Gustavus III was a king of Sweden. He was born in 1746 and died in 1792. He was the eldest son of Adolphus Frederick. He ascended the throne in 1771 and immediately overthrew the oligarchical tyranny of the nobles by the bloodless coup d'etat of August the 19th 1772. During the following twelve years he regenerated Sweden, reforming abuses and promoting commerce and agriculture, replenishing the exchequer and encouraging the arts. However, he maintained a court of extraordinary splendour which became a burden to the people. He declared war on Russia in 1788 without consulting parliament, which caused a mutiny of his officers. The war with Russia was ended in 1790 following the almost complete annihilation of the Russian fleet at the Battle of Svensksund. He was finally assassinated by Ankarstroem, a disbanded officer, at a masquerade at the opera by the nobles. Research Gustavus III
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