Charles XIV John
Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was born on the 26th of January 1763 in Pau, the capital of Béarn. He entered the army as a private soldier on the 3rd of September 1780 within the Régiment Royal, La Marine. His early service took him to Corsica and later to Besançon, Grenoble, Vienne, Marseille, and Île de Ré. By August 1785, he had earned the rank of sergeant and acquired the nickname Sergeant Belle-Jambe for his smart appearance. The young man rose through the ranks with startling speed during the French Revolution. He became a brigadier general by 1794 after demonstrating exceptional military talent. His rapid ascent from private to marshal would become one of history's most unusual career trajectories.
Napoleon Bonaparte named Bernadotte a Marshal of the Empire upon the proclamation of the First French Empire in 1804. He served as governor of Hanover from June 1804 to September 1805. During this tenure, Bernadotte built a reputation for administrative ability and incorruptibility. Hanover's economy prospered under his rule despite Napoleon's policy requiring occupied territories to pay for themselves. He extended protection to Gottingen University and befriended many professors who often dined at his table. In December 1805, he commanded the Left Wing of the Grande Armée at the Battle of Austerlitz. His corps contributed significantly to defeating the allied right wing that attempted to outflank the French army. As a reward, he became the first Sovereign Prince of Pontecorvo on the 5th of June 1806.
Baron Carl Otto Mörner offered the Swedish crown to Bernadotte entirely on his own initiative in 1810. King Charles XIII was sixty-one years old and childless when the Riksdag of the Estates met in Örebro. The assembly elected Bernadotte heir-presumptive on the 21st of August 1810 after considering various candidates including Eugène de Beauharnais. Napoleon initially treated the situation as absurdity but later lent quiet support to the candidacy. Bernadotte communicated Mörner's offer directly to Napoleon before accepting the position. He converted from Roman Catholicism to Lutheranism upon his arrival in Stockholm on the 2nd of November 1810. The new Crown Prince quickly became the most powerful man in Sweden despite initial opposition from King Charles XIII.
Bernadotte commanded the Army of the North during the Battle of Leipzig which began on the 17th of October 1813. His fresh troops joined the fray against already battered French lines on the 19th of October. Entire Saxon regiments defected to his army following a proclamation he released a week prior inviting them to join their former commander. The Army of the North committed the final blow to the depleted French forces at this decisive battle. Bernadotte was the first Allied sovereign to enter Leipzig after the victory. Earlier that year, he had drawn up the Trachenberg Plan at a conference in July 1813. This general campaign plan guided the Allies through the remainder of the war against Napoleon.
Charles John invaded Denmark in late November 1813 to knock Napoleon's last major ally out of the war. A brief campaign saw the defeat of the Danish Army and forced King Frederick VI to sign the Treaty of Kiel on the 15th of January 1814. This treaty ceded Norway to Sweden as stipulated in several treaties creating the Sixth Coalition. The Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814 followed where Norway was defeated in nineteen days. Charles John could have named harsh terms but accepted the Constitution of Norway instead. This decision paved the way for Norway to enter a personal union with Sweden later that year. The military operations became Sweden's last direct conflict to this day.
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Common questions
When was Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte born and where?
Jean-Baptiste Jules Bernadotte was born on the 26th of January 1763 in Pau, the capital of Béarn. He entered the army as a private soldier on the 3rd of September 1780 within the Régiment Royal, La Marine.
How did Charles XIV John become King of Sweden and Norway?
Baron Carl Otto Mörner offered the Swedish crown to Bernadotte entirely on his own initiative in 1810. The Riksdag of the Estates elected him heir-presumptive on the 21st of August 1810 after considering various candidates including Eugène de Beauharnais.
What military role did Charles XIV John play at the Battle of Leipzig?
Bernadotte commanded the Army of the North during the Battle of Leipzig which began on the 17th of October 1813. His fresh troops joined the fray against already battered French lines on the 19th of October and committed the final blow to the depleted French forces.
When did Charles XIV John sign the Treaty of Kiel with Denmark?
A brief campaign saw the defeat of the Danish Army and forced King Frederick VI to sign the Treaty of Kiel on the 15th of January 1814. This treaty ceded Norway to Sweden as stipulated in several treaties creating the Sixth Coalition.
Why is the Swedish-Norwegian War of 1814 significant for modern conflicts?
The military operations became Sweden's last direct conflict to this day. Charles John accepted the Constitution of Norway instead of naming harsh terms, which paved the way for Norway to enter a personal union with Sweden later that year.