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Article: Charles XII (Sweden) (1682–1718; Ruled 1697–1718)
- Article from:
- Europe, 1450 to 1789: Encyclopedia of the Early Modern World
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CHARLES XII (SWEDEN) (1682
–
1718; ruled 1697
–
1718)
CHARLES XII (SWEDEN)
(1682
–
1718; ruled 1697
–
1718), king of Sweden. The son of Charles XI of Sweden and Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark, Charles was raised in the context of Sweden's transition to absolutism. From a distinguished group of tutors he learned Latin, modern languages, history, mathematics, religion, military techniques, and Swedish politics and law. He was deeply religious, intense, tireless, self-assured, uncompromising, secretive, and fully committed to the ideas of Sweden's imperial greatness and divine right absolutism. Not yet fifteen when he his father died, he was recognized as ruling king by ...