Tiden påverkar debatten även för en kung : Karl XII:s eftermäle i tre svenska dagstidningar under tre jubileumsår, 1918-2018

Sammanfattning: This study shows how the image of Karl XII and his political deed has changed in the public debate during a century. The study has also, with the help of analytical tools on uses of history, examined how the memory of Karl XII and his political deeds has been used by focusing on moral, political, ideological, scientific and existential interests. The focus has been on three anniversary years for the king´s death, 30 November 1918, 1968 and 2018 and the reporting in three national Swedish magazines, which are: Dagens Nyheter, Svenska Dagbladet och Aftonbladet.  Based on historical cultural perspective, the analysis of the newspapers shows that the attitude has varied greatly over a hundred years. In 1918 the king was a symbol of the true love of Sweden and was depicted as a hero. The king´s memory was used as a nationalist tool. In 1968 the memory of the king came under heavy critisim from moral standpoints. The king was no longer perceived as a hero but as a dictator. In 2018, the public debate was more influenced by scientific and academic perspectives, including discussions on how the memory of the king has been used by right-wing groups. In summary, the anniversary celibrations have shown that the attitude of Karl XII varied depending on how the society valued its history.