Charles XI was the Swedish king who ruled from 1660 to 1697. He left a mark on the history of Sweden, making the monarchy unlimited. The reduction carried out in the country (the return to state ownership of land) significantly weakened the position of the nobles and freed the peasants from dependence. In Europe, he pursued an independent policy, moved away from France and became close to Denmark. He is considered an outstanding ruler of Sweden, who contributed to its economic development.
Childhood
Born on 1655-24-11, the future King Charles XI, from 1660-1697. who ruled Sweden, was left without a father at the age of five. Prior to his coming of age, he was appointed regents from among the high-ranking nobles. They were not interested in the little king, minding their own business. This resulted in him being practically illiterate when he took over the government.
He had no idea how to rule the country. But he had the character of a realking, which allowed others to believe in him. He was a very religious, strong-willed, brave man, firm in his decisions to the point that many considered him a despot.
Regency Time
Under the young King Charles XI, the duties of governing the state were assigned to the Regency Council and Magnus Gabriel Delagardie, the husband of the sister of King Charles X. He was a prominent politician, the richest nobleman in Sweden. During their reign, peace treaties were concluded with all the countries with which Charles X fought:
- May 1660 - with Poland (Oliwe). Livonia passed to Sweden. The Poles gave up their claims to the Swedish throne.
- June 1660 - treaty with Denmark (Copenhagen).
- 1661 - treaty with Russia (Kardis).
Foreign policy was extremely unstable, the nobles hesitated and could not decide with whom friendship was more important: with France or its rivals - Holland and England. Weak domestic policy led to frequent unrest and riots among the population.
Years of government
When Charles XI turned 17 in 1672, the Swedish Riksdag (unicameral parliament) declared him of age and called for the reduction begun by his father Charles X. The political situation of that time was extremely unstable. Bloody wars in Europe, subsiding for a while, flared up with renewed vigor.
The largest European country, France, was at war with Brandenburg. Sweden, bound to it by treaty, was forced to join the fighting. But for the Swedes, participation in themwas extremely unsuccessful. They lost all their lands annexed under Charles X. After Denmark, which supported Brandenburg, joined the conflict, the Swedish king Charles XI was forced to declare war on her. Battles took place on land and at sea.
The most significant victory that returned the location of the Swedes to their king was the Battle of Lund (1676). This war went on with varying success: the Swedes won on land, the Danes won at sea. The hostilities ended with the signing of peace treaties: with Denmark - in Lund, with Brandenburg - in Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Reforming
Being on the throne in 1660-1697, Charles XI did not rule the state for 12 years due to his infancy. After coming of age, he received the power of a country with a weakened economy. Frequent crop failures were the cause of famine in northern Sweden.
The centralized power was extremely weak in the country. Having received land for management, high-ranking nobles led the country to a split. Therefore, the Rigsdag demanded a reduction, that is, the return of land to the state, which was done by the young king. There was a weakening of the aristocracy and the strengthening of royal power. This naturally led to monarchical absolutism.
The Council of State was renamed the Royal Council. Reductions, the right to establish laws, the amount of taxes passed to the king. Estates no longer had their former meaning. The economic situation of the country has improved significantly. Every year, the treasury received two and a half million dalers. The peasantry ceased to depend on the nobles.
The foreign policy of the Kingdom of Sweden has changed dramatically. Charles XI went to rapprochement with Denmark by marrying the Danish princess Ulrika Eleonora. He freed himself from treaties with France, implementing an independent policy.
The name of the king in art
Many mysterious things are connected with the name of the Swedish King Charles XI. This has found its reflection in art. The deplorable speech on the occasion of his death raises many questions, since it is written in Latin in Russian. Its author is the master of ceremonies of the royal court Yu. G. Sparvenfeld. The speech was delivered in Stockholm about six months after the death of the monarch on his birthday. Subsequently, it was printed in Latin in two copies. U. Birgegaard suggested that this was due to the desire to increase the loy alty of the Russian-speaking inhabitants of Ingermanland to the Swedish authorities. The speech had a symbolic meaning, was intended to show that Sweden includes lands inhabited, including by the Russian-speaking population.
The Hermitage has a portrait of Charles XI painted by an unknown artist. Many portraits of the king and his family were painted by the court painter Ehrenstrahl, including one that depicts the king's family and his deceased wife. She is depicted in a portrait hanging over the head of the monarch.
The same artist painted his dying portrait. Interestingly, the king died on April 15, 1697, and was buried only on November 24.
Gold coins with the inscription "Charles XI 1660-1697 2 dukaten" in 1697were put into circulation on the occasion of the death of the ruler. The cost of one copy at auctions ranges from 6 to 8 thousand euros.
Mysterious, associated with the name of Charles XI
A lot of mysticism is connected with the king. Even in the children's book by the writer Salma Lagerlöf "Niels' Journey with Wild Geese" it is presented as a monument that walks at night. Prosper Mérimée has a small work called "The Vision of Charles XI", in which he talks about a mysterious vision that foretold future tragic events.
The author claims that the veracity of the story he told is confirmed by a protocol signed by four witnesses. The protocol itself is supposedly in the royal archives. But how true this is, and whether this document exists, no one knows.
The vision is connected with the accession to the throne of the Waza dynasty. This vision is said to have fully come true in 1792, when King Gustav III was assassinated at a costume ball by the young officer Ankarström.
