Charles XIII of Sweden vs Gojong of Korea

Charles XIII, as regent and later king, oversaw the conclusion of the Finnish War against Russia. The Treaty of Fredrikshamn ceded Finland to Russia, ending centuries of Swedish rule over the region.

Charles XIII was crowned King of Sweden after the deposition of Gustav IV Adolf. His coronation followed the adoption of the 1809 constitution, which established a balance of power between the king and the Riksdag.

Charles XIII, having no legitimate heirs, adopted the French Marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte as his successor. Bernadotte became Crown Prince Charles John and effectively ruled Sweden, founding the Bernadotte dynasty.

Charles XIII, under the influence of Crown Prince Charles John, accepted the Treaty of Kiel and the Convention of Moss, which forced Norway into a personal union with Sweden. Charles XIII became King of Norway as Charles II.

Charles XIII died in Stockholm at age 69. His death ended the Holstein-Gottorp dynasty's rule in Sweden, as he was succeeded by his adopted son, Charles XIV John (Bernadotte).

Gojong declared Korea an empire, assuming the title of Emperor. This was an attempt to assert Korea's sovereignty and equal status with China and Japan, and to modernize the state. The move was partly a response to the assassination of his wife, Empress Myeongseong.

Under Japanese pressure, Gojong's government signed the Eulsa Treaty, making Korea a Japanese protectorate. Gojong did not sign the treaty himself and later attempted to appeal to international powers, but the treaty stripped Korea of its diplomatic sovereignty.

Japanese authorities forced Gojong to abdicate in favor of his son, Sunjong, after Gojong sent a secret envoy to the Hague Peace Conference to protest Japanese control. The abdication was part of Japan's consolidation of power over Korea.

Gojong died suddenly, with rumors of poisoning by Japanese agents. His funeral on March 1, 1919, became a catalyst for the March First Movement, a massive nationwide protest against Japanese rule. The movement was brutally suppressed but galvanized Korean independence efforts.