well-being of the country which had adopted him.