The Gustavian Era

The early years up until Gustav III’s death in 1792 were a felicitous time for the Academy. The King showed an active interest in his newly established academy and promoted it in several ways. Its public meetings were elevated by his royal attendance, and he was also often present at the weekly ones. As previously mentioned, Gustav had himself appointed the first thirteen members. There were four ‘gentlemen’, all of whom were Privy Councillors, while the ‘learned men’ were represented by two bishops and a historian. The writers, numbering six in total, included public officials with literary interests and the King’s literary advisors Johan Henric Kellgren and Gudmund Jöran Adlerbeth.

The Academy’s Grand Ceremony was celebrated annually on 20 December, Gustavus Adolphus’s birthday, with a public meeting in the Stock Exchange Hall. The entire royal family and social elite were known to grace the event with their presence, and the recitation of the prize-winning works in oratory and poetic art generally made a strong impression on those in attendance. Another prestigious element of these ceremonial gatherings was undoubtedly the reading of the memoirs.

The standing of the Academy deteriorated in the wake of Gustav’s death. His brother, Duke Charles – who acted as regent for Gustav IV Adolf while the latter was still a minor – had no interest in the Academy and attended its meetings on only two occasions. Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm, the Duke’s closest adviser and, at the time, most powerful man in Sweden, was moreover a sworn enemy of everything Gustavian. Since the Academy embodied the traditions of Gustav III’s time, several of its members found themselves in a vulnerable position. By 1795, events had gone so far that Reuterholm and Duke Charles almost succeeded in dissolving the Academy. But the threat was averted, with the Academy instead being suspended and forced to discontinue its activities until the King came of age.

When that day came, on 1 November 1796, the Academy was therefore able to resume its activities. Relations with the King were generally good, although he had no interest in literature and never attended the private meetings. As a tribute to the memory of his father, he nevertheless felt a duty to safeguard the latter’s creation.

Gustav III had pledged to provide the Academy with premises of its own, including a ceremonial hall and chapel. Since this promise was never fulfilled, the Academy’s weekly meetings took place in various rooms at the Royal Palace. A large part of the Academy’s work consisted of reviewing competition submissions and other written works that authors wished to submit for assessment. Also immediately addressed were the linguistic tasks assigned to the Academy: namely, the compilation of a dictionary, spelling guide and grammar.