[POTN] 2.17 - Anchor of the Nation

The sudden death of the Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell, on 3rd September, 1658, came as a shock for many within and outside Britain, as Cromwell was really the only reason why the Protectorate was largely stable despite the internal tensions.

Before his death, Cromwell appointed his eldest surviving son, Richard, 31, as his successor. Yet, Richard Cromwell soon proved to be unable to deal with the complex political reality within the Protectorate, and the tension between the Parliament and the military.

By May 1659, Richard Cromwell had lost control of the situation, and practically yielded all his power under the military's threat. Cromwell's Parliament was dissolved with the pre-1653 Rump Parliament recalled, and Richard, never arrested or prosecuted, simply faded from the political scene. A messy situation soon unfolded throughout Britain, with different factions threatening one another with the use of military. The continent, meanwhile, was more concerned about the ongoing conflicts in the Commonwealth and also between France and Spain, and no nation was able to intervene meaningfully.

By late 1659, the Scottish forces, led by Governor George Monck, had entered London practically unopposed, and the Long Parliament, including members purged by Cromwell in 1648, were recalled. Leaders of the Rump Parliament attempted to rally the New Model Army by branding Monck's forces as Royalists, but were captured before anything meaningful could be achieved.

With support from the Swedish court, and a secret letter from Monck offering a possible restoration, the exiled Charles Stuart issued the Declaration of Nyköping on 4th Aprilm 1660, promising pardon to old Parliamentarians, religious toleration, among other concessions. The Swedes then funded his voyage to the Spanish Netherlands, in order to prepare to sail to London should the Parliament vote to recall him as the rightful monarch of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

The Convention Parliament was subsequently assembled by Monck, and had their first session on 25th April, concerning the issue of the lack of a head of state. After a decade of military rule, royalists gained considerable traction and became a majority in the Parliament. On 8th May, the Parliament proclaimed that Charles Stuart, now titled King Charles II of England, Scotland, and Ireland, had been the rightful monarch of his realms since the execution of King Charles I on 30th January 1649, and the Protectorate was deemed illegitimate, with the Stuart rule considered uninterrupted.

Receiving that piece of news, Charles Stuart travelled to the Hague in the Dutch Republic, ready to sail for England to reclaim the crown his father once wore for over two decades. Setting sail from the Hague on 23th May, Charles landed at Dover on 25th May, finally back on his home soil after almost nine years in exile. He was welcomed by royalists on his way to London, where the Parliament was ready to officially proclaim him King.

After a few days of journey, Charles finally entered London as King on 29th May, 1660, his 30th birthday. 29th May would soon be made a public holiday by law, celebrating the anniversaries of the restoration of the House of Stuart. Sweden almost immediately recognised his ascension, and sent letters for him, urging him to fulfill the duty as stated in the Treaty of Nyköping in 1652, to sign an alliance treaty with Sweden.

After some negotiations, a treaty was signed in Götaborg in December 1660 between English and Swedish representatives, detailing a new alliance in order to counter the French and Dutch threats in the area. The English were to sell selected ships to the Swedish Navy at a discounted rate, while also providing certain naval technologies for the Swedes.

The two nations also agreed on a mutual defensive pact exclusively against France, while promising to safeguard each other's military and civilian vessels in the North Sea and the Baltic. England also sent a sum of four hundred thousand pounds to Sweden as a goodwill gesture, in order to express gratitude for their support and shelter of King Charles during his exile.

With the peace with Denmark-Norway and the alliance with Britain secured, Sweden, now firmly controlled by King Gustav and his faction, was finally able to enjoy prosperity in peace. While the Danish threat had never ceased, with Russia and Brandenburg-Prussia also looking to threaten the realm, the facts that Russia was still tied up in Poland, and Brandenburg-Prussia unable to really challenge the Swedish might, meant that Sweden, for once in years, faced no immediate threats from foreign powers.

Princess Kristina, having been in charge of the Swedish internal affairs for several years during the war, put much effort into promoting meritocracy, enhancing education, and also assimilating minorities into the national Swedish identity. Several universities, in Kalmar, Göteborg, Riga, and Stettin, were established by Kristina following the University of Stockholm, admitting both noble and commoner students as Kristina wished.

While many nobles were less than pleased with her reforms, the policies established Kristina's overwhelming popularity among the commoners in Stockholm and beyond. The Swedish literacy rate increased drastically in the following decades, overtaking virtually all other European nations, as many commoners, even those in rural areas, obtained access to education through Kristina's educational reforms, along with the new church schools of the state Lutheran Church established by Gustav.

A large victory parade was held before Christmas 1660 in Stockholm, with tens of thousands of Swedes participating. The nationalistic fervour was at an all-time high, countless chanting praises for the royal family on the streets. After the Christmas Banquet, Gustav and Henrietta took their kids to the top of the Tre Kronor Castle, overlooking the celebratory and joyous capital city, with fireplaces from countless houses lighting up the night sky.

The passionate chants from the people were audible even at the top of the castle. The young siblings stared at the crowds, eyes wide - the long-lasting warfare took away all festival celebrations in Stockholm in the previous years, and the royal children never saw crowds so large and passionate before. "Rudolf, Charlotta," Gustav stood up, looking deep into his children's eyes, "One day they shall chant your names, with love and passion that shall dwarve what they've shown today. When the day comes... be the leaders they need and wish for. Do what you believe is right, and strive for happiness for both yourselves and your people."

The children, suddenly silent, stared at their father, contemplating what he had just said. They had always been the cherished, loved children of the family and in the Castle - but they never considered how it would be, when they were finally in charge instead of their parents. Witnessing their confusion, Henrietta, still embracing the children, let out an amused chuckle, and whispered, staring up at the distant stars...

"One day things shall change, and you shall become the anchor of this nation... but for now, let us first enjoy this precious moment together, shouldn't we, my dear little sweethearts?"