History UsefulNotes / CarolusRex

-->-- '''Carolus Rex, upon the outbreak of the [[UsefulNotes/GreatNorthernWar Great Northern War]]'''

* [[Creator/{{Voltaire}} Voltaire]] held him in the utmost regard, and wrote a biography about him.

* Music/{{Sabaton}} has an album about him, fittingly called Carolus Rex. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us2ylGAwBnk He even gets a]] IAmSong of sorts.

* [[Music/AlStewart Al Stewart's]] song "The Coldest Winter In Memory" primarly talks about him.
* [[Website/BadassOfTheWeek Badass of the Week]] had [[http://www.badassoftheweek.com/charles.html an article]] about him.
* Literature/TheSwordDoesNotJest is a more romantic biography of him.

!!Tropes Applied to Carolus Rex and his life
* TheAce: When it came to military affairs. Some even called him "The [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat Alexander]] of the North".
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Historians diverge on whether he was a rightful, brave King who fought for his nation against overwhelming odds or an arrogant, mad warrior who led his country to ruin. The general consensus is usually that he was a combination of both: Charles was a great man, a great leader, and definitely a great military commander, but he was not suited to be the ruler of a country, and he led Sweden to ruin while trying to do his best for his country.
* AnimalMotifs: He's frequently associated with lions.
* ArchEnemy: With UsefulNotes/PeterTheGreat. The respective leaders of their nations, fiercely devoted to warring with one another.
* AttackAttackAttack: Could be the TropeCodifier.
** Wich is mildly ironic, considering that from the Swedish viewpoint, the GreatNorthernWar was a ''defensive'' war. It was started by Russia, Saxony and Denmark. Also, since 1658 and the treaty of Roskilde, the Swedish Empire had been relatively isolationist. Enough territory had been won already, now it was time to safeguard and consolidate it.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Par the course for a FrontlineGeneral
* {{Badass}}: A reputation he rightfully earned.
** BadassBoast: The quote above. He had another great one when he heard a Musket shot for the first time: "Henceforth, this shall be my music!"
** FourStarBadass: Being the leader of the Swedish army. Not only did he reform the Swedish army into one of the most effective war machines of his time, he led his men in battle and fought alongside them.
* BadassArmy: The Caroleans were some of the best soldiers in all of Europe.[[labelnote:*]]For several reasons. For one, they were incredibly disciplined. Supposedly, a Carolean army would advance into a hale of musketfire without a single soldier breaking ranks. This discipline was maintained by high morale, which itself was maintained by a combination of Charles leading by example and the use of religious rhetoric. Supposedly, serving the king in battle was the greatest honour a Swede could hope for. Another reason the Caroleans were so effective were their tactics. Most musket formations would open fire as soon as the enemy came into range so that they would have more time to reload and fire again. The problem with this was the musket's lack of accuracy, and most armies firing at this range barely hit anything. While their enemies were reloading, the Caroleans would advance, then fire a devastating volley at point blank range before the other army finished reloading.[[/labelnote]]
* BloodKnight: Carolus was most comfortable in the heat of the battle.
* BoomHeadshot: The manner of his demise.
* CasualDangerDialog: While battling the Russians at the Battle of Narva, Carolus had his shoulder lightly wounded by a bullet one horse killed by a sharpshooter and ''another'' beheaded by a cannonball. His response to all of this was commenting about the Russians: "These fellows make me exercise."
* CelibateHero / {{Asexuality}}: He was either asexual or celibate, considering he abstained from women.
* CoolPet: He had ''[[BearsAreBadNews a goddamn bear]]'' for a pet.
* DeadpanSnarker: See the CasualDangerDialog above. Carolus seemed to be prone to this.
* DecapitatedArmy: A non-fatal example when he was injured and unable to lead, leading to defeat of Poltava. And later on an actually fatal example when he was shot in the trenches of Norway.
* DoomedMoralVictor: Historians sympathetic to him tend to view him this way.
* EndOfAnAge: His death marked the end of the Swedish Empire, and the end of Sweden as a world power.
* TheExile: To the Ottoman Empire for a ''long'' time.
* FeelNoPain: Was said to be able to withstand the most horrifying of pains without changing his expression.
* FrontlineGeneral: As was custom at the time. Interestingly he could be seen as a deconstruction: When he was injured in combat and unable to lead, the army was a lot less threatening.
* GeniusBruiser: Though he had one of the most brilliantly innovative and ruthlessly efficient military minds of his time, he also led his men in battle and fought alongside them
* HonorBeforeReason: His acknowledged crippling flaw, even by his contemporaries. Charles was so focused on old-school chivalric honor that it worked against him and his nation. Ironically, though he believed in old-school honour, his tactics were innovative and rendered old ways of thinking obsolete.

* IHaveManyNames / RedBaron: "The Young Hero", "The Beardless Thundergod", "Ironhead", "The Swedish Meteor", "The Last Viking", "The Alexander Of The West", etc.
* ManlyMenCanHunt: Before the war broke out, hunting was one of his favorite activities. He thought hunting bears with muskets was unfair to the bears, so he proceeded to hunt bears ''[[RefugeInAudacity with a pitchfork]]''.
* MemeticBadass: [[InUniverse For his contemporaries]], he had all sort of mythical aura around him, including the aforementined ImmuneToBullets legend.
* MisaimedFandom: Even Historians who dislike him think he does not deserve to be a Neo-Nazi icon.
* {{Neologism}}: Swedish word ''kalabalik'' (and Finnish "kalabaliikki"), meaning an intense, noisy disorganized mob riot. After the battle of Bender, where 500 Swedes fought up to 12,000 Turks for several hours. Turkish "qalabalik" means "disorder", "uprising" or "unrest".
* NervesOfSteel: Not only did Charles have them himself, but he forced his army to have them as well. One of the biggest reasons the Caroleans were so effective was their use of offensive tactics. Caroleans would almost always advance at the enemy, and this always meant subjecting themselves to musket and cannonfire. The only way this could work was if the attacking army was disciplined to never break ranks, no matter how many of them fell, and the Caroleans were nothing if not disciplined.
* ReligiousBruiser / RealMenLoveJesus: You know the worst crime in the Carolean Army? Taking God's name in vain. Punishable ''by death''. Suffice to say King Charles was incredibly religious.
* RightfulKingReturns: What he intended to invoke with his return after the exile. It was subverted.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: One of Sweden's, if not humanity's, best examples.
* SergeantRock: Carolus shared all of his army's misfortunes to make himself an example. If they starved in the winter, he did so alongside them.
* TheStoic: Emotionally Unshakeable in all regards.
* StraightEdge: Could be said to be a proto-follower of this doctrine.
* UnfriendlyFire: It is assumed he did not die from a Norwegian sniper's bullet, but that the fatal bullet came from a traitor in own ranks
* YoungAndInCharge: Crowned King at fifteen.
* YoungConqueror: He was ''eighteen'' when he marched to war (and victory) for the first time.

!!In Media

* ImmuneToBullets: A common legend about him in his time. Some even say he wasn't killed by a bullet, but by ''a button'', as he was bullet-proof.

Charles XII (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718, reigned from 5 April 1697 to 30 November 1718), perhaps better known in Sweden as '''Carolus Rex''' (latinized form of King Charles) was a King of Sweden[[labelnote: ''full title'']]: [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Charles, by the Grace of God King of Sweden, the Goths and the Vends, Grand Prince of Finland, Duke of Scania, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, Lord of Ingria, Duke of Bremen, Verden and Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, and also Count Palatine by the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Zweibrücken–Kleeburg, as well as Duke of Jülich, Cleve and Berg, Count of Veldenz, Spanheim and Ravensberg and Lord of Ravenstein]] [[/labelnote]]. Amongst the various [[Main/NotableSwedishMonarchs Notable Swedish Monarchs]], Charles XII was one of a kind: The only surviving son of the previous King, Carolus ([[AChildShallLeadThem crowned king when he was fifteen]]) soon saw himself in a time of great political strife between his nation and Russia, where tensions were heating up in a dispute for control of the Baltic territories. In this delicate time, [[UsefulNotes/PeterTheGreat Tsar Peter The Great]] decided that there would be no better hour to strike than this. The King of Sweden was a young teenage boy with little experience on the throne, and a triple alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania and Russia took advantage of this and united against Sweden. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

Charles XII (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718, reigned from 5 April 1697 to 30 November 1718), perhaps better known as '''Carolus Rex''' (latinized form of King Charles) was a King of Sweden[[labelnote: ''full title'']]: [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Charles, by the Grace of God King of Sweden, the Goths and the Vends, Grand Prince of Finland, Duke of Scania, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, Lord of Ingria, Duke of Bremen, Verden and Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, and also Count Palatine by the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Zweibrücken–Kleeburg, as well as Duke of Jülich, Cleve and Berg, Count of Veldenz, Spanheim and Ravensberg and Lord of Ravenstein]] [[/labelnote]]. Amongst the various [[Main/NotableSwedishMonarchs Notable Swedish Monarchs]], Charles XII was one of a kind: The only surviving son of the previous King, Carolus ([[AChildShallLeadThem crowned king when he was fifteen]]) soon saw himself in a time of great political strife between his nation and Russia, where tensions were heating up in a dispute for control of the Baltic territories. In this delicate time, [[UsefulNotes/PeterTheGreat Tsar Peter The Great]] decided that there would be no better hour to strike than this. The King of Sweden was a young teenage boy with little experience on the throne, and a triple alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania and Russia took advantage of this and united against Sweden. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

* [[Website/BadassOfTheWeek Badass of the Week]] had [[http://www.badassoftheweek.com/charles.html an article]] about him.

Charles XII (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718, reigned from 5 April 1697 to 30 November 1718), perhaps better known as '''Carolus Rex''' (latinized form of King Charles) was a King of Sweden[[labelnote: ''full title'']]: [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Charles, by the Grace of God King of Sweden, the Goths and the Vends, Grand Prince of Finland, Duke of Scania, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, Lord of Ingria, Duke of Bremen, Verden and Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, and also Count Palatine by the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Zweibrücken–Kleeburg, as well as Duke of Jülich, Cleve and Berg, Count of Veldenz, Spanheim and Ravensberg and Lord of Ravenstein]] [[/labelnote]]. Amongst the various [[Main/NotableSwedishMonarchs Notable Swedish Monarchs]], Charles XII was one of a kind: The only surviving son of the previous King, Carolus ([[AChildShallLeadThem crowned king when he was fifteen]]) soon saw himself in a time of great political strife between his nation and Russia, where tensions were heating up in a dispute for control of the Baltic territories. In this delicate time, [[Useful/PeterTheGreat Tsar Peter The Great]] decided that there would be no better hour to strike than this. The King of Sweden was a young teenage boy with little experience on the throne, and a triple alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania and Russia took advantage of this and united against Sweden. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

Charles XII (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718, reigned from 5 April 1697 to 30 November 1718), perhaps better known as '''Carolus Rex''' (latinized form of King Charles) was a King of Sweden[[labelnote: ''full title'']]: [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Charles, by the Grace of God King of Sweden, the Goths and the Vends, Grand Prince of Finland, Duke of Scania, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, Lord of Ingria, Duke of Bremen, Verden and Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, and also Count Palatine by the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Zweibrücken–Kleeburg, as well as Duke of Jülich, Cleve and Berg, Count of Veldenz, Spanheim and Ravensberg and Lord of Ravenstein]] [[/labelnote]]. Amongst the various [[Main/NotableSwedishMonarchs Notable Swedish Monarchs]], Charles XII was one of a kind: The only surviving son of the previous King, Carolus ([[AChildShallLeadThem crowned king when he was fifteen]]) soon saw himself in a time of great political strife between his nation and Russia, where tensions were heating up in a dispute for control of the Baltic territories. In this delicate time, [[Main/PeterTheGreat Tsar Peter The Great]] decided that there would be no better hour to strike than this. The King of Sweden was a young teenage boy with little experience on the throne, and a triple alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania and Russia took advantage of this and united against Sweden. WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

* ArchEnemy: With PeterTheGreat. The respective leaders of their nations, fiercely devoted to warring with one another.

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Historians diverge on whether he was a rightful, brave King who fought for his nation against overwhelming odds or a arrogant, mad warrior who led his country to ruin. The general consensus is usually that he was a combination of both: Charles was a great man, a great leader, and definitely a great military commander, but he was not suited to be the ruler of a country, and he led Sweden to ruin while trying to do his best for his country.

Charles XII was exiled to the Ottoman regions, where he awaited for the time being to make a RightfulKingReturns sort of situation when his time was due. After fourteen years, it was evident he had to return (namely because the Ottoman hospitality was wearing thin and because Sweden was hanging by a thread). After a two-week long horseback journey across Europe, he once more marched to war, this time against Norway. But fate has a way to make epic stories less-epic, for it was at this time that, during a siege, Carolus Rex, 36 years old, was fatally shot in the head. To this day it is unknown by whom. Theories range from a mere Norwegian sharpshooter to his own brother-in-law, attempting to take hold of the throne (which he later did).

His death marked effective end of the Swedish Empire (or Sweden as a military power or political power ''de facto'') and the decline of absolutist Monarchy in Sweden in general. Today he is revered as a heroic, lionic figure by many historians (sometimes acquiring the moniker of "Last of the Vikings") and is a popular figure in his native Sweden. [[MisaimedFandom He is also unfortunately revered by Neo-Nazis]].

King Charles went to war and proceeded to completely ''annihilate'' all of his foes with the singular exception of Russia: Denmark, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Saxony were outmaneuvered and crushed by the Swedish Army and Navy with terrifying speed. The Swedish Empire's military and political prestige reached its very height with Carolus' crushing victories over all of his foes (despite said foes vastly outnumbering his army). He turned his attention to Russia, the final foe. In his invasion Carolus achieved tremendous success at first (with one memorable episode, which Carolus immortalized in a medal, involving Tsar Peter himself fleeing at full gallop from the Swedish Army), but it was in this moment of history Russia revealed the weapons that would doom so [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte many]] [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler other]] invaders after King Charles: an unforgivable winter and ruthless scorched Earth tactics. The Carolean Army was slowly whittled and beaten down by the terrible conditions, and [[FromBadToWorse Carolus was seriously injured and had to leave command]]. This proved to be disastrous with the Battle of Poltava, in which the Russians decisively defeated the Swedish. The Swedish Empire started to crumble, and the Russian Empire began its ascension.

His death marked effective end of the Swedish Empire (or Sweden as a military power or political power ''de facto'') and the decline of absolutist Monarchy in Sweden in general. Today he is revered as a heroic, lionic figure by many historians (sometimes acquiring the moniker of "Last of the Vikings") and is a popular figure in his native Sweden. [[MisaimedFandom Unfortunately revered by Neo-Nazis]].

[[caption-width-right:282: ''"[[Music/{{Sabaton}} I was chosen by Heaven! Say my name when you pray! To The Sky, See Carolus Rise!]]''"[[labelnote:*]]Pictured: "The Lion Between Four Pots", Charles XII's statue (pointing to Russia) in Stockholm[[/labelnote]]]]

->''"I have resolved never to start an unjust war but never to end a legitimate one except by defeating my enemies.''"
-->-'''Carolus Rex, upon the outbreak of the [[UsefulNotes/GreatNorthernWar Great Northern War]]'''

* UnfriendlyFire: It is assumed he did no die from a Norwegian sniper's bullet, but that the fatal bullet came from a traitor in own ranks

* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Historians diverge on whether he was a rightful, brave King who fought for his nation against overwhelming odds or a arrogant, mad warrior who led his country to ruin. Or some combination of both.

[[caption-width-right:282: ''"[[Music/{{Sabaton}} I was chosen beaven! Say my name when you pray! To The Sky, See Carolus Rise!]]''"[[labelnote:*]]Pictured: "The Lion Between Four Pots", Charles XII's statue (pointing to Russia) in Stockholm[[/labelnote]]]]

[[caption-width-right:282: ''"[[Music/{{Sabaton}} To The Sky, See Carolus Rise!]]''"[[labelnote:*]]Pictured: "The Lion Between Four Pots", Charles XII's statue (pointing to Russia) in Stockholm[[/labelnote]]]]

Charles XII (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718, reigned from 5 April 1697 to 30 November 1718), perhaps better known as '''Carolus Rex''' (latinized form of King Charles) was a King of Sweden[[labelnote: ''full title'']]: [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Charles, by the Grace of God King of Sweden, the Goths and the Vends, Grand Prince of Finland, Duke of Scania, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, Lord of Ingria, Duke of Bremen, Verden and Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, and also Count Palatine by the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Zweibrücken–Kleeburg, as well as Duke of Jülich, Cleve and Berg, Count of Veldenz, Spanheim and Ravensberg and Lord of Ravenstein]] [[/labelnote]]. Amongst the various [[Main/NotableSwedishMonarchs Notable Swedish Monarchs]], Charles XII was one of a kind: The only surviving son of the previous King, Carolus ([[AChildShallLeadThem crowned king when he was fifteen]]) soon saw himself in a time of great political strife between his nation and Russia, where tensions were heating up in a dispute for control of the Baltic territories. In this delicate time, [[Main/PeterTheGreat Tsar Peter The Great]] decided that there would be no better hour to strike than this: A young, unexperienced teenage boy with little time on the throne, a triple alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania and Russia united against Sweden, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

King Carolus went to war and proceeded to completely ''annihilate'' all of his foes with the singular exception of Russia: Denmark, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Saxony were outmaneuvered and crushed by the Swedish Army and Navy with terrifying speed. The Swedish Empire's military and political prestige reached its very height with Carolus' crushing victories over all of his foes (despite said foes vastly outnumbering his army). He turned his attention to Russia, the final foe. In his invasion Carolus achieved tremendous success at first (with one memorable episode, which Carolus immortalized in a medal, involving Tsar Peter himself fleeing at full gallop from the Swedish Army), but it was in this moment of history Russia revealed the weapons that would doom so [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte many]] [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler other]] invaders after King Charles: an unforgivable winter and ruthless scorched Earth tactics. The Carolean Army was slowly whittled and beaten down by the terrible conditions, and [[FromBadToWorse Carolus was seriously injured and had to leave command]]. This proved to be disastrous with the Battle of Poltava, in which the Russians decisively defeated the Swedish. The Swedish Empire started to crumble, and the Russian Empire began its ascension.

Charles XII was exiled to the Ottoman regions, where he awaited for the time being to make a RightfulKingReturns sort of situation when his time was due. After fourteen years, it was evident he had to return (namely because the Ottoman hospitality was wearing thin and because Sweden was hanging by a thread). After a two-week long horseback journey across Europe, he once more marched to war, this time against Norway. But fate has a way to make epic stories less-epic, for it was at this time that, during a siege, Carolus Rex, 36 years old, was fatally shot in the head. To this day it is unknown by whom. Theories range from a mere Norweigian sharpshooter to his own brother-in-law, attempting to take hold of the throne (which he later did).

** FourStarBadass: Leader of the Swedish army.
* BadassArmy: The Caroleans were some of the best-disciplined soldiers in all of Europe.

* HonorBeforeReason: His acknowledged crippling flaw, even by his contemporaries. Charles was so focused on old-school chivalric honor that it worked against him and his nation.
* ImmuneToBullets: A common legend about him at his time. Some even say he wasn't killed by a bullet, but by ''a button'', as he was bullet-proof.

* ReligiousBruiser / RealMenLoveJesus: You know the worst crime in the Carolean Army? Taking God's name in vain. Punishable ''by death''. Suffice to say King Carolus was incredibly religious.

Charles XII (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718, reigned from 5 April 1697 to 30 November 1718), perhaps better known as '''Carolus Rex''' (latinized form of Charles XII) was a King of Sweden[[labelnote: ''full title'']]: [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Charles, by the Grace of God King of Sweden, the Goths and the Vends, Grand Prince of Finland, Duke of Scania, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, Lord of Ingria, Duke of Bremen, Verden and Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, and also Count Palatine by the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Zweibrücken–Kleeburg, as well as Duke of Jülich, Cleve and Berg, Count of Veldenz, Spanheim and Ravensberg and Lord of Ravenstein]] [[/labelnote]]. Amongst the various [[Main/NotableSwedishMonarchs Notable Swedish Monarchs]], Charles XII was one of a kind: The only surviving son of the previous King, Carolus ([[AChildShallLeadThem crowned king when he was fifteen]]) soon saw himself in a time of great political strife between his nation and Russia, where tensions were heating up in a dispute for control of the Baltic territories. In this delicate time, [[Main/PeterTheGreat Tsar Peter The Great]] decided that there would be no better hour to strike than this: A young, unexperienced teenage boy with little time on the throne, a triple alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania and Russia united against Sweden, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

But Tsar Peter did not foresee just ''who'' this teenage boy was. Charles XII did not drink, he did not spend his time with women, while he executed some very important political reforms and was a skilled politician, this was nonetheless a man who disciplined his mind, body and spirit for a single-minded purpose: '''War'''. And in this purporse Carolus displayed unprecedented brillance. He made the Caroleans (as his army was called) into what was described at his own time as one of the best, if not ''the'' best war machine of Europe.

King Carolus went to war and proceeded to completely ''anihilate'' all of his foes with the singular exception of Russia: Denmark, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Saxony outmaneuvered and crushed by the Swedish Army and Navy with terrifying speed. The Swedish Empire's military and political prestige reached its very height with Carolus' crushing victories over all of his foes (despite said foes vastly outnumbering his army). He turned his attention to Russia, the final foe. In his invasion Carolus achieved tremendous success at first (with one memorable episode, which Carolus immortalized in a medal, involving Tsar Peter himself fleeing at full gallop from the Swedish Army), but it was in this moment of history Russia revealead the weapons that would doom so [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte many]] [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler other]] invaders after King Carolus: A unforgivable winter and scorched Earth tactics. The Carolean Army was slowly whittled and beaten down by the terrible conditions, [[FromBadToWorse Carolus was seriously injured and had to leave command]]. This proved to be disastrous with the Battle of Poltava, in which the Russias decisively defeated the Swedish. The Swedish Empire started to crumble, and the Russian Empire started its ascenscion.

Charles XII was exiled to the Ottoman regions, where he awaited for the time being to make a RightfulKingReturns sort of situation when his time was due. After fourteen years, it was evident he had to return (namely because the Ottoman hospitality was wearing thin and because Sweden was hanging by a thread). After two-weeks horseback journey across Europe he once more marched to war, this time against Norway. But fate has a way to make epic stories less-epic, for it was at this time that, during a siege, King Carolus Rex, 36 years old, was fatally shot in the head. To this day it is unknown by whom. Theories range from a mere Norweigian sharpshooter to his own brother-in-law, attempting to take hold of the throne (which he later did).

* DoomedMoralVictor: Historians sympathetic to him tend to view him this way.

* TheAce: When it came to military affairs. Some even called him "The [[UsefulNotes/AlexanderTheGreat Alexander]] of the West".

* CasualDangerDialog: While battling the Russians at the Battle of Narva, Carolus had his shoulder lightly wounded by a bulle,t one horse killed by a sharpshooter and ''another'' beheaded by a cannonball. His response to all of this was commenting about the Russians: "These fellows make me exercise."

* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: One of Sweden's best examples.

* StraightEdge: Could be said to be a proto-follower of this doctrine.

Charles XII (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718, reigned from 5 April 1697 to 30 November 1718), perhaps better known as '''Carolus Rex''' (latinized form of Charles XII) was a King of Sweden[[labelnote: ''full title'']]: [[TryToFitThatOnABusinessCard Charles, by the Grace of God King of Sweden, the Goths and the Vends, Grand Prince of Finland, Duke of Scania, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, Lord of Ingria, Duke of Bremen, Verden and Pomerania, Prince of Rügen and Lord of Wismar, and also Count Palatine by the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria, Count of Zweibrücken–Kleeburg, as well as Duke of Jülich, Cleve and Berg, Count of Veldenz, Spanheim and Ravensberg and Lord of Ravenstein]]) [[/labelnote]]. Amongst the various [[Main/NotableSwedishMonarchs Notable Swedish Monarchs]], Charles XII was one of a kind: The only surviving son of the previous King, Carolus ([[AChildShallLeadThem crowned king when he was fifteen]]) soon saw himself in a time of great political strife between his nation and Russia, where tensions were heating up in a dispute for control of the Baltic territories. In this delicate time, [[Main/PeterTheGreat Tsar Peter The Great]] decided that there would be no better time to strike than this: A young, unenxperienced with little experience on the throne, a triple alliance of Denmark–Norway, Saxony–Poland–Lithuania and Russia united against Sweden, WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong

But Tsar Peter did not foresee just ''who'' this eighteen-year-old boy was. Charles XII did not drink, he did not spend his time with women, while he executed some very important political reforms and was a skilled politician, this was nonetheless a man who disciplined his mind, body and spirit for a single-minded purpose: '''War'''. And in this purporse Carolus displayed unprecedented brillance. He made the Caroleans (as his army was called) into whats was described at his own time as one of the best, if not ''the'' best war machine of Europe.

King Carolus went to war and proceeded to completely ''anihilate'' all of his foes with the singular exception of Russia: Denmark, Norway, Poland, Lithuania, Saxony outmaneuvered and crushed by the Swedish Army and the navy with terrifying speed. The Swedish Empire's military and political prestige reached its very height with Carolus' crushing victories over all of his foes (despite said foes vastly outnumbering his army). He turned his attention to Russia, the final foe. In his invasion Carolus achieved tremendous success at first (with one memorable episode, which Carolus immortalized in a medal, involving Tsar Peter himself fleeing at full gallop from the Swedish Army), but it was in this moment of history Russia revealead the weapons that would doom so [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte many]] [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler other]] invaders after King Carolus: A unforgivable winter and scorched Earth tactics. The Carolean Army was slowly whittled down and beaten down by the terrible conditions, [[FromBadToWorse Carolus was seriously injured and had to leave command]]. This proved to be disastrous with the Battle of Poltava, in which the Russias decisively defeated the Swedish. The Swedish Empire started to crumble, and the Russian Empire started its ascenscion.

** BadassBoast: The quote above. He had another great one when he heard a Musket shot for the first time: "Therefore, this shall be my music!"
** FourStarBadass: Leader of the army.

* UsefulNotes/JosephConrad's novel, ''Victory'', has a passing mention to him.
* [[UsefulNotes/AlStewart Al Stewart's]] song "The Coldest Winter In Memory" primarly talks about him.

* HonorBeforeReason: His acknowledged crippling flaw, even by his contemporaries. Charles was so focused on old-school chivalric honor that it worked against him and his nation.

* SeargeantRock: Carolus shared all of his army's misfortunes to make himself an example. If they starved in the winter, he did so alongside them.

** BadassBoast: The quote above.

* FrontlineGeneral: As was custom at the time. Interestingly he could be seen as a deconstruction: When he was injured in combat and unable to lead, the army was a lot less threatening.

* ManlyMenCanHunt: Before the war broke out, hunting was one of his favorite activities.

!!In Fiction

* [[UsefulNotes/AlStewart Al Stewart's]] song "The Coldest Winter In Memory" primarly talks about him.

* [[Literature/TheAgeOfUnreason The Age of Unreason]] features him prominently.
* [[Music/{{Sabaton}} Sabaton]] has an album about him, fittingly called Carolus Rex. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us2ylGAwBnk He even gets a]] IAmSong of sorts.
* UsefulNotes/JosephConrad's novel, Victory, has a passing mention to him.