Charles XII (1682-1718) became king of Sweden in 1697. He succeeded his father, Charles XI. In 1700, Denmark, Russia, Poland, and Saxony attacked Sweden, beginning the Great Northern War. Charles quickly defeated Denmark and in 1700 won a famous battle against the Russians at Narva, in what is now Estonia. Charles then spent almost seven years defeating Poland and Saxony. In 1708, he turned his attention back to Russia. But he was defeated in 1709 by a Russian army at Poltava, in what is now Ukraine. Charles escaped to the Ottoman Empire and tried to lead Sweden from there. The war continued, and Sweden lost its Baltic empire. In 1714, Charles made his way back to what is now northern Germany to continue fighting. He returned to Sweden in 1715. On Nov. 30, 1718, he was killed while observing a siege at what is now Halden, Norway. After his death, Sweden made peace with its enemies, and the nation’s absolute monarchy and imperial age ended. Charles was born on June 17, 1682, in Stockholm.
