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Royal mottos of Swedish monarchs

The Royal mottos or Valspråk of the Swedish monarchs has been a tradition since first used by Gustav I of Sweden, in the early 16th century. Every regent of Sweden since has had used their own motto during their periods of reign. The tradition of using a royal motto in other monarchies is that it most often stays the same within one dynasty, and here the Swedish tradition is different. In this respect they do however serve all the traditional purposes of a national or royal motto. One example is the imprint on all one Krona coins, the currency of Sweden.

Due to the dissolution of the Sweden-Norway Union in 1905, Oscar II had his motto changed.

Royal mottos
RegentReign Royal motto (in Swedish) English translation
The House of Vasa
Gustav Vasa1521-1560All makt är av GudAll power is of God
Erik XIV1560-1568Gud giver åt vem Han villGod gives to whom He wishes
Johan III1568-1592Gud vår beskyddareGod our protector
Sigismund1592-1599För rätten och folketFor the justice and the people
Karl IX1599-1611Gud min tröstGod my comfort
Gustav II Adolf1611-1632Med Gud och segrande vapenWith God and victorious arms
Kristina1632-1654Visheten är rikets stödWisdom is the realms support
The House of Pfalz - cadet branch to the House of Wittelsbach
Karl X Gustav1654-1660I Gud mitt öde - Han skall göra detIn God my destiny - He will do it
Karl XI1660-1697Herren är vorden min beskyddareThe Lord is become [sic] my protector
Karl XII1697-1718Med Guds hjälpWith the help of God
Ulrika Eleonora1719-1720I Gud mitt hoppIn God my hope
The House of Hesse
Fredrik I1720-1751I Gud mitt hoppIn God my hope
The House of Holstein-Gottorp
Adolf Fredrik1751-1771Statens välfärd, min välfärdThe welfare of the state, my welfare
Gustav III1771-1792FäderneslandetThe fatherland
Gustav IV Adolf1792-1809Gud och folketGod and the people
Karl XIII1809-1818Folkets väl min högsta lagThe welfare of the people my highest law 1
The House of Bernadotte
Karl XIV Johan 1818-1844Folkets kärlek min belöningThe love of the people my reward
Oskar I1844-1859Rätt och sanningRight and truth
Karl XV1859-1872Land skall med lag byggasLand is built by law
Oskar II1872-1905Brödrafolkens välThe welfare of the brother peoples
1905-1907Sveriges välThe welfare of Sweden
Gustaf V 1907-1950Med folket för fosterlandetWith the people for the motherland
Gustaf VI Adolf1950-1973Plikten framför alltDuty above all
Carl XVI Gustaf1973-presentFör Sverige i tidenFor Sweden - With the times

See also: List of Swedish monarchs


Note: (1) Compare with the motto of the U.S. state of Missouri (1821): "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law". Originally from Cicero's De Legibus, Book III, Part III, Sub. VIII.