Charles XII Biography

Born at Tre Kronor Castle, son of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora.

Receives military training and court education as heir to the Swedish crown.

Succeeds Charles XI as king of Sweden while still a teenager.

Is crowned king and soon assumes personal rule.

Begins ruling without a long regency despite his youth.

Faces a growing coalition of Denmark, Saxony-Poland and Russia.

Peter I, Augustus II and Frederick IV form a coalition against Charles XII and the Swedish Empire.

Charles XII defends Sweden's Baltic empire against the coalition of Denmark, Russia and Saxony-Poland.

Sweden responds to Saxon and Russian attacks on its Baltic provinces at the opening of the war.

Charles XII answers attacks by Denmark, Saxony and Russia as the Great Northern War begins.

Charles XII defends Sweden's ally Holstein-Gottorp after Denmark attacks at the start of the war.

Leads the Swedish army personally for much of the war.

Charles XII personally leads Sweden's response to the attacks by Denmark, Saxony and Russia.

Prepares Sweden's response as enemies attack its Baltic empire.

Defends Sweden's ally after Denmark attacks Holstein-Gottorp.

The landing at Humlebaek threatens Copenhagen and forces Denmark toward the Treaty of Travendal.

Charles XII's army and fleet advance toward Copenhagen and force Denmark to seek peace.

Charles XII lands near Copenhagen with Anglo-Dutch naval support and forces Denmark toward peace.

Lands near Copenhagen with naval support and threatens Denmark's capital.

Charles XII forces Denmark-Norway to make peace and abandon hostilities against Sweden.

Denmark-Norway makes peace and withdraws from the first anti-Swedish coalition.

Forces Denmark-Norway out of the war temporarily.

Charles XII lands in Livonia and begins the campaign to relieve Narva.

Moves east to relieve Swedish positions threatened by Russia.

Charles XII marches through difficult weather toward Narva to relieve the Swedish fortress.

Marches through harsh weather to relieve Narva.

Charles XII leads the Swedish relief army toward Narva while Russian troops besiege the fortress.

Charles XII's army advances through harsh weather toward Narva and scatters Russian blocking forces.

Charles XII defeats Peter I's much larger Russian army at Narva and captures guns and supplies.

Charles XII defeats Peter I's much larger Russian army at Narva.

Charles XII leads a smaller Swedish army to victory over Peter I's larger Russian force at Narva.

Defeats a much larger Russian army outside Narva.

Charles XII defeats the Russian army besieging Narva and relieves the Swedish fortress.

Relieves the Swedish fortress and captures Russian artillery.

After Narva, Charles XII turns south toward Livonia and Poland-Lithuania rather than invading Russia.

After Narva, Charles XII turns toward Livonia and Poland-Lithuania rather than immediately invading Russia.

Turns south against Augustus II rather than marching directly on Moscow.

Seeks to preserve Sweden's Baltic empire against multiple enemies.

Charles prepares to drive Saxon forces away from Riga and Livonia.

Charles enters the Courland capital after victory at the Duna.

After the victory on the Duna, Charles XII turns south against Augustus II and his Polish-Saxon position.

Charles occupies Courland after the Saxon withdrawal.

Charles leads Swedish troops across the Duna under covering smoke.

Charles XII defeats Saxon forces and Russian detachments near the Duna and relieves Riga.

Defeats Saxon forces near Riga after forcing the Duna crossing.

Charles XII relieves Riga after defeating the Saxon army at the crossing of the Duna.

Relieves Riga and restores Swedish control in Livonia.

Charles defeats the Saxon army and relieves pressure on Riga.

Presses Saxon forces away from the Baltic provinces.

Charles establishes winter quarters while preparing operations against Augustus II.

Focuses on removing Augustus II from the war.

Charles advances into Poland to remove Augustus II from the coalition.

Charles XII invades Poland-Lithuania and begins a series of victories over Saxon and Polish forces.

Invades Poland-Lithuania to overthrow Augustus II's influence.

Charles XII captures Warsaw as the Swedish army advances through Poland.

Charles occupies Warsaw during the Swedish advance through Poland.

Occupies Warsaw during the advance through Poland.

Warsaw falls to Charles XII during the Swedish campaign in Poland.

Swedish forces occupy Warsaw after Augustus II fails to block Charles XII's advance.

Charles defeats the larger Saxon-Polish army at Kliszow under the New Style date.

Defeats Augustus II's Saxon-Polish army.

Captures Krakow and strengthens Swedish pressure on Augustus II.

Charles captures Krakow and increases pressure on Augustus II.

Krakow falls during Charles XII's Polish campaign against Augustus II.

Consolidates Swedish military control after victories over Saxon-Polish forces.

Maintains Swedish pressure across Poland-Lithuania.

Besieges Thorn as part of the Polish campaign.

Charles begins the prolonged siege of Thorn.

Charles defeats a Saxon force near Pultusk.

Charles captures Thorn after the garrison capitulates.

Takes Thorn after a prolonged siege.

Charles establishes winter quarters after consolidating control around Thorn.

Builds a pro-Swedish political settlement around Stanislaw Leszczynski.

Backs Polish opponents of Augustus II.

Supports Stanislaw Leszczynski as king of Poland.

Campaigns in southern Poland to consolidate Swedish influence.

Sweden attempts to contain Russian consolidation around Saint Petersburg through blockade and raids.

Prepares the pressure that will force Augustus II into peace.

Uses Polish politics to strengthen Stanislaw Leszczynski's royal position.

Seeks to secure Poland as a Swedish-aligned ally.

Supports treaty arrangements with Stanislaw's Polish faction.

Charles XII supports Swedish efforts to restrict Russian expansion around the Neva and Saint Petersburg.

Charles XII manoeuvres against Peter I around Grodno during the Polish and Lithuanian campaign.

Manoeuvres against Peter I and Russian forces around Grodno.

Invades Saxony to force Augustus II out of the war.

Charles XII compels Augustus II to abandon his Polish claims and end his alliance with Russia.

Removes Saxony from the war and isolates Russia.

Augustus II accepts Swedish terms, recognises Stanislaw Leszczynski and makes peace with Sweden.

Charles XII forces Augustus II to make peace and renounce the Polish crown.

Charles XII uses the treaty to remove Saxony from the war and isolate Russia as Sweden's main enemy.

Forces Augustus II to renounce the Polish crown.

Uses Saxony as a base while preparing for the Russian campaign.

Charles XII rejects Peter I's peace offers and begins the campaign that develops into the invasion of Russia.

Rejects peace and chooses a direct campaign against Peter I.

Charles XII leaves Saxony with a large Swedish army and begins the march toward Russia.

Leaves Saxony with the main Swedish army.

Begins the campaign intended to defeat Peter I.

Charles XII takes the field after waiting for reinforcements before marching east against Russia.

Charles XII crosses the Vistula during the eastward march against Russia.

Crosses the Vistula during the eastward march.

Charles XII plans an advance toward Moscow but turns south after supply problems and Russian scorched earth tactics.

Russian scorched earth tactics help force his army south.

The Swedish army winters around Minsk before continuing the advance against Russia.

Charles XII crosses the Vistula at the head of the Swedish army during the Russian campaign.

Charles XII captures Grodno during the opening phase of the Russian campaign.

Charles XII occupies Grodno while Peter I avoids decisive battle.

Occupies Grodno while Peter avoids decisive battle.

Charles XII uses Grodno as part of his winter position during the Russian campaign.

Continues the advance through harsh winter conditions.

Charles XII captures Mogilev during the advance toward the Russian heartland.

Occupies Mogilev during the Russian campaign.

Charles XII defeats Sheremetev's Russian forces at Holowczyn and advances toward the Dnieper.

Defeats Russian forces and opens the road toward the Dnieper.

The victory at Holowczyn opens the route toward the Dnieper during Charles XII's invasion.

Turns south after supply problems and scorched earth tactics.

The defeat of Lewenhaupt's supply army at Lesnaya damages Charles XII's Russian campaign.

Loses vital supplies when Lewenhaupt's convoy is defeated.

The loss of Lewenhaupt's convoy at Lesnaya leaves Charles XII without the supplies needed for the Moscow campaign.

Charles XII's campaign is weakened after Russian forces destroy Lewenhaupt's supply column at Lesnaya.

The second Swedish army carrying supplies and reinforcements is routed at Lesnaya.

The loss of the supply convoy at Lesnaya leaves Charles XII short of provisions before the Ukrainian campaign.

Seeks support from Ivan Mazepa and Cossack forces.

Marches into Ukraine hoping to recover supplies and Cossack support.

Endures a severe winter that weakens the Swedish army.

The Swedish army retreats through Ukraine after supply losses, winter hardship and Russian pressure.

Swedish hopes of reinforcement weaken as forces in Poland turn aside to deal with the Sandomierz Confederation.

Besieges Poltava before Peter I advances to relieve the fortress.

Charles XII's army besieges Poltava before Peter I advances to relieve the fortress.

Begins the siege of Poltava after a costly winter campaign.

Is wounded in the foot and cannot personally command the battle.

Charles XII is wounded before Poltava and cannot personally command the Swedish army in the battle.

Is wounded in the foot before the decisive battle.

Directs the campaign from a litter after being wounded.

His army is defeated by Peter I at Poltava.

His army is defeated by Peter I, marking the decisive reversal of Swedish power.

The Swedish defeat at Poltava ends Charles XII's Russian campaign and forces him to flee toward Ottoman territory.

Charles XII escapes from the disaster at Poltava and begins the retreat that ends in Ottoman territory.

Escapes south with Mazepa instead of surrendering at Perevolochna.

Escapes south with Mazepa instead of surrendering.

The army's surrender leaves Sweden without its main field force.

Charles XII reaches Bendery in Ottoman territory after escaping the Russian pursuit.

Charles XII and Ivan Mazepa escape to Ottoman territory after the Swedish defeat and the surrender at Perevolochna.

The surrender at Perevolochna destroys Charles XII's remaining field army after Poltava.

The remaining Swedish army surrenders after his escape.

The remaining Swedish army surrenders at Perevolochna after being pursued by Russian cavalry.

Takes refuge in Ottoman territory after the Poltava disaster.

At the instigation of Charles XII of Sweden, the Ottoman Empire declares war on Russia

Charles XII encourages Ottoman action against Russia while living in exile at Bendery.

Encourages Ottoman leaders to confront Russia.

At Charles XII's urging, the Ottoman Empire declares war on Russia.

His diplomacy helps bring the Ottoman Empire into war with Russia.

Hopes Ottoman victory at the Pruth will restore Swedish fortunes.

Continues issuing orders to Sweden while absent from the kingdom.

Refuses to leave Ottoman territory voluntarily.

Ottoman soldiers attack Charles XII in his camp at Bender and take him prisoner.

Ottoman soldiers attack Charles XII's camp at Bender and take him into custody.

Resists Ottoman attempts to remove him from his camp.

Is placed under Ottoman custody after the fighting at Bender.

Leaves Ottoman territory after years of exile.

Charles XII returns from Ottoman exile and reaches Stralsund to resume personal command.

Reaches Stralsund and resumes personal command.

Resumes direct command after returning from Ottoman exile.

Returns to command Sweden's remaining German possessions.

Charles XII returns from Ottoman territory and reaches Swedish Pomerania after a rapid ride across Europe.

Rides rapidly across Europe toward Swedish Pomerania.

Defends Sweden's position in Pomerania against the coalition.

Charles XII directs the defence of Stralsund as the coalition siege begins its final phase.

Directs the defence of Sweden's Pomeranian fortress.

Charles XII personally leads a Swedish counterattack against the Allied landing force at Stresow.

Personally leads a counterattack against an Allied landing force.

Charles XII escapes from Stralsund shortly before the fortress falls to the coalition.

Escapes shortly before Stralsund falls to the coalition.

Charles XII leads Sweden's first Norwegian campaign, aiming to force Denmark-Norway toward separate peace.

Launches his first Norwegian campaign against Denmark-Norway.

Advances toward Christiania during the Norwegian campaign.

Charles XII wins a minor action at Holand during the Swedish invasion of Norway.

Wins a minor action during the Norwegian campaign.

Loses naval supply support after the Swedish transport fleet is attacked.

Abandons the first Norwegian campaign after supply collapse.

Charles XII withdraws from Norway after supply failures and the loss of the Swedish transport fleet.

Withdraws after supply failures make the campaign untenable.

Plans a renewed campaign against Norway.

Maintains extraordinary wartime finance to continue the struggle.

Leads the last campaign of his reign against Norway.

Launches a second campaign against Denmark-Norway.

Directs siege operations against the Norwegian fortress.

Shot while inspecting siege works close to Fredriksten fortress in Norway.

Charles XII is killed during the siege of Fredriksten.

Charles XII is killed while inspecting siege works at Fredriksten, ending Sweden's Norwegian campaign.

Is killed while inspecting siege works near Fredriksten.

His death ends a reign dominated by continuous warfare.

His death opens the succession to Ulrika Eleonora.

His death weakens royal absolutism and changes Sweden's war policy.

Becomes remembered as Sweden's warrior king after his death.

Sweden's loss of Baltic dominance follows the failures of his campaigns.

The peace settlement confirms the decline begun by his failed campaigns.