The early part of the history of Sweden is fabulous and absurd, and involved in much doubt and obscurity. All writers, however, agree that ancient Scandinavia was at first governed by judges, who were elected for a certain time by the suffrages of the people. This in particular was the form of government adopted by Sweden, which was divided into a number of small principalities till the time of Eric, when the merit and popularity of those princes induced their constituents to elevate them to the sovereignty of the whole country, and to unite the prerogatives of all their temporary power in the person of one king, who should reign during life, or till it became necessary to divest him of his authority and regal insignia. Passing over the fabulous and obscure part of the Swedish history, we shall observe that in the reign of Biorno III. who ascended the throne in the year 831, the gospel was first preached in this country by Anscharius, a pious monk, sent into Sweden by Louis the Debonnaire. Great numbers of the Swedish nobility were converted to Christianity, and Anscharius baptized the people by hundreds at a time; and the king not only embraced the Christian religion himself, but used all his influence in the propagation of the faith. While the Swedes glowed with the first fervor inspired by their conversion, a dreadful famine ravaged the kingdom, and the people imagined that it might be occasioned by the resentment of their former gods, who were incensed at the universal dereliction of their worship. They, therefore, endeavoured to persuade Olaus, who at that time governed the kingdom, to renew the accustomed sacrifices to them, and, on his refusal to comply with their desire, put him to death. Every thing at that period was in extremes: one prince was extremely pious; and his successor, perhaps, was a magician. A. D. 1141. Eric IX. surnamed the Holy, founded numerous monasteries, promulgated admirable laws, and caused them to be punctually observed. Many, however, were of opinion that his zeal was carried to an imprudent excess, and that under his reign religion had degenerated into bigotry and superstition; and justice was extended to rigour and even cruelty. By a compromise with Charles, the son of his immediate predecessor, Eric had obtained the crown of Sweden. He was son-in-law to a former monarch; but his virtues obtained him the preference: with the condition, however, that on his death, the crown should revert to Charles. A. D. On the decease of Eric, Charles being supposed an accomplice in the murder of the late king, experienced some difficulties in obtaining possession of the throne, and the 1160. Swedes refused to acknowledge him as their sovereign. They wished to bestow the crown on Canute, the son of Eric, who had withdrawn to Norway, on discovering that Charles had conspired against his life. At length Charles found himself firmly seated on the throne of Sweden, and determined to merit his prosperity by strictly fulfilling his engagement. Accordingly, he recalled Canute from Norway, settled the succession agreeably to the treaty between him and Eric, and declared the son of that prince presumptive heir to the crown. Whatever were the means Charles made use of for acquiring dominion, his conduct sufficiently testified that he was capable of ruling with pruU 3 de nce dence and discretion. His reign was pacific; and his government in general unexceptionable. But, being warmly devoted to the see of Rome, whose influence had been greatly instrumental in placing him on the throne, in gratitude for that service, he granted to the sovereign pontiff' the entire inheritance of every Swede who should die without posterity; and a certain portion of the property of those who left issue. Canute Ericson, not chusing to wait the death of Charles, whose successor he had been appointed, and refusing the invitation of that prince, levied forces in Norway; and, returning suddenly into Sweden, surprized Charles, took him prisoner, and condemned him to death. It is not clearly known whether that sentence was dictated by justice or ambition. Certainly Canute is not free from the imputation of having suffered himself to be governed by the latter; and of having shown little delicacy in his choice of the means of gratifying it. In other respects, he has the character of a great king; and his memory figures with honour in the annals of Sweden. A. D. 1192. On the death of Canute, his son Suercher was raised to the throne of Sweden; on condition that the sceptre should, after the decease of the latter, pass to Eric, the son of Charles. To remove every impediment to the A. D. peace and tranquillity of the kingdom, and to confirm the arrangement which 1210. had been made, Eric espoused Suercher's daughter, and named as his successor that prince's son John, his brother-in-law. His reign was pacific and happy; and at his death he was A. D. succeeded by John, who governed three years with great wisdom. He commenced some military operations, which were at 1220. tended tended with less success than the justice of his cause, and the prudence of his measures, seemed to merit. He died highly esteemed, and lamented by all who were friends to their country, and lovers of integrity, moderation, and piety. 1223. The treaty of succession still continu- A. D. ing in force, on the death of John, Eric, the son of Eric X. ascended the throne. Previously to his accession, this prince was attacked by a paralytic disorder, which deprived him of the use of an arm and a leg, affected his tongue, and caused him to stammer, from whence he obtained the surname of the Stammerer. It moreover gave him an ungraceful appearance, and an air of idiotism, which conveyed a disadvantageous idea of his talents. But he retained all his mental faculties in their full vigour, and gave proofs of his wisdom and bravery in circumstances of difficulty. There was in Sweden a family of the name of Falkunger, which was so powerful and ambitious as to form designs of obtaining the crown. Eric, hoping to gain over this house to his interest, and to quiet their ambition by his favours, gave his sisters in marriage to two of them, and himself espoused one of their daughters. But, notwithstanding these ties of consanguinity, the ambition of this family could not be checked, and the eldest of the Falkungers, by name Canute, a man endowed with seductive eloquence, and in that respect greatly superior to the Stammerer, obtained a victory over Eric, and obliged him to fly to Denmark. In the absence of the monarch, Canute Falkunger had the address to get himself proclaimed king of Sweden by his adherents; adherents; but his reign was of short duration. Eric, having raised an army in Denmark, marched against the usurper, combated him, made him prisoner; and inflicted on him the punishment of decapitation. Birger Jerl, another brotherin-law of the king, remained faithful to Eric, and his services were usefully employed in that war. The Swedish monarch also sent him with an army against the Tawastians, a people of Finland, who were immersed in the most absurd idolatry. Having defeated the enemy, he pardoned those who embraced Christianity, and put the rest to the sword; a strange method of convincing the reason, and enlightening the understanding! A. D. On the death of Eric, the states of Sweden being convoked for the purpose 1251. of electing a new sovereign, Waldemar, the eldest son of Birger Jerl, and nephew of the late king, was raised to the throne by the suffrages of the people. But, being a minor, the administration of affairs was put into the hands of Birger, who acted as regent during the nonage of his son. He formed many excellent institutions, and endeavoured to render his regency illustrious. He built and fortified the city of Stockholm; and revised and corrected that system of laws, which contained all the statutes of the kingdom. In a word, he laboured to raise the renown of his country, secure its felicity, and increase his own reputation. The house of Flockenger, equally powerful and ambitious as that of Falkunger, beheld with envy the success of a family which had long rivaled them. Birger, knowing their sentiments, treacherously circumvented and beheaded them all, |