Gustaf Bonde (1620–1667) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Baron
Gustaf Bonde the Elder
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Gustaf Bonde on a contemporary engraving
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| Lord High Treasurer of Sweden | |
| In office 1660–1667 |
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| Preceded by | Herman Fleming |
| Succeeded by | Seved Bååt |
| 5th Governor of Södermanland County | |
| In office 1648–1653 |
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| Preceded by | Hans Rotkirch |
| Succeeded by | Göran Bengtsson Sparre |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 February 1620 Pargas, Finland |
| Died | 25 May 1667 (aged 47) Hamburg |
| Spouses |
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| Residence | Hässelby Palace |
Baron Gustaf Bonde (born February 4, 1620 – died May 25, 1667) was an important Swedish statesman. He strongly believed in keeping peace, even when many other Swedish politicians wanted to go to war.
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Who Was Gustaf Bonde?
Gustaf Bonde was a powerful figure in 17th-century Sweden. He was known for his calm approach to politics. Unlike many leaders of his time, he thought war should be avoided. He believed in careful planning and managing the country's money wisely.
Early Career and Ideas
Even when Charles X of Sweden decided to go to war with Poland (known as the Second Northern War), Bonde didn't agree. However, he still helped the king find ways to pay for the war. Bonde also wanted the king to get back lands that had been given to nobles. He thought this would make the country stronger. In 1655, he joined a group that worked on getting these lands back.
Managing Sweden's Money
In 1660, Gustaf Bonde became the Lord High Treasurer of Sweden. This meant he was in charge of all of Sweden's money. He also joined a special group called the council of regency. This group ruled Sweden because the new king, Charles XI of Sweden, was still too young.
Bonde's Plan for Sweden
In 1661, Bonde shared a big plan with the king's advisors, the Privy Council of Sweden. His idea was to make Sweden strong without needing money from other countries. He wanted to do this by:
- Keeping peace with other nations.
- Being very careful with money.
- Helping trade grow.
- Getting back more land for the king.
His budget plan from the next year was based on these ideas. It later helped King Charles XI a lot.
Challenges and Later Years
Gustaf Bonde worked hard to follow his plan for many years. But it was tough because many other powerful people disagreed with him. They preferred more risky ways, like the chancellor Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie. These risky choices later caused big problems for Sweden.
Powerful nobles and people who controlled businesses didn't like Bonde's money-saving ideas. They felt his plans would hurt their own wealth. A costly war against Bremen in 1665, which Bonde advised against, made Sweden's money problems even worse.
In his last years, Bonde became sick and was sad to see his ideas ignored. He mostly stepped away from the government before he passed away.
See also
- List of Swedish politicians
- List of Södermanland Governors
