Swedish Monarch. Born at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm, the eldest son of Oscar II and Queen Sofia. He was created Duke of Vermillandia (Värmland) in infancy. From 1872, he was named as Crown Prince. He became enamored of the sport of tennis in 1876, and founded Sweden's first tennis club. He married Princess Viktoria of Baden in September 1881, and with her had three sons. He succeeded to the throne upon his father's death in December 1907. During the so-called March of the Farmers and Courtyard Crisis in February 1914, he appeased the population by strengthening Swedish defenses. He was accused of overstepping his authority, but maintained wide popular support for his position. He then forced the resignation of the liberal government that had decreased military spending and appointed a conservative government. He was the last Swedish monarch to intervene directly in the politics of the country. Because of his wife's origins, he was considered a German sympathizer during World War I, but nevertheless, maintained his county's neutrality. After World War I, he accepted his position as a constitutional monarch of a parliamentary government. Between the wars, he was credited with an effort to convince the German leaders to soften their persecution of the Jews, and then, during the Second World War, for appealing to the leader of Hungary to save Jews there in the name of humanity. He again maintained his county's neutrality throughout the war. He died at age 92, and was posthumously elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980, having been instrumental in popularizing the sport. His name has also been recorded as Gustav.
Swedish Monarch. Born at Drottningholm Palace near Stockholm, the eldest son of Oscar II and Queen Sofia. He was created Duke of Vermillandia (Värmland) in infancy. From 1872, he was named as Crown Prince. He became enamored of the sport of tennis in 1876, and founded Sweden's first tennis club. He married Princess Viktoria of Baden in September 1881, and with her had three sons. He succeeded to the throne upon his father's death in December 1907. During the so-called March of the Farmers and Courtyard Crisis in February 1914, he appeased the population by strengthening Swedish defenses. He was accused of overstepping his authority, but maintained wide popular support for his position. He then forced the resignation of the liberal government that had decreased military spending and appointed a conservative government. He was the last Swedish monarch to intervene directly in the politics of the country. Because of his wife's origins, he was considered a German sympathizer during World War I, but nevertheless, maintained his county's neutrality. After World War I, he accepted his position as a constitutional monarch of a parliamentary government. Between the wars, he was credited with an effort to convince the German leaders to soften their persecution of the Jews, and then, during the Second World War, for appealing to the leader of Hungary to save Jews there in the name of humanity. He again maintained his county's neutrality throughout the war. He died at age 92, and was posthumously elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1980, having been instrumental in popularizing the sport. His name has also been recorded as Gustav.
Bio by: Iola
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