King Karl XI (1655-1697)


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Meraude

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On February 13, 1660 the five-year old Karl became king after his father's early death at the age of 37. His father, Carl X Gustav, had only been king for six years, after the abdication of his cousin queen Kristina.

During the minority of Karl XI his mother, queen Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, served as regent.

During his reign Sweden was involved in a war with Denmark over Scania between 1675 - 1679, which ended with a status quo, without either party making any major gains or losses of territory. Karl XI had been engaged to the Danish princess Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark before the war, and although she had been encouraged during the war to break off the engagement she had refused to do that and the couple was married in 1680, and the marriage was said to be a happy one until her death in 1693, although the couple had quite different interests. Karl XI is said to have been faithful to his wife during their marriage and on his deathbed he said to his mother that he hadn't been happy since her death.

After the war Karl XI devoted his life to keep Sweden out of war and the last 20 years of his reign was the longest peacetime in Sweden between 1611 - 1718. During that time he arranged for a financial restoration to strengthen the nation's finances, as well as a military restructure and also establishing Sweden as an absolute monarchy.

King Karl XI died in 1697 at the age of 41, and left a country with better finances and a better organized military to his 14-year-old son Karl XII.
 
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The Carolean uniform was among many variants of the Swedish Standard Uniform introduced by King Karl XI.
 
King Charles XI's reign is made up of the high nobility overthrow and bureacratic absolutism establishment. Overall it is split into two: the Regency period from 1660 to 1672 and the Personal Rule from 1672 to 1697.
 
King Charles XI's reign is made up of the high nobility overthrow and bureacratic absolutism establishment. Overall it is split into two: the Regency period from 1660 to 1672 and the Personal Rule from 1672 to 1697.

His mother Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp acted as Queen-Regent from 1660 until 1672 and again for her grandson,King Charles XII, in 1697.
 
His mother Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp acted as Queen-Regent from 1660 until 1672 and again for her grandson,King Charles XII, in 1697.
Although regent during her son's minority it was in name only as was her position as chair of the Regency Council. The Queen Dowager of Realm rarely asserted her position in council and only interfered with its work on a few occasions. Her real position of influence came after her son's majority when she became his most valued advisor.
The first few times the King was present in council he was so shy that he whispered what he wanted to say in his mum's ear who then repeated it out loud.
 
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Queen Ulirica Eleonora with her son Prince Charles
 
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