Noble conceptions of politics in eighteenth-century Sweden (ca 1740–1790) is a study of how the Swedish nobility articulated its political ideals, self-images and loyalties during the Age of Liberty and under the rule of Gustav III. This book takes a close look at the aristocracy’s understanding of a free constitution and at the nobility’s complex relationship with the monarchy. Central themes are the old notion of mixed government, classical republican conceptions of liberty and patriotism, as well as noble thoughts on the rights and duties of the citizen, including the right to rebellion against an unrighteous ruler.

The study is a conceptual analysis of public and private political statements made by members of the nobility, such as Diet speeches and personal correspondence. The book contributes to the large body of research on estate-based identities and the transformation of political language in the second half of the eighteenth century by connecting Swedish political ideals and concepts to their European context.

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Oliko 1700-luvun ruotsalainen aatelismies kuninkaan ystävä vai hänen vihollisensa? Entä missä määrin vuosisadan jälkipuoliskon aristokraatti mielsi itsensä muita alamaisia tärkeämmäksi? Oliko Anjalan liitto perinteinen aateliskapina? Tämä käsitehistoriallinen tutkimus aatelisten tasavaltalaisuudesta, poliittisista ihanteista ja omakuvasta vapaudenajalla ja kustavilaisen ajan alussa tarkastelee aatelissäädyn käsityksiä valtiomuodosta, vapaudesta, kansalaisen oikeuksista ja velvollisuuksista. Oliko kansalaisilla aatelisten mielestä oikeus tai jopa velvollisuus kapinoida väärin käyttäytyviä hallitsijoita vastaan?

Noble conceptions of politics in eighteenth-century Sweden (ca 1740–1790) is a study of how the Swedish nobility articulated its political ideals, self-images and loyalties during the Age of Liberty and under the rule of Gustav III. This book takes a close look at the aristocracy’s understanding of a free constitution and at the nobility’s complex relationship with the monarchy. Central themes are the old notion of mixed government, classical republican conceptions of liberty and patriotism, as well as noble thoughts on the rights and duties of the citizen, including the right to rebellion against an unrighteous ruler.

The study is a conceptual analysis of public and private political statements made by members of the nobility, such as Diet speeches and personal correspondence. The book contributes to the large body of research on estate-based identities and the transformation of political language in the second half of the eighteenth century by connecting Swedish political ideals and concepts to their European context.