The Vasa Dynasty's Last Heir: Charles XII and the End of Empire

In Episode 200 of The History of Sweden, Lucas and Luna examine the dramatic final act of the Swedish Empire through the life of Charles XII. From his teenage coronation to the disastrous invasion of Russia, Charles led Sweden into the Great Northern War, only to lose everything at Poltava in 1709. The episode follows his flight to the Ottoman Empire, his five-year exile in Bender, and his relentless return to the battlefield, ending with his mysterious death at Fredriksten in 1718. Along the way, we explore the Carolean army's fearsome tactics, the collapse of the absolutist state, and the war's lasting impact on Sweden's place in Europe. With a focus on the man himself—his stubbornness, his vision, and his flaws—Lucas and Luna reflect on how one king's ambition brought an empire to its knees. This is the story of Sweden's last great warrior king and the end of an era.

#CharlesXII #GreatNorthernWar #Poltava #CaroleanArmy #SwedishEmpire #Stormaktstiden #KarlXII #Fredriksten #OttomanEmpire #Bender #Absolutism #UlrikaEleonora #FredenINystad #VasaDynasty #SwedishHistory #NorthernEurope #History #FexingoHistory

Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo