The aim of the project was to study the motives and effects of French subsidies to Sweden during the period 1631-1796. By studying a long time period it was possible to analyze how the recurrent periods of receiving subsidies influenced Sweden beyond the given impact that was a result of what was agreed in the specific subsidy treaty.
In order to complete the study, source material in Swedish and French archives has been reviewed, as well as printed source material. In Archives Diplomatiques (Paris) diplomatic and financial records have been studied. Through diplomatic letters from Stockholm, negotiation protocols and instructions sent from the French government to ambassadors in Sweden, it has been possible to analyze how the French government perceived Sweden and how they assessed both the Swedish and French needs to support each other through subsidies. Through the financial records, it has been possible to see how much the subsidies amounted to in different time periods.
The Swedish material - which is largely located in the National Archives - consists of protocols from the meetings of the Council (Riksrådet), protocols from the secret committee (Sekreta utskottet), diplomatic reports and state accounts. The protocols show the arguments put forward for or against why Sweden should accept subsidies and what alternatives were considered. They also show how France´s motives were perceived and to what extent France as an ally was trusted or not. Financial records are sometimes shown in detail as to what the subsidies were used for and which people or groups may have gained from them.
The three main results of the study
A.    The Franco-Swedish subsidy relationship affected Swedish domestic and foreign policy more than previously has been shown. Swedish politicians throughout the whole period considered Sweden to be more dependent on French subsidies than previous research as shown. From the period 1631-1796 Sweden received subsidies from France for more than half the time, but also in other times spent a lot of time negotiating subsidies. In addition to receiving French subsidies, Sweden regularly received subsidies also from other states. Overall, it can be noted that subsidies and negotiations on subsidies was an integral part of Swedish political life during the period.
B.    Despite that treaties always assured that there was mutual friendship between the two states, there was constantly a latent suspicion from both parties. There was also a recurrent sense of disappointment from both parties. History played a central role both for those who felt that Sweden benefited from French subsidies and those who did not. In the first case, it was often argued that despite France had sometimes failed the Swedish state, Sweden had benefited and should continue to ally with France. From the French perspective, Sweden was regarded as a necessary but weak and greedy partner.
C.    Having gone through a long period has made it possible to study effects on Swedish society. There are few studies that have shown how individuals or groups benefited (and in some cases were disadvantaged) of subsidies. This is probably the result that is of greatest interest among international researchers.
New research questions
The complexity of how resources were transferred between states, corporations or individuals has become increasingly evident during the course of work. Subsidies are part of these resource transfers, and while such subsidies were of great importance in the relationship between France and Sweden, there may have been other forms (pensions, bribes, gifts, loans, etc.) that had a greater impact on other intergovernmental relationships. This could in turn lead to new questions about the organization of different states and the mechanisms that governed state formation.
The project's international dimensions
From the outset, the project is international in character, because the main issue concerns French and Swedish relations. However, the Franco-Swedish relationship has all through the project been related to France's other subsidiary relations in order to enable a comparison. However, these comparisons are based on existing research.
International cooperation has been developed in various ways. The Canadian historian Erik Thomson has visited Lund and we have also had recurrent Skype-meetings. Thomson has been involved as a mentor for a postdoctor funded by the Crafoord Foundation and linked to the project. Furthermore he is also co-editor of an edited volume which is one of two publications produced as a result of the project. The edited volume was the result of an international workshop held in Lund in May 2017, jointly initiated by Thomson and myself. The authors contributing to the edited volume are: Professor Peter Wilson (Oxford), Dr Marianne Klerk (Oxford), Dr Tilman Haug (Münster), Dr Anuschka Tischer (Würzburg), Dr Philippe Rogger (Bern), Dr. Tryntje Helfferich (Ohio), Associate Professor Erik Thomson ), Dr. Andreas Flurschütz da Cruz (Bamberg), Dr Erik Bodensten (Lund) and Svante Norrhem. The volume aims to problematize subsidies in a wider international context. Aside from the fact that the workshop produced an edited volume, we see it as an excellent way of linking together experts in the field in a research network.
The project's results will be spread through a monograph and the edited volume, both in English. The project has also been presented at the workshop mentioned above, as well as at the Sixteenth Century Society Conference (Bruges 18-20 August 2016) and at Svenska historikermötet (10-12 May 2017). For a wider audience, the research results are spread via an article in the journal Populär History (published in 2019).