La Bataille de Prusse 1809

preserved the Swedes, who in just a year or so would be engaged with the Danes over Norway. The result of that war led to Carl John not only ruling Sweden, but also the Kingdom of Norway. In 1818, Carl John became not only King of Sweden, but the separate King of Norway. Norway did become an independent kingdom in 1905. Carl John was a successful and popular ruler of the two kingdoms—Carl XIV of Sweden and Carl III of Norway. His only son, Oscar, became the next king of the two states upon his death. Desiree eventually came back to Sweden after living several years in France. She died in 1860 at age 83, some 16 years after her husband Carl John passed away. The House of Bernadotte also gave Europe a great diplomat in Folke Bernadotte, a Swedish Count, who at the end of World War II, was able to negotiate the release of 31,000 prisoners from German concentration camps, and was also involved, towards the end of the war, in negotiating a potential German surrender. Just a few years later, while working for the United Nations in Palestine, was negotiating an end to the Arab- Israeli troubles, he was assassinated by Israeli terrorists in 1948. Jean Bernadotte was successful in love, marrying one of the most influential women of the age. Jean was successful, more often than not, in war. Jean managed to end up on the throne of two different kingdoms—running both of them with skill and prudence. Desiree and Jean’s son (Oscar) also became a beloved and successful king. Jean and Desiree’s heirs continue as the Swedish monarchs. His family continues to be a player on the European scene 200 years later. Is there anyone who was more successful who came of age in the French Revolution and was a significant player in the Age of Napoleon?

Jean Bernadotte’s Descendent –King Carl XVI Gustav, King of Sweden

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