9. Sweden.

Sweden is a part of the ancient Scandinavia.

The Goths were among the ancient inhabitants of the

country.

B.C. 70. Odin flourished in the northern parts of Germany, &c.; a priest, soldier, poet, monarch, and conqueror. A.D. In the fifth century their chief magistrates, (judges of the family of the Unglings, who claimed descent

from a son of Odin,) assumed the title of kings of Upsala; they reigned in Sweden till 1068.

829. Anscar, bishop of Bremen, propagated Christianity in Sweden.

853. Olaus was converted by this bishop to the Christian faith. He subdued Denmark. On his return home

he was sacrificed by his heathen subjects to the idol at Upsal.

890. Ingo, his son and successor, was slain in a war with the

Russians.

994. Olaf I., a Christian, first established a regular govern

ment.

1054-1138. Five reigns, constituting "the golden age of Sweden," considering such times.

1250. The Goths and Swedes became one nation, when the Folkungs ascended the throne.

1250-1388. The Swedes extended their empire, so as to be the immediate neighbours of Russia.

1397. The Treaty or "Union of Calmar," (see Norway.)— Troubles, rebellions, and even complete anarchy followed this measure.

1448. The Swedes and Norwegians elected a separate king, Karl Knutsen, (Charles, son of Canute,) and renounced the union.

1520. Christian II., of Denmark was acknowledged king of Sweden; but his tyranny disgusted the people.

1521. Gustavus Vasa put himself at the head of the mal

contents.

1523. He was elected to the crown.-He introduced the Reformation into Sweden, added the estates of the clergy

and the monasteries to his own domain; promoted trade and commerce, &c.

1555, &c. War with Russia.

1560-68. Eric XIV., his son: he introduced the titles of count and baron: tyrannical, hated, deposed.

1568-92. John II.-1570. He ceded various places to Denmark.-1580, embraced popery.

1592. Sigismund, son of John and king of Poland, succeeded as king of Sweden: hence a union of the two kingdoms till 1604: he was a papist.

1604. Charles IX. was crowned; a zealous Lutheran.-Wars with Poland, Russia, and Denmark.

In this reign the Lutherans obtained a complete triumph. 1611-1632. Gustavus Adolphus.

1613, &c. War with Russia: ended 1617, after the Russians had been repeatedly defeated.

1626-29. War with the Poles.

1630-1632. Gustavus in Germany: Battle of Leipsic; of

Lutzen.

1632-54. Christina.-The war in Germany was carried on honourably. She abdicated the throne.

1654-60. Charles X.-Brave and intrepid: extended the conquests gained by his ancestors. He astonished

the world by his daring enterprises.

1660--97. Charles XI. Improved the internal condition of the kingdom; made many enemies.

1697-1718. Charles XII. One of the most distinguished

warriors of modern times.

1700. He defeated the Russians in the battle of Narva. 1709. He was completely defeated by them at Pultowa. 1718. He was killed before Fredericshal.

1718. Ulrica Eleonora: his sister: wise administration. 1719, &c. Various provinces given up to the neighbouring powers.

1720-51. Frederic, prince of Hesse. Hereditary right renounced. Frederic was a weak prince, ruled by his nobles; and the council of state made itself entirely independent.

1731. Commissioners appointed to re-construct the laws, &c.

10. Denmark.

Denmark was the Chersonesus Cimbrica of the Romans: the Cimbri and Teutones were the ancient inhabitants.-The Goths, led on by Odin, broke into Scandinavia, and put chiefs of their nation over Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.—The early history of Denmark is involved in fable.

Middle Ages.

Denmark was divided into small states: the people lived by piracy, and spread terror wherever they came.-Gotric, one of their kings, assisted Wittikind, king of Saxony, against Charlemagne.

A.D. 798. The Danes invade Ireland; in 47 years gain a firm settlement there, which they retained to 1014, when they were defeated by Clontarf.

832. Their invasions of England began. Northmen, i.e. the people of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

846, about. Eric being king, Christianity was preached by a bishop of Bremen: Eric did much in its favour.

863. Gorm (or Gormon) subdued Jutland: he united all the small Danish states under his sceptre till 920.-He opposed Christianity.

911. The Northmen, under Rollo, make a descent on France. -They occupied the Islands of Scotland, part of

Ireland, and proceeded to Spain, Italy, and Sicily. 941. Harold, son of Gorm: he gave Christianity a powerful sanction, so that he is called the first Christian king

of Denmark.

991. Sweyn (his son) king: he attempted to annex Norway to Denmark.

1003. He invaded England. Also in 1004; and in 1013; when he subdued it, and died at Gainsborough. 1017. Canute the sovereign of all England, till 1036. He left three sons: Sweyn, king of Norway; Hardicanute, of Denmark; Harold, of England.

1036. Canute subdued Norway a second time;-lost in 1047. England was lost in 1042.

Under Canute the power of Denmark reached its highest pitch. He embraced Christianity, and introduced it into Denmark.

1103. Waldemar I. (son of St. Canute) is justly celebrated. He is said to have laid the foundation of Dantzic. In his time Absalom, bishop of Roschild, began to build Copenhagen.-Waldemar is regarded as the parent of the Danish laws.

1157. Denmark began to assert her predominance in the North.

1182 and 1202. We may notice his two sons; Waldemar II., and Canute VI.; who maintained the power of their

country, fortified their frontiers, built or repaired cities, and enacted wholesome laws, &c.

1241. Eric VI. (Waldemar's son) succeeded to the throne. Waldemar gave some parts of his dominions to his other sons, which led to confusion, &c.

1252. Christopher I.: he was poisoned (as some say) with the host.

1259. Eric VII. disturbed by the clergy: murdered by some of his lords.-Eric VIII.-Christopher II.

1340. Waldemar III.: he ruled with vigour and prudence, and reduced the kingdom to obedience and order.

1376. Olaus V.-He died 1387; and the Danes and Norwegians chose Margaret, (his mother, daughter of Waldemar,) for their queen.-She was a sovereign of great wisdom and magnanimity. She was the widow of Haquin, king of Norway.-The Union of Calmar has been already noticed; 1397.

1412. Eric IX.; deposed.-1439. Christopher III.

1448. Christian I., count of Oldenburg: founder of the present royal family of Denmark.

He connected Norway, Sleswic, and Holstein, with the crown of Denmark.

1457. He was crowned king of Sweden.

1481. John his son, king of Denmark and Norway: crowned king of Sweden, 1497.

Modern History.

1513. Christian II., Cruel; the northern Nero.

1520. Crowned king of Sweden: massacred 94 Swedish nobles. He was driven out of Sweden; 1521—1523.—And afterwards out of Denmark.

1523. Frederic, duke of Holstein, king of Denmark.—The Protestant religion was more firmly established. He entered into alliance with Gustavus of Sweden: granted privileges to the nobility.-The aristocracy at length gained the superiority: see the year 1660.

1533. Christian III.

1536. Troubled by the Lubeckers, who favoured Christian II. ; he overcame them by the aid of Gustavus, and made himself master of Copenhagen.—He made Lutheran