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| The most important person in the Swedish history according to a new book. Painting from 1542 |
A new book, called “The hundred most important Swedes in history” has recently been released. The book is written by the two journalists Niklas Ekdal and Petter Karlsson. The choice of persons reflect of course their personal view. Still the list says something about Sweden.
I have not read the book, just seen their list. We present here their first twenty. The texts about the persons are ours and not theirs.
1) Gustav Vasa, king 1521-1560
Somewhat a founder of Sweden as a country. Sweden existed before him but not as a strong unit and for the past 120 years before him Sweden had been in an unpopular union with Denmark and Norway.
Gustav Vasa centralized the administration of the country (sometimes with brutal methods) and created a royal bloodline that would last for two and a half centauries. He also brought reformation of the church and Martin Luther’s ideas to Sweden
2) Astrid Lindgren, 1907-2002
A world famous author of books for children. She has sold 145 million books world wide. Internationally she is probably best known for the books about Pippi Long Stocking and Karlsson on the Roof. Lindgren is considered to have affected the Swedish self image in a number of areas, and probably also the image o Sweden internationally.
She also participated in the Swedish political debate, creating opinion for the environment and for refugees. Shortly before the general election in 1976 she wrote a fairy tale, Pomperipossa, in Monosmania. She had to pay a marginal income tax on 102 (!) percent that year, and the fairy tale she wrote was about that. It is considered to have contributed to the fact that the Social Democrats lost power for the first time in forty-four (!) years.
3) Axel Oxienstierna, 1583-1654. Lord High Chancellor of Sweden 1612-1654
Oxienstiärna continued in many ways the work of Gustav Vasa. He created a strong state that was necessary for the many wars. Among other things he created the Swedish Post Office. He also ran the country when the king Gustav II Adolf was out on the battle fields. After the king’s death in Lützern in 1632 he even became ruler of the country since the crown princess Kristina was only six years old.
Oxiensterna was formally ruler over the concurred areas around the Baltic Sea.
4) Alfred Nobel, inventor, 1833-1896
Famous for inventing the dynamite and, of course, for the Nobel price. Most of the Nobel price takers are selected in Stockholm, where the ceremonies are. The exception is the peace price which is determined and given out in Oslo, Norway. Sweden and Norway was (again) in a union at the time and Nobel wanted one of the prices to be determined in Oslo.
5) Olof Palme, 1927-1986, Prime Minister 1969-1976, 1982-1986
Palme was a very controversial political figure. People either loved him or hated him. He came from an aristocratic background and took over the Social Democratic party in 1969 when Tage Erlander resigned after twenty three (!) consecutive years as Prime Minister.
Palme provoked opponents with an arrogant style and superior rhetoric skill, and inspired his followers for the same reason. Palme introduced new labour market rules, student aid system for everyone and raised taxes. Internationally he tried to profile himself as a voice for the third world. Critics say he often took part for undemocratic regimes or “liberation movements” while his supports saw him as an independent voice who dared to criticize both super powers.
Palme was murdered in central Stockholm in 1986, and so far the murder is unsolved.
6) Marcus Wallenberg, Bank man and industrialist. Created several companies that grew to important factors in Swedish business life.
7) Evert Taube, troubadour.
8) Lars-Magnus Ericsson, founder of LM Ericsson
9) Karl XIV Johan 1763-1844, king of Sweden 1818-1844
When the previous king had failed and had no suitable relatives, the Frenchman Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, marshal in Napoleon’s army was selected.
10) Carl Larsson, painter.
11) Bridget of Sweden / The Holy Birgitta 1303-1373, theologian.
12) Johan August Gripenstedt 1813-1874, Minister for Finance 1851-1866
13) Oden, local ruler 170-240. Later known as a pre-christian God
14) August Strindberg 1849-1912, author
15) Karl XI, 1655-1697, king 1672-1697
16) Carl-Michael Bellman1740-1795, composer
17) Anders Cydenius 1729-1803, priest
18) Ingevar Kamprad, born 1926, founder of IKEA
19) Ingemar Bergman, 1918-2007, film producer
20) Gustav III, 1746-1792, King 1771-1792 founder of the Swedish academy, the institutions that chose the receiver of the Nobel price in literature.
Tommie Ullman
tommie.ullman@stockholmnews.com