General Notes

Charles XV (1826-72), king of Sweden and Norway (1859-72), the son of King
Oscar I, born in Stockholm. During his liberal and popular rule, numerous
reforms were instituted. The most important was in 1867 when the Riksdag, the
Swedish legislature, became a bicameral body, with the upper house chosen by
provincial representatives and the lower house by popular election (although
suffrage was based on property and earnings). Charles was interested in
literature and the arts and wrote a volume of poems. Having no male heirs, he
was succeeded by his brother Oscar II.