Charles XII of Sweden

Charles XII was the King of Sweden from 1697 until he passed away in 1718. He became king at just fifteen years old after his father's death. His reign was mostly marked by a big war called the Great Northern War, which started when several countries attacked Sweden while it was led by a young king.

Despite being very young and often facing much larger armies, Charles showed great skill in battle. He led his troops to many victories, such as the Battle of Narva in 1700, where his smaller force defeated a much bigger Russian army. However, things turned tough during his march towards Moscow. Though he won some battles there, his army suffered a big loss at the Battle of Poltava in 1709. After this defeat, Charles went into exile in the Ottoman Empire for several years.

Charles was known not only as a strong military leader but also for making important changes in laws and taxes. He was very determined in war and once said he would never stop a fair war until he defeated his enemies. Because the war lasted so long, he never married or had children. When he died during the Siege of Fredriksten in 1718, his sister Ulrika Eleonora became queen. Later, she gave up much of her power to the people’s representatives, changing Sweden’s government for many years to come.

Royal title

Main article: Style of the Swedish sovereign

Charles XII had a very long title as the king of Sweden. It included many places he ruled, like Sweden, Finland, and parts of what are now countries such as Estonia and Latvia. Even though he was called Charles XII, he was actually the sixth king named Charles in Sweden. The numbers XII and 12 came from old stories about Sweden that were not true.

Early life

Prince Charles of Sweden was born on 17 June 1682 in the royal castle of Tre Kronor in Stockholm. He was the first son of King Charles XI of Sweden and Ulrika Eleonora, a Danish princess. He grew up close to his parents and traveled with them from a very young age. Though four more sons were born after him, they all passed away when they were very young. In 1688, Charles gained a younger sister, also named Ulrika Eleonora, who later became ruler of Sweden after him.

Charles received a strong education and was prepared carefully to become king. He learned to ride by age four and took part in physical training as he grew older. When his father died in April 1697, Charles, just fifteen years old, became king. The Riksdag, Sweden's assembly of the Estates, recognized him as ready to rule, making him the first and last Swedish king to inherit absolute monarchical authority.

Great Northern War

Main article: Great Northern War

Early campaigns

In the early 1700s, kings from Denmark–Norway, Saxony (ruled by elector August II of Poland, who was also the king of Poland-Lithuania), and Russia joined forces against Sweden. This alliance was mainly organized by Johann Reinhold Patkul, a Livonian nobleman who turned against Sweden when land and property were taken away from nobles in 1680.

Charles XII’s first battle was against Denmark–Norway. With help from England and the Netherlands, Charles led a small army to Zealand and quickly forced Denmark to sign a peace treaty in 1700. He then turned to face Russia and Poland-Lithuania.

Charles fought a big battle against Russia at Narva in 1700. Even though the Russian army was much larger, Charles won by attacking them in a snowstorm. However, he didn’t chase the Russian army afterward. Instead, he went to battle Poland-Lithuania and made a new king there.

Russian resurgence

While Charles was fighting in Poland, Russia worked hard to make their army stronger. They built a new city called Saint Petersburg in a place called Ingria.

Charles decided to attack Russia with a big army, but his plans changed when his ally in Poland had problems. Charles also expected help from Ukrainian forces, but that didn’t happen.

The big battle happened at Poltava in 1709. Charles was hurt during the fighting, and his army was much smaller than the Russian army. The battle did not go well for Charles, and he had to run away to the Ottoman Empire.

Exile in the Ottoman Empire

Charles went to the Ottoman Empire where people at first welcomed him. He stayed in a place called Bender. During his time there, he learned about their navy and made some designs for ships.

But after a while, people in the Ottoman Empire got tired of Charles and his followers. There was an upset, and Charles had to leave. He was held in a different city for some time.

Pomerania and Norway

Charles returned to Sweden after being away for five years. He found his country still at war with many nations. He decided to attack Denmark by going through Norway.

In 1716, Charles led his army into Norway. He took over the capital, Christiania (now Oslo), but could not capture the strong fortress there. He tried again later at another town, but his army suffered losses and had to leave.

In 1718, Charles tried once more in Norway. While checking his soldiers’ positions during a siege, he was shot and killed. His army stopped their attack, and his body was brought back to Sweden.

Death

King Charles XII of Sweden died on 30 November 1718 while fighting in a battle near a fortress. A piece of metal struck his head, and he passed away right away.

Many ideas exist about how he died. Some think enemy soldiers may have shot at him, while others believe it could have been someone on his own side. No one saw exactly what happened. After his death, his body was examined several times to learn more, but the truth remains unclear. His sister, Ulrika Eleonora, became the next ruler of Sweden.

Personal life

Charles never married and had no known children. When he was young, people wanted him to marry to make sure there would be an heir to the throne, but he always avoided talking about marriage. He said he would only marry for love and not just because it was expected of him.

Some people wondered why he never had any relationships, and there were many guesses over the years. Some thought he might have been afraid his feelings could get out of control. Others thought he might have had special feelings for another man, but there is no clear proof of this.

Legacy

Charles XII was known for not drinking alcohol or being interested in relationships. He felt most at ease during battles and could handle pain and hard times better than others. His skillful leadership led Sweden to great heights, but the Great Northern War ended with Sweden losing and the end of its powerful status not long after his death.

In his youth, a famous Russian leader named Alexander Suvorov saw Charles XII as a hero, just like the ancient leader Julius Caesar. Both used bold and aggressive fighting styles.

Charles’s passing ended the time when one king had all the power in Sweden. After that, the parliament started to gain more control. Over time, people began to see Charles XII as a national hero, especially during the 1800s. Many artworks, songs, and statues were made in his honor. Even today, his story remains important in Swedish history.

Scientific contributions

Besides ruling, Charles XII liked math and ideas that could help in war. He came up with a special way to count using the number eight, and even a more complex system using the number 64, which he thought would be useful for organizing things like gunpowder during battles. A scientist named Emanuel Swedenborg said that Charles once drew his ideas on paper during a meeting in 1716, but that paper has been lost.

Literature

Charles XII fascinated many people during his time and after. The famous writer Voltaire wrote a biography about him, showing him in a good light compared to another leader, Peter the Great. Other famous writers, like Samuel Johnson, also wrote poems and stories about him. Even today, Charles XII’s life story continues to inspire books and discussions about Swedish history.

Ancestors

In popular culture

Charles XII has been featured in many stories and films. In the anime Legend of the Galactic Heroes, he is called the Swedish Meteor. There is a play by August Strindberg from 1901 named Carl XII about his life.

He also appeared in several films, such as the 1925 Swedish film Charles XII starring Gösta Ekman, and a 1968 Polish film Hrabina Cosel where he was played by Daniel Olbrychski. Later, he was in a 1983 Swedish comedy film and a 2007 Russian drama The Sovereign's Servant.

Charles XII even shows up in a modern comedy film from 2014 titled A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence. The Swedish band Sabaton made an album about him. Author George R.R. Martin used Charles XII as an inspiration for the character Robb Stark in his series A Song of Ice and Fire.

Battles of Charles XII