Does monarchy need a king? Historical investigations generally treat monarchy as a source of power only. When kings are stripped of their powers, historical interest in monarchy is lost and focus shifts elsewhere. This book takes a different approach. When studying Sweden during the Age of Liberty (1718–72), a time and place where rulers were historically weak, the philosophical rationale of monarchy comes to the fore. Monarchy is the most common form of government in European history, with an ideological foundation on a par with republicanism; but ‘monarchism’ is rarely given serious sociopolitical consideration by historians or political scientists.

This thorough investigation of monarchy will be of interest to historians, political scientists, and art and media historians, not only for its far-reaching implications but also for its innovative combination of a wide variety of sources.