The Anjala Conspiracy: A Plot Against a King

In the heart of the late 18th century, a clandestine scheme unfolded within the Swedish military ranks—an audacious attempt to halt King Gustav III's Russian War of 1788–1790. This conspiracy, known as the Anjala Conspiracy, was not initially about declaring Finnish independence, although such claims would later emerge in the halls of power in Saint Petersburg at the behest of one of the conspirators, Johan Anders Jägerhorn.

Rising Anger Against the King

The seeds of discontent were sown as the war, poorly planned and executed, failed to achieve the anticipated victories. The Swedish military, stationed in Finland, harbored vivid memories of past Russian occupations—termed the "Greater Wrath" from 1713 to 1721 and the "Lesser Wrath" from 1741 to 1743. These events lingered in the collective consciousness. The war, instigated by Sweden, was widely seen as a violation of the Instrument of Government imposed by the king in 1772 with parliamentary support. Officers, many of noble birth, viewed the war as a ploy to bolster the king's popularity at their expense. Tensions flared further when it became clear that the king had selectively presented diplomatic reports from Saint Petersburg to justify the conflict.

Failed attempts to besiege and retake the Russian-held towns of Hamina and Savonlinna fanned the flames of opposition. Even King Gustav III seemed to yearn for peace amidst the turmoil.

The Liikkala Note

The conspirators, led by Major General Carl Gustaf Armfelt the Younger, convened on August 9, 1788, in Liikkala. Together, they crafted a diplomatic note to Tsarina Catherine the Great of Russia, expressing their discontent with the war and proposing peace based on pre-Treaty of Åbo borders—a move that would see Russia cede parts of Karelia to Sweden. This document, known as the Liikkala Note, bore the signatures of Armfelt, Jägerhorn, Johan Henrik Hästesko, and five other officers. Jägerhorn was tasked with delivering the note to Russia.

Jägerhorn's Mission in Russia

Arriving in Saint Petersburg on August 12, Jägerhorn secured an audience with Catherine the Great by August 15. He presented the note, supplementing it with claims of a Finnish desire to secede from Sweden and seek Russian protection. Catherine's written response, received a few days later, acknowledged the Finnish perspective but demanded a formal and legally representative expression of these sentiments. Verbally, it was made clear that Russia had no intention of returning any territories won in war.

Jägerhorn returned to the Swedish army on August 23, his hopes dashed by Russia's reply, which many conspirators viewed as tantamount to treason on Jägerhorn's part.

The Anjala Act

Simultaneously, the Anjala Act was declared at Anjala Manor by the Kymi River. This document mirrored the Liikkala Note and was signed by 113 officers. It stipulated that peace should be pursued with Russia, the Riksdag of the Estates convened, and the Instrument of Government adhered to. It called for an armistice to prevent Russian attacks on the Swedish and Finnish coasts and demanded the army's withdrawal from the front.

The conspirators articulated their aspirations for governmental reform, including a fixed appanage for the king, the reestablishment of the Privy Council according to the 1720 Instrument of Government, and adherence to the 1766 Freedom of the Press Act. They demanded the closure of Nils Henric Liljensparre's Police Bureau in Stockholm.

Despite these intentions, Jägerhorn’s actions in Russia fractured the conspiracy, casting a shadow of treason over its efforts.

The Consequences

While the king grappled with his next move, Denmark's declaration of war on Sweden allowed him to withdraw from Finland without appearing to retreat. Back in Stockholm, he rallied support from the common people, who harbored disdain for the noble officers.

In the fall of 1788, the king ordered the arrest of the conspirators. With popular backing, he convened the Riksdag of 1789, where he consolidated power through the Union and Security Act. Of the conspirators, two fled to Russia, nine faced death sentences, but only Johan Henrik Hästesko was executed; the others were either exiled or imprisoned.

The notion of Finnish independence lingered, later echoed by Alexander I during the Diet of Porvoo when he established the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland within Imperial Russia.

Long-Term Impacts

King Gustav III may have leveraged the Anjala Conspiracy to garner support for constitutional revisions that bolstered his authority, a goal he may have pursued from the outset of the war. The conspiracy highlighted the growing rift between Sweden's leadership and the nobility, particularly in Finland, where loyalty began to shift towards Russia.

The public’s critical view of the Anjala-men deepened the divide between Sweden's western and eastern territories. In Finland, the conspiracy was seen as a pivotal moment in the nation's journey, with its separatist undertones often highlighted. Conversely, in Sweden, it was viewed as either a justified rebellion against an oppressive monarch or a harbinger of Swedish civil servants' treachery during the Russo-Swedish War of 1808–1809.

Historical Perspectives

In Finland, the conspiracy is celebrated as a step toward nation-building, though the primary aim of seeking peace and restoring political liberties often takes a backseat. In Sweden, it is perceived through the lens of opposition to authoritarian rule or as a prelude to the events that led to Finland's eventual separation.

The Anjala Conspiracy remains a testament to the turbulent dynamics of late 18th-century Sweden, a period marked by power struggles, shifting allegiances, and the simmering tensions between monarchic authority and noble dissent.

Sources

• Anjala Conspiracy on Wikipedia