Gabriel Stein

King Oscar's Gamble Gabriel Stein

In 1854, Britain and France went to war against Russia in support of Turkey. Most of the war was fought in the Crimea. But there was another theatre of operations - the Baltic Sea. In 1854 and 1855, Franco-British fleets sailed north and attacked Russian fortifications, cities and ships. The fortress of Bomarsund on Åland was destroyed and the archipelago was occupied.

But in order to make a real impact in the north, the allies would need local help. For two years, France and the Great Britain negotiated in secret with King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway. The Swedish King was ambitious and keen for his country to play a major role in European affairs, but also wary earning the wrath of Russia. His large navy could have tipped the balance in the Baltic and enabled an attack on St Petersburg, forcing Russia to surrender.

But was the King serious in his negotiations? Historians in the past have debated the King's commitment and intentions.

King Oscar's Gamble sheds new light on the subject. Through fresh research into the King's private papers, Stein's thesis argues that the King desired to join the war and was devastated when it ended prematurely.

King Oscar's Gamble is the story of a monarch, a country and war.