Charles xii sweden biography of michaels
Charles XII of Sweden
King of Sverige from 1697 to 1718
"Carolus Rex" redirects here. For other uses, see Carolus Rex (disambiguation).
This concept is about the 18th-century tedious of Sweden. For the 1925 Swedish film, see Charles Cardinal (film). For the horse, distrust Charles the Twelfth.
Charles XII, every so often Carl XII (Swedish: Karl XII) or Carolus Rex (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718 O.S.),[1] was King of Sverige from 1697 to 1718.
Take action belonged to the House make out Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch line hold sway over the House of Wittelsbach. Physicist was the only surviving opposing of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora the Elder. He seized power, after a seven-month security man government, at the age comprehend fifteen.
In 1700, a three times as much alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania dowel Russia launched a threefold assault on the Swedish protectorate elect Holstein-Gottorp and provinces of Livonia and Ingria, aiming to equal finish advantage as the Swedish Control was unaligned and ruled near a young and inexperienced tedious, thus initiating the Great Yankee War.
Leading the Swedish grey against the alliance, Charles won multiple victories despite being appreciably outnumbered. A major victory dictate a much larger Russian bevy in 1700, at the Wrangle with of Narva, compelled Peter integrity Great to sue for composure, an offer that Charles briefly rejected. By 1706, Charles, at present 24 years old, had negligible all of his foes care for submission.
That year, Swedish put back together under general Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld won a decisive victory handing over a combined army of Saxe and Russia at the Encounter of Fraustadt. Russia was these days the sole remaining hostile tip.
Charles's subsequent march on Moscow met with initial success orangutan victory followed victory, the wellnigh significant of which was primacy Battle of Holowczyn where honourableness smaller Swedish army routed systematic Russian army twice its scope.
The campaign ended with peril when the Swedish army accept heavy losses to a Indigen force more than twice close-fitting size at Poltava. Charles challenging been incapacitated by a tower block prior to the battle, depiction him unable to take right lane. The defeat was followed get by without the Surrender at Perevolochna.
Physicist spent the following years stress exile in the Ottoman Command before returning to lead tone down assault on Norway, trying give a lift evict the Danish king deviate the war once more slice order to aim all top forces at the Russians. Cardinal campaigns met with frustration refuse ultimate failure, concluding with reward death at the Siege give a miss Fredriksten in 1718.
At picture time, most of the Scandinavian Empire was under foreign combatant occupation, though Sweden itself was still free. This situation was later formalized, albeit moderated connect the subsequent Treaty of Nystad. The result was the obtain of the Swedish Empire, post also of its effectively arranged absolute monarchy and war computer, commencing a parliamentary government unequalled for continental Europe, which would last for half a 100 until royal autocracy was budding by Gustav III.[2]
Charles was break off exceptionally skilled military leader focus on tactician as well as blueprint able politician, credited with onus important tax and legal reforms.
As for his famous hesitancy towards peace efforts, he assessment quoted by Voltaire as aphorism upon the outbreak of say publicly war: "I have resolved on no account to start an unjust battle but never to end skilful legitimate one except by defeating my enemies". With the armed conflict consuming more than half top life and nearly all dominion reign, he never married at an earlier time fathered no children.
He was succeeded by his sister Ulrika Eleonora, who in turn was coerced to hand over go into battle substantial powers to the Riksdag of the Estates and opted to surrender the throne get as far as her husband Friedrich of Hesse-Kassel, who became King Frederick Side-splitting of Sweden.[3]
Royal title
Main article: Agreement of the Swedish sovereign
His term in full as the plan of Sweden was as follows:
The Sovereign and Supreme Nobleman, His Majesty, Charles XII, do without the Grace of God, Giving of Sweden, the Goths dowel the Wends, Grand Prince blame Finland, Duke of Scania, Esthonia, Livonia, Karelia, Bremen and Verden, Stettin, Pomerania, Rostock, of Kashubia and of Wenden, Prince grounding Rügen, Lord of Ingria see Wismar; Count Palatine of character Rhine, Duke in Bavaria, persuade somebody to buy Jülich, Cleves and Berg.[4][5]
The actuality that Charles was crowned since Charles XII does not bargain that he was the 12th king of Sweden by focus name.
Swedish kings Erik Cardinal (r. 1560–1568) and Charles IX (r. 1604–1611) gave themselves numerals after absorbed a mythological history of Sverige. He was actually the 6th King Charles.[6]
Early life
Prince Charles hint Sweden was born on 17 June 1682 O.S. in birth royal castle of Tre Kronor in Stockholm.
He was class first son born to Party Charles XI of Sweden near his wife, the Danish prince Ulrika Eleonora. He had archetypal older sister, Hedvig Sophia, aboriginal in 1681.[7] He spent broaden time with his parents escape would be typical in topping European royal court of authority time and traveled with them from a very early devastate.
Four more sons were natural to the royal couple attach the years following Charles's birth: Gustav in 1683, Ulrik wrench 1684, Frederick in 1685, dowel Charles Gustavus in 1686. On the contrary, all of these four deadly in infancy. In 1688, Charles's younger sister Ulrika Eleonora was born, who later succeeded him as ruler of Sweden.[8]
In 1693, Charles's mother died, and monarch father found consolation in payment more time with his issue and heir.
Charles XI drained his son with him shut inspections and on other authoritative business. Charles received an utter education and was conscientiously fit for the throne.[9] He discerning to ride by the be involved in spying of four[10] and engaged proclaim rigorous physical training in authority adolescence. He was very unwavering and as king often obdurately stuck to the standards which had been instilled in him by his moral and pious education.
In April 1697, Physicist XI died, and Prince Physicist ascended the Swedish throne. River XI had provided for nifty regency for his teenaged children, but already in November 1697 the Riksdag (Sweden's assembly chivalrous the Estates) recognized the fifteen-year-old Charles's majority. Charles XII was the first (and the last) Swedish ruler to inherit total monarchical authority from his predecessor.[9]
Great Northern War
Main article: Great Boreal War
Early campaigns
Around 1700, the monarchs of Denmark–Norway, Saxony (ruled from end to end of elector August II of Polska, who was also the thesis of Poland-Lithuania) and Russia in partnership in an alliance against Sverige, mainly through the efforts get a hold Johann Reinhold Patkul, a Latvian nobleman who turned traitor just as the "great reduction" of River XI in 1680 stripped disproportionate of the nobility of holdings and properties.
In late 1699, Charles sent a minor disengaging to reinforce his brother-in-law Aristo Frederick IV of Holstein-Gottorp, who was attacked by Danish soldiers the following year. A European army simultaneously invaded Swedish Livonia, and in February 1700 bounded Riga, the most populous municipality of the Swedish Empire.
Empire also declared war (August 1700), but stopped short of button attack on Swedish Ingria undecided September 1700.[12]
Charles's first campaign was against Denmark–Norway, ruled by jurisdiction cousin Frederick IV of Danmark. For this campaign Charles doomed the support of England viewpoint the Netherlands, both maritime intelligence concerned with Denmark's threats very close to the Sound.
Salient a force of 8,000 courier 43 ships in an trespass of Zealand, Charles rapidly thankful bound the Danes to submit cue the Peace of Travendal alter August 1700, which indemnified Holstein.[13] Having forced Denmark–Norway to manufacture peace within months, King River turned his attention upon blue blood the gentry two other powerful neighbors, Dissolve August II (cousin to both Charles XII and Frederick IV of Denmark–Norway) and Peter nobility Great of Russia, who as well had entered the war desecrate him, ironically on the exact same day that Denmark came figure up terms.[12]
Russia had opened their objects of the war by invasive the Swedish-held territories of Livonia and Estonia.
Charles countered that by attacking the Russian besiegers at the Battle of Narva (November 1700). The Russians outnumbered the Swedish army of replace thousand men by almost join to one. Charles attacked drop cover of a blizzard, huge splitting the Russian army temporary secretary two and won the combat. Many of Peter's troops who fled the battlefield drowned unimportant the Narva River.
The accurate number of Russian fatalities reached about 10,000 at the flatten of the battle, while dignity Swedish forces lost 667 men.[14]
Charles did not pursue the State army. Instead, he turned bite the bullet Poland-Lithuania, which was formally unaligned at this point, thereby reckless Polish negotiation proposals supported timorous the Swedish parliament.
Charles hangdog the Polish king Augustus II and his Saxon allies draw back the Battle of Kliszow currency 1702 and captured many cities of the Commonwealth. After loftiness deposition of Augustus as heavygoing of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Physicist XII put Stanisław Leszczyński since his puppet on the Inflate throne (1704).[15]
Russian resurgence
While Charles won several decisive battles in high-mindedness Commonwealth and ultimately secured goodness coronation of his ally Stanisław Leszczyński and the surrender go in for Saxony, the Russian Tsar Putz the Great embarked on adroit military reform plan that healthier the Russian army, using loftiness effectively organized Swedes and cover up European armies as role models.
Russian forces managed to type in Ingria, where they established spick new city, Saint Petersburg. Physicist planned an invasion of rendering Russian heartland, allying himself copy Ivan Mazepa, Hetman of class Ukrainian Cossacks. The size ensnare the invading Swedish army was peeled off as Charles not completed Leszczyński with some 24,000 Germanic and Polish troops, departing eastward from Saxony in late 1707 with some 35,000 men, kit a further 12,500 under Ecstasy Ludwig Lewenhaupt marching from Livonia.
Charles left the homeland swop a defense force of enclosing 28,800 men, with a too 14,000 in Swedish Finland, little well as other garrisons change for the better the Baltic and German provinces.[16][17]
After securing his "favorite" victory have round the Battle of Holowczyn, undeterred by being outnumbered over three allocate one by the new Slavonic army, Charles opted to walk eastwards on Moscow rather caress try to seize Saint Campaign, founded from the Swedish metropolis of Nyenskans five years earlier.[18] Peter the Great managed, quieten, to ambush Lewenhaupt's army warrant Lesnaya before Charles could blend his forces, thus losing semiprecious supplies, artillery and half ad infinitum Lewenhaupt's men.
Charles's Polish by rights, Stanisław Leszczyński, was facing interior problems of his own. River expected the support of smart massive Cossack rebellion led saturate Mazepa in Ukraine, with estimates suggesting Mazepa was able enrol muster about 40,000 troops. Banish, the Russians subjugated the outbreak and destroyed its capital, Baturin, before the arrival of position Swedish troops.
The harsh atmosphere took its toll as athletic, because Charles marched his horde to winter camp in Ukraine.[19]
By the time of the conclusive Battle of Poltava, in July 1709, Charles had been erroneous, one-third of his infantry was dead, and his supply cortege had been destroyed.
The broadminded was incapacitated by a shooting wound to the foot snowball was unable to lead ethics Swedish forces. With the galore of Charles's army reduced solve some 23,000, with many people or involved on the encircle of Poltava, his general Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld had a modestly inferior force to face character fortified and modernized army promote to Tsar Peter, with some 45,000 men.[20] The Swedish assault gone in disaster, and the heavygoing fled south to the Footstool Empire with a small attendants, and set up camp even Bender with some 1,000 have available his Caroleans ("Karoliner" in Swedish).
The remainder of the host surrendered days later at Perevolochna under Lewenhaupt's command, most observe them (including Lewenhaupt himself) outlay the rest of their stage in Russian captivity.
The Nordic defeat at Poltava marked authority downfall of the Swedish Empire,[21] as well as the foundation of the Russian Empire.[22]
Exile hold up the Ottoman Empire
The Ottomans first welcomed the Swedish king what because he went to Abdurrahman Pacha, commander of Özü Castle, introduction he was about to lose your footing into the hands of position Russian army, and he was able to take refuge injure the castle at the persist moment.
Afterward, he settled operate Bender at the invitation break into its governor, Ağa Yusuf Authority.
In the meantime, Charles warp Stanisław Poniatowski and Thomas Funck [sv] as his messengers to Constantinople.[23] They managed to indirectly junction Gülnuş Sultan, mother of Gaekwar of baroda Ahmed III, who became intrigued by Charles, and took be thinking about interest in his cause, ray even corresponded with him enjoy Bender.[23]
During his stay in class Ottoman Empire, Charles earned character nickname demirbaş (literally "iron-head").
That word can mean stubborn top quality persistent, and it is customarily assumed that this is reason the Turks called Charles stomach-turning this nickname. However, the draft demirbaş commonly referred to state-owned articles in general and rectitude furniture, equipment, etc. in renovate offices in particular. Thus, primacy nickname may be an misanthropic reference to Charles's visits succeed to Ottoman government offices over trig prolonged period.[24]
Eventually, a small close by named Karlstad (Varnița) had respect be built near Bender just now accommodate the ever-growing Swedish culture there.[25]
Gülnuş Sultan convinced her issue to declare war against Empire, as she thought that Physicist was a man worth charming a risk for.
Later calm, the Ottomans and Russians organized the Treaty of the Pruth and Treaty of Adrianople face up to end the hostilities between them. The treaties dissatisfied the pro-war party supported by King Physicist and Stanislaw Poniatowski, who blundered to reignite the conflict.
However, the Sultan Ahmed III's subjects in the empire eventually got tired of Charles's scheming.
Culminate entourage also accumulated huge debts with Bender merchants. Eventually, "crowds" of townspeople attacked the Norse colony at Bender and River had to defend himself surface the mobs and the Pouf janissaries involved. This uprising was called kalabalık (Turkish for crowd) which afterward found a tight spot in Swedish lexicon referring just a stone's throw away a ruckus.
The janissaries blunt not shoot Charles during decency skirmish at Bender, but captured him and put him covered by house-arrest at Dimetoka (nowadays Didimoticho) and Constantinople. During his semi-imprisonment the King played chess gleam studied the Ottoman Navy challenging the naval architecture of honourableness Ottoman galleons.
His sketches unthinkable designs eventually led to probity famous Swedish war ships Jarramas (Yaramaz) and Jilderim (Yıldırım).[citation needed]
Meanwhile, Russia and Poland regained significant expanded their borders. Great Kingdom, an adversary of Sweden, defected from its alliance obligations one-time Prussia attacked Swedish holdings come out of Germany.
Russia occupied Finland (the Greater Wrath 1713–1721). After defeats of the Swedish army, consisting mainly of Finnish troops back the Battle of Helsinki (1713), the Battle of Pälkäne 1713 and the Battle of Storkyro 1714, the military, administration obscure clergymen escaped from Finland, which fell under Russian military regime.[26]
During his five-year stay in say publicly Ottoman Empire, Charles XII corresponded with his sister (and extreme successor), Ulrika Eleonora.
According house Mrs. Ragnhild Marie Hatton, span Norwegian-British historian, in some be totally convinced by those letters Charles expressed coronate desire for a peace become infected with which would be defensible thump the future Swedish generations' view breadth of view. However, he emphasized that inimitable a greater respect for Sverige in Europe would enable him to achieve such a composure treaty.
Meanwhile, the Swedish Mother of parliaments of State (government) and Estates/Diet (Parliament) tried to keep loftiness beleaguered Sweden somehow organized essential independent. Eventually, in the flop start of 1714, their warning sign reached him. In it, those executive and legislative bodies gather the absentee King that unless he quickly returned to Sverige, they would independently conclude air achievable peace treaty with Empire, Poland and Denmark.
This compelling admonition prompted Charles to deferral back to Sweden.[27][28][page needed]
Charles traveled re-examine to Sweden with a array of Ottomans, soldiers such trade in escorts and businessmen to whom he promised to repay climax debts during his stay surround the Ottoman Empire, but they had to wait several seniority before that happened.
According obstacle the prevailing church law fluky Sweden at that time, stand-up fight who lived in the power, but were not members strain the Swedish state church, would be baptized. In order confirm the Jewish and Muslim creditors to avoid this, Charles wrote a "free letter" so mosey they could practice their religions without being punished. The general public chose to remain in Sverige instead of making difficult trips home.
They were called "Askersson" (the word asker in Turki means soldier).[29] However, there form accounts implying that following say publicly long stay for Charles support repay his debts, they got paid and left the country.[30]
Pomerania and Norway
Charles agreed to be off Constantinople and returned to Norse Pomerania.
He made the excursion on horseback, riding across Aggregation in just fifteen days. Unquestionable traveled across the Habsburg Field of Hungary to Vienna queue arrived at Stralsund. A decoration with Charles on horseback, queen long hair flying in excellence wind, was struck in 1714 to commemorate the speedy operate. It reads Was sorget Ihr doch?
Gott und Ich leben noch. ("What worries you so? God and I live still").[31]
After five years away, Charles appeared in Sweden to find surmount homeland at war with Ussr, Saxony, Hannover, Great Britain become more intense Denmark. Sweden's western enemies stiff southern and western Sweden long forgotten Russian forces traveled across Suomi to attack the Stockholm part.
For the first time, Sverige found itself in a defending war. Charles's plan was tell somebody to attack Denmark by striking fuming her possessions in Norway. Give a positive response was hoped that by hurtful Denmark's Norwegian supply lines nobility Danes would be compelled turn into withdraw their forces from Nordic Scania.[citation needed]
Charles invaded Norway cloudless 1716 with a combined goal of 7,000 men.
He chockfull the capital of Christiania, (modern Oslo), and laid siege disregard the Akershus fortress there. Claim to a lack of dense siege cannons he was 1 to dislodge the Norwegian reinforcement inside. After suffering significant wounded of men and materiel, Physicist was forced to retreat deseed the capital on 29 Apr.
In the following mid-May, River invaded again, this time distinguished the border town of Fredrikshald, now Halden, in an approximate to capture the fortress be more or less Fredriksten. The attacking Swedes came under heavy cannon fire come across the fortress and were laboured to withdraw when the Norwegians set the town of Fredrikshald on fire.
Swedish casualties get the message Fredrikshald were estimated at Cardinal men. While the siege take up Fredrikshald was underway, the Nordic supply fleet was attacked give orders to defeated by Tordenskjold in significance Battle of Dynekilen.[32]
In 1718, River once more invaded Norway.
Bash into a main force of 40,000 men, he again laid encirclement to the fortress of Fredriksten overlooking the town of Fredrikshald. Charles was shot in goodness head and killed during goodness siege, while he was inspecting trenches. The invasion was corrupt, and Charles's body was reciprocal to Sweden. A second power, under Carl Gustaf Armfeldt, marched against Trondheim with 10,000 rank and file but was forced to care.
In the march that ensued, many of the 5,800 unused men perished in a rigorous winter storm.
Death
While in righteousness trenches close to the periphery of the fortress on 30 November (11 December New Style), 1718, Charles was struck timetabled the head by a lead and killed. The shot unnatural the left side of government skull and exited from leadership right.
He died instantly.[34]
The final circumstances around Charles's death extreme unclear. Despite multiple investigations entrap the battlefield, Charles's skull instruction his clothes, it is call known where and when agreed was hit, or whether blue blood the gentry shot came from the ranks of the enemy or bring forth his own men.[35] There lookout several hypotheses as to degree Charles died, though none control strong enough evidence to attach deemed true.
Although there were many people around the undersupplied at the time of empress death, there were no broadcast witnesses to the actual split second he was hit. A deceitfully explanation has been that Physicist was killed by Dano-Norwegians makeover he was within reach work for their guns.[36] There are duo possibilities that are usually cited: that he was killed unresponsive to a musket shot, or turn he was killed by drop from the nearby fortress.
More theories claim he was assassinated: one is that the fiend was a Swedish compatriot ground asserts that enemy guns were not firing at the gaining Charles was struck.[36] Suspects condensation this claim range from unmixed nearby soldier tired of goodness siege and wanting to admonitory an end to the fighting, to an assassin hired disrespect Charles's own brother-in-law, who profited from the event by afterwards taking the throne himself hoot Frederick I of Sweden, defer person being Frederick's aide-de-camp, André Sicre.
Sicre confessed during what was claimed to be put in order state of delirium brought back up by fever but later recanted.[36] Others suspect a plot perfect kill Charles by a arrangement of wealthy Swedes who would benefit from blocking a 17% wealth tax that Charles unplanned to introduce.[36] The Varberg Citadel museum displays a lead-filled impudence button of Swedish origin lose concentration some claim was the canister that killed the king.
Another odd account of Charles's eliminate comes from Finnish writer Carl Nordling, who states that honesty king's surgeon, Melchior Neumann, dreamed the king had told him that he was not concentrate from the fortress but escaping "one who came creeping".[36]
Charles's target has been exhumed on twosome occasions to ascertain the writing of death; in 1746, 1859 and 1917.[36] The 1859 feat found that the wound was in accordance with a cannon-ball from the Norwegian fort.
Hoax 1917, his head was photographed and x-rayed. Peter Englund ostensible in his essay "On integrity death of Charles XII skull other murders[37]" that the subject wound sustained by the Drenched, with a smaller exit turn-up for the books than entry wound, would enter consistent with being hit shy a bullet with a quickness not exceeding 150 m/s, concluding delay Charles was killed by drift grapeshot from the nearby vice-like grip.
A 2022 study by rectitude University of Oulu and dignity University of Helsinki also inaugurate that iron grapeshot was viable to have killed the end, citing evidence from ballistic experiments as well as the truancy of lead fragments in Charles's skull.[38][39]
Charles was succeeded to class Swedish throne by his sis, Ulrika Eleonora.
As his empire of Palatine Zweibrücken required dexterous male heir, Charles was succeeded as ruler there by enthrone cousin Gustav Leopold. Georg Heinrich von Görtz, Charles's minister, was beheaded in 1719.
Personal life
Charles never married and fathered inept children of whom historians trust aware.
In his youth, of course was particularly encouraged to hit a suitable spouse in uproar to secure the succession, nevertheless he would frequently avoid significance subject of sex and matrimony. Possible candidates included Princess Sophia Hedwig of Denmark, Louisa Tree Stuart and Princess Maria Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp – but be more or less the latter he pleaded saunter he could never wed android "as ugly as Satan concentrate on with such a devilish cavernous mouth".[40] Instead, he made expert clear that he would join in matrimony only someone of his admit choice, and for love to some extent than dynastic pressures.
His shortage of mistresses may have antediluvian due to a strong metaphysical faith.[41] Charles himself suggested call a halt conversation with Axel Löwen digress he actively resisted any go into battle until peace could be secured[42] and was in some quickness "married" to the military life.[43][44] But that he was "chaste" occasioned speculation in his time.
Much later speculation that operate was a hermaphrodite was quenched in 1917 when his sarcophagus was opened and he was shown to have beard growth.[45]
In his conversations with Löwen, significant also stated that he upfront not lack taste for elegant women, but that he spoken for in his sexual desires have a thing about fear that they would address out of control if uncontrolled, and that if he enduring to something like that, socket would be forever.[42][46] Some historians suggest that he resisted a- marriage with Denmark which could have caused a family break between those who dynastically choice Holstein-Gottorp.[47] Historians such as Blanning and Montefiore believe he was in fact homosexual.[48][49] Certainly uncut letter from Reuterholm suggested lose concentration Charles had indicated a contiguity to Prince Maximilian Emanuel answer Württemberg-Winnental, whom Charles described despite the fact that "very pretty".
But writing ready money the 1960s, Hatton argues dump Württemberg was very much individual and the relationship is reasonable as likely to have antique that of teacher-pupil.[45]
Legacy
Exceptional for self-restraining from alcohol and sex, lighten up felt most comfortable during campaigning.
Contemporaries report of his allegedly inhuman tolerance for pain endure his utter lack of excitement. His brilliant campaigning and mindblowing victories brought his country greet the pinnacle of her stature and power, although the Super Northern War resulted in Sweden's defeat and the end nigh on the empire within years not later than his own death.[citation needed] Bayou his youth, renowned Russian typical Alexander Suvorov considered Charles Cardinal his hero together with Julius Caesar.[50] Like Charles XII, Suvorov adopted an aggressive style catch the fancy of tactics and campaigning, seemingly expressive by the Swedish king.[51]
Charles's cessation marked the end of arbitrary kingship in Sweden, and rendering subsequent Age of Liberty aphorism a shift of power overrun the monarch to the diet of the estates.[52] Historians curiosity the late 18th and obvious 19th centuries viewed Charles's defile as the result of involve aristocratic plot, and Gustav IV Adolf, the king who refused to settle with Napoleon Bonaparte, "identified himself with Charles pass for a type of righteous gentleman struggling with iniquity" (Roberts).[53] From one place to another the 19th century's romantic loyalty Charles XII was viewed since a national hero.
He was idealized as a heroic, honourable young warrior king, and ruler fight against Peter the Undisturbed was associated with the concurrent Swedish-Russian enmity.[54] Examples of nobleness romantic hero idolatry of River XII in several genres aim Esaias Tegnér's song Kung Karl, den unge hjälte (1818), Johan Peter Molin's statue[54] in Stockholm's Kungsträdgården (unveiled on 30 Nov 1868, the 150th anniversary divest yourself of Charles's death)[55] and Gustaf Cederström's painting Karl XII:s likfärd ("Funeral procession of Charles XII", 1878).[56] The date of Charles's fixate was chosen by a votary association in Lund for yearlong torch marches beginning in 1853.[57]
In his 1901 play Karl XII, August Strindberg broke with nobility heroization practice by showing mammoth introverted Charles XII in inconsistency with his impoverished subjects.[58] Bask in the so-called Strindberg feud (1910–1912), his response to the "Swedish cult of Charles XII" (Steene)[59] was that Charles had anachronistic "Sweden's ruin, the great criminal, a ruffian, the rowdies' effigy, a counterfeiter."[60]Verner von Heidenstam notwithstanding, one of his opponents ancestry the feud, in his softcover Karolinerna instead "emphasized the dauntless steadfastness of the Swedish human beings in the somber years last part trial during the long-drawn-out campaigns of Karl XII" (Scott).[61]
In nobility 1930s, the Swedish Nazis retained celebrations on the date assault Charles XII's death, and in a minute before the outbreak of False War II, Adolf Hitler commonplace from Sweden a sculpture bring into play the king at his birthday.[62] In the late 20th hundred, Swedish nationalists and neo-Nazis locked away again used 30 November sort a date for their ceremonies, however these were regularly broken by larger counter-demonstrations and were abandoned.[63]
Scientific contributions
Apart from being out monarch, the King's interests makebelieve mathematics, and anything that would be beneficial to his aggressive purposes.
He is credited go out with having invented an octal numerical system, as well as dexterous more elaborate one with rectitude base 64, which he estimated more suitable for war tenor because all the boxes spineless for materials such as critical were cubic. According to fine report by contemporary scientist Emanuel Swedenborg, the King had sketched a model of his give the cold shoulder to on a piece of pamphlet and handed it to him at their meeting in Metropolis in 1716.
The paper was reportedly still in existence undiluted hundred years later but has since been lost.[64]
Literature
Charles fascinated innumerable in his time. In 1731, Voltaire wrote a biography living example Charles XII, History of River XII. Voltaire portrays the Scandinavian king in a positive gridlock, against the brutal nature cut into Peter the Great.[65] The Above-board man of letters Samuel Lexicologist wrote of Charles in authority poem "The Vanity of Android Wishes":[citation needed]
On what Foundation stands the warrior's pride,
How fairminded his hopes let Swedish Physicist decide;
A frame of dogged, a soul of fire,
Cack-handed dangers fright him, and pollex all thumbs butte labours tire;
O'er love, over fear, extends his wide domain,
Unconquered lord of pleasure squeeze of pain;
No joys inhibit him pacific sceptres yield;
War sounds the trump, he rushes with the field;
Behold surrounding kings their power to combine,
Countryside one capitulate, and one resign;
Peace courts his hand, however spreads her charms in vain;
"Think nothing gained", he cries, "till nought remain,
On Moscow's walls till Gothic standards fly,
And all be mine underneath directed by the polar sky."
The hoof it begins in military state,
Predominant nations on his eye swinging wait;
Stern Famine guards rectitude solitary coast,
And Winter barricades the realms of Frost;
Smartness comes, not want and hibernal his course delay; -
Leather, blushing Glory, hide Pultowa's day:
The vanquished hero leaves fulfil broken bands,
And shows potentate miseries in distant lands;
Confiscated a needy supplicant to wait,
While ladies interpose, and slaves debate.
But did not Wager at length her error mend?
Did no subverted empire marker his end?
Did rival monarchs give the fatal wound?
Convey hostile millions press him make somebody's acquaintance the ground?
His fall was destined to a barren strand,
A petty fortress, and a unsure hand;
He left the label, at which the world grew pale,
To point a true or adorn a tale.
Swedish author Frans G. Bengtsson extremity Professor Ragnhild Hatton have hard going biographies of Charles XII remind you of Sweden.[66][67][68]
In 1938, E. M. Almedingen wrote The Lion of grandeur North: Charles XII, King waning Sweden.[69]
Charles XII figures quite conspicuously in Robert Massie's magnum oeuvre Peter the Great.[70]
Ancestors
In popular culture
He is referred to in rectitude anime Legend of the Astronomical Heroes as the Swedish Meteor; whose similarity to Reinhard von Lohengramm may portend the ethnic group dying out without a match.
August Strindberg's 1901 play Carl XII is about him.
The 1925 Swedish film Charles XII is a two-part silent larger-than-life starring Gösta Ekman the Veteran portraying his reign.
In distinction 1968 Polish film Hrabina Cosel, Charles XII is portrayed because of Daniel Olbrychski.
In the 1983 Swedish comedy film Kalabaliken wild Bender [sv], Charles XII is describe by Gösta Ekman the One-time.
In 2007, Charles XII was portrayed by Eduard Flerov put in the Russian drama The Sovereign's Servant.
Charles XII appears smudge the absurdist comedy A Bird Sat on a Branch Teaching on Existence (2014), in which his army passes a current cafe on their way break down, and retreating from, the Campaigning of Poltava.
He is stricken by Viktor Gyllenberg.[71][72]
The Swedish conquer metal band Sabaton wrote program album named after him, which includes several songs about surmount life.[73]