Birth of Charles XII
Born at Tre Kronor Castle, son of Charles XI and Ulrika Eleonora.
Role range: 1697-1718
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Charles XII Biography and Timeline
Follow Charles XII through 204 dated historical records for Sweden.
Charles XII, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
204Distinct records
1 of 6Page
1682–1701Years on this page
1682
1693
Military Education
Receives military training and court education as heir to the Swedish crown.
Role range: 1697-1718
1697
Accession
Succeeds Charles XI as king of Sweden while still a teenager.
Role range: 1697-1718
Coronation
Is crowned king and soon assumes personal rule.
Role range: 1697-1718
1698
Personal Rule
Begins ruling without a long regency despite his youth.
Role range: 1697-1718
1699
Coalition Threat
Faces a growing coalition of Denmark, Saxony-Poland and Russia.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
1700
War Leadership
Prepares Sweden's response as enemies attack its Baltic empire.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Defence of Holstein-Gottorp
Defends Sweden's ally after Denmark attacks Holstein-Gottorp.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Copenhagen Campaign
The landing at Humlebaek threatens Copenhagen and forces Denmark toward the Treaty of Travendal.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Invasion of Zealand
Charles XII's army and fleet advance toward Copenhagen and force Denmark to seek peace.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Landing at Humlebaek
Charles XII lands near Copenhagen with Anglo-Dutch naval support and forces Denmark toward peace.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Landing at Humlebaek
Lands near Copenhagen with naval support and threatens Denmark's capital.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Travendal Settlement
Charles XII forces Denmark-Norway to make peace and abandon hostilities against Sweden.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Treaty of Travendal
Denmark-Norway makes peace and withdraws from the first anti-Swedish coalition.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Treaty of Travendal
Forces Denmark-Norway out of the war temporarily.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Invasion of Livonia
Charles XII lands in Livonia and begins the campaign to relieve Narva.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Livonian Campaign
Moves east to relieve Swedish positions threatened by Russia.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
March through Livonia
Charles XII's army advances through harsh weather toward Narva and scatters Russian blocking forces.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Battle of Narva
Charles XII defeats Peter I's much larger Russian army at Narva and captures guns and supplies.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Battle of Narva
Charles XII defeats Peter I's much larger Russian army at Narva.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Battle of Narva
Charles XII leads a smaller Swedish army to victory over Peter I's larger Russian force at Narva.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Battle of Narva
Defeats a much larger Russian army outside Narva.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Relief of Narva
Charles XII defeats the Russian army besieging Narva and relieves the Swedish fortress.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Relief of Narva
Relieves the Swedish fortress and captures Russian artillery.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Strategic Decision
After Narva, Charles XII turns south toward Livonia and Poland-Lithuania rather than invading Russia.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
March to Narva
Charles XII marches through difficult weather toward Narva to relieve the Swedish fortress.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
March to Narva
Marches through harsh weather to relieve Narva.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Siege of Narva
Charles XII leads the Swedish relief army toward Narva while Russian troops besiege the fortress.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Strategic Decision
After Narva, Charles XII turns toward Livonia and Poland-Lithuania rather than immediately invading Russia.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Strategic Decision
Turns south against Augustus II rather than marching directly on Moscow.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
War Leadership
Charles XII personally leads Sweden's response to the attacks by Denmark, Saxony and Russia.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Anti-Swedish Alliance
Peter I, Augustus II and Frederick IV form a coalition against Charles XII and the Swedish Empire.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Baltic Defence
Charles XII defends Sweden's Baltic empire against the coalition of Denmark, Russia and Saxony-Poland.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Baltic Province Defence
Sweden responds to Saxon and Russian attacks on its Baltic provinces at the opening of the war.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Declaration of War
Charles XII answers attacks by Denmark, Saxony and Russia as the Great Northern War begins.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Defence of Holstein-Gottorp
Charles XII defends Sweden's ally Holstein-Gottorp after Denmark attacks at the start of the war.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Royal Army Command
Leads the Swedish army personally for much of the war.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
1701
Duna Campaign
Charles prepares to drive Saxon forces away from Riga and Livonia.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Crossing of the Duna
Charles leads Swedish troops across the Duna under covering smoke.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Crossing of the Duna
Charles XII defeats Saxon forces and Russian detachments near the Duna and relieves Riga.
Role range: 1700-1721 – 1697-1718
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.