Charles XII of Sweden von Simmern ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

Facing (1699) a coalition of Russia, Poland, and Denmark in the NORTHERN WAR, he forced Denmark to make peace (1700); invaded Poland and had STANISLAUS I enthroned (1704); and, with MAZEPA, invaded Russia, where his army was crushingly defeated (1708). He fled to Turkey and persuaded AHMED III to declare war on Russia (1710). After Turkey and Russia made peace (1711), Charles refused to leave Turkey and was imprisoned. At Swedish-occupied Stralsund (1714-15) he fought the Prussians and Danes. When Stralsund fell, he fled to Sweden and invaded (1716) Norway, where he was killed in battle (by a bullet in the trenches outside the Norwegian fortress of Fredrikshald in 1718. It is still not determined if it was an enemy bullet or an assassin's bullet.). His sister, Ulrica Leonora, succeeded him under a new constitution that strengthened the nobles and clergy.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Acceded: 1697. King of Sweden.