Carolus Rex - Carolus Rex

Charles XII, also known as Carolus Rex, became King of Sweden on 5th April 1697 at the age of 15, following the death of his father Charles XI. The quiet but determined King had been brought up to rule as an absolute monarch. Many of his closest officials and high ranking officers found him hard to understand but he was loved by his soldiers. When they attacked, he was often in the first rank. Charles XII’s bravery, quick wits and unusually good tactical eye made him an outstanding leader in pitched battle. His exceptional ability to infuse courage into his soldiers was another strong contributing factor in the initial triumphs and his army’s high morale in , he could also appear harsh and callous. The Swedish army’s treatment of both the civilian population and prisoners of war in Poland and Russia was sometimes extremely cruel. With the King’s consent, there were merciless reprisals – including the torture of children – and mass executions.