Gustav III

Gustav III was the King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. Known as a reform-minded monarch, he sought to strengthen royal authority, modernize the government, and support arts and culture, notably founding the Swedish Academy. His rule balanced Enlightenment ideals with absolutist tendencies, aiming to improve his country's governance and cultural life. His reign ended abruptly when he was fatally shot at a masked ball by political opponents. Gustav III is remembered as a patron of arts and a pivotal, if controversial, figure in Swedish history.