 Karl XIIKarl XII was born in 1682. He was the son of King Karl XI and Ulrika Eleonora. He became king when he was only 15 years old, because of the death of his father in 1697. He continued his father's concentration of power to the monarchy. This was the old struggle for power between the aristocracy and the king, and now the aristocrats were losing. When he was crowned, he himself put the crown on his head to show that he was an absolute monarch with absolute power. He immediately had to go to war because of the Russian/Danish/Polish alliance attack on Sweden in 1700. After that, he was involved in almost constant war until his death. Because of this, he is also called "The Warrior King". After initial successes, for instance victory in the battle at Narva, the extended war became more and more expensive and difficult for Sweden. In 1709 Karl XII was beaten by the Russians at Poltava and the Swedish army surrendered. The king ,however, escaped to the town of Bender, near Denser in the Ottoman Empire, were he stayed for five years, trying to convince the Turks to attack Russia. This did not succeed and he returned to Sweden. In 1718 Sweden attacked Norway and in the Battle of the Fortress of Fredriksten, the King was shot in the head and killed.  Useful information Quiz game Contents About... E-mail |