The Swedish House of Nobility as a Legal History Arena 331 6. The last performance The last time Riddarhuset and the Nobility played a role in Swedish legal history was in 1865 when the old Parliament of the four Estates was replaced by a modern Parliament of two Chambers. The theme Representation reformhad lasted for more than 50 years. The Nobility and the other three Estates had to decide over the royal proposition (signed by Prime minister Louis de Geer) which implied that the Estates abolished themselves. The debate in this house lasted for four days.*^ The King (Charles XV) worked actively for the reform. The reformproposition was carried by 361 votes against 294. Count Gustaf Lagerbielke (1817-1895) was the last lantmarskalk but also the first speaker of the new First Chamber (until 1891).20 The secretary of the Nobility and many other noblemen followed the speaker to the new First Chamber, where many of them stayed for a long time.^i In that way many of the procedures of the old Parliament of the four Estates were conveyed to the newParliament of two Chambers. The last session of the Nobility— as a part of Parliament - was closed by the speaker with this words: “Laws can be altered. Privileges can cease. What remains are the duties to your country. If these duties are carried out, it hardly worries the real Nobility, where in society it has its place.” To day the Nobility shares with the King the destiny of - being accepted by the law— having no political power. The rest is silence. Thank you! Carlsson — Rosén ibid. p. 422. Nordisk Familjebok, I911, art Lagerbielke. Elgenstierna, Ättartavlor I, p. 564; Carlsson - Rosén II, ibid., p. 535.
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