Why Sweden Hasn't Fought a War in 212 Years

For two hundred years Sweden was one of the most warlike countries in Europe. Then, in the summer of 1814, it fought one last two-week war against Norway, and never went to war again. How does Europe's most aggressive kingdom just stop? The answer involves a map, one of Napoleon's own marshals, and an empty wallet. We follow the fall of the Swedish Empire, Poltava and the Great Frost, the loss of Finland, the coup against Gustav IV Adolf, the lieutenant who went to Paris to find Sweden a king, Bernadotte's betrayal of Napoleon, the Treaty of Kiel, Norway's Eidsvoll constitution, the 1814 war, and the four close calls of 1848, 1855, 1863 and 1905. Then the uncomfortable part: Sweden in the Second World War, iron ore, troop trains and refugees, the Cold War, the U 137 submarine, and why Sweden finally joined NATO in 2024. Wisdom, or luck? Tell us in one word in the comments. CHAPTERS 0:00 Sweden's Last War 0:44 From Great Power to Disaster 1:46 Shopping for a King 2:17 The Deal with the Tsar 2:32 Betraying Napoleon 2:54 Norway Says No 3:10 The 1814 War 3:53 Why Did the Peace Stick? 4:01 1. The Map 4:14 2. The Frenchman 4:41 3. The Empty Wallet 5:04 Four Close Calls 5:45 1905: Norway Leaves in Peace 6:10 WWII: Why Hitler Skipped Sweden 6:25 Neutral, Not Innocent 6:59 Cold War & the U 137 7:19 Joining NATO 7:31 Wisdom or Luck? SOURCES & FURTHER READING Swedish-Norwegian War (1814): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish...) Treaty of Kiel: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_... Charles XIV John (Bernadotte): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles... Union between Sweden and Norway: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_b... Göta Canal (58,000 soldiers, 22 years): https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6... 1848 Swedish-Norwegian troops on Funen: http://www.hhogman.se/dg_war_1848a.htm Dissolution of the union, 1905: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolu... Sweden during World War II: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden_... Rescue by Sweden: https://www.holocaustrescue.org/intro... U 137 / "Whiskey on the Rocks": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_... Sweden and NATO: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweden%... Map data: Natural Earth (public domain); historical borders are simplified. Portraits: David von Krafft (Charles XII) and J. A. Gillberg (Charles XIV John), public domain via Wikimedia Commons. Narration: synthetic voice (Chatterbox Turbo TTS). Animation and music made in code. #History #Sweden #AnimatedHistory #Napoleon #Norway #Scandinavia #WW2