Frederick I of Sweden
Frederick I of Sweden, born on April 17, 1676, was King of Sweden from 1720 until his death in 1751. He was the son of Duke Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp and his wife, Princess Hedwig Sophia of Sweden. Frederick served as a general in the Swedish army and played a crucial role in the Great Northern War. In 1709, he led the Swedish forces to a decisive victory against the Russians at the Battle of Poltava. After the death of King Charles XII in 1718, Frederick was elected as King of Sweden by the Riksdag. His reign was marked by a period of peace and prosperity, as he worked to rebuild Sweden after the devastating war. During his reign, Frederick implemented a number of reforms aimed at modernizing the country. He established Sweden's first university, the University of Lund, in 1666, and also initiated an ambitious building program that included the construction of the Royal Palace in Stockholm. Frederick died on March 25, 1751, at the age of 74. He was succeeded by his son, Adolf Frederick.
