Gustav IV Adolf came to the throne in 1792 following his father's assassination. His reign saw Sweden involved in conflicts including the Napoleonic Wars, leading to increasing unpopularity due to military failures and harsh policies. The increasing discontent culminated in a coup on March 13, 1809. A group of military officers, frustrated with Gustaf’s ineffective leadership during the ongoing Finnish War—part of the broader conflict between Sweden and Russia—decided that his removal was necessary for the stability and future of the nation. The coup was notably organized and executed by prominent military figures including General Georg Adlersparre and Captain Carl Johan Adlercreutz.

During the coup, Gustav IV Adolf was forced to abdicate while he was at a meeting with the military leaders in the capital, Stockholm. The conspirators declared an interim government and soon moved to install a new monarch. After being deposed, Gustav fled into exile, first to Finland and later to Germany where he would remain for the rest of his life. His deposition not only represented a significant change in Sweden's government but also highlighted the dissatisfaction within the Swedish military and civilian leadership regarding monarchal rule during a time of crisis.

The change brought about by this coup led to increased political engagement from different segments of Swedish society, laying the framework for future constitutional developments. It ultimately opened the way for more modern governance structures to emerge in Sweden in subsequent decades.