The Rise and Fall of a Young King

Charles was born in 1682 and became king at just fifteen years old. Three years into his reign, a coalition of rivals—including Denmark-Norway, Poland-Lithuania, and Russia—launched an offensive against Sweden, taking advantage of his youth and inexperience. This marked the beginning of the Great Northern War, which would dominate his rule.

Despite being outnumbered, Charles achieved several notable victories, such as the famous Battle of Narva in 1700. His military genius earned him a formidable reputation, although it also brought significant losses to Sweden. Determined to end the war on his own terms, he aimed to decisively defeat Russia by marching on Moscow. However, his plans took a disastrous turn at the Battle of Poltava in 1709, leading to a significant defeat and forcing him to seek refuge in the Ottoman Empire for five years.

In 1718, Charles attempted to invade Norway, laying siege to the Fredriksten fortress. Tragically, on the cold night of November 30, he was fatally injured by a projectile while inspecting trenches, marking the end of both his life and Sweden's status as a great power.

Mysterious Circumstances Surrounding His Death

The details of Charles XII's death remain shrouded in mystery. While contemporary accounts suggest he was struck by a bullet, the origin and nature of the projectile have been hotly debated. Some theories propose it was a shot from enemy lines, while others entertain the possibility of an assassination carried out by someone within his own ranks.

The initial autopsy by his surgeon, Melchior Neumann, noted the head wound but failed to determine the source of the projectile. Subsequent autopsies in 1746, 1859, and 1917 produced varying conclusions, with the latter employing radiological imaging that indicated the projectile was likely not made of lead but a harder metal.

Alternative theories have emerged over the years, including the notion that Charles was murdered by a disgruntled soldier or a hired assassin. Finnish historian Carl O. Nordling even proposed a theory involving a Swedish officer who could make the death appear as a battlefield casualty.

Intriguingly, one theory posits that Charles was hit by a brass button from a Swedish musket, known as the "kulknappen" hypothesis, which further suggests foul play.

Modern Investigation and Forensic Advances

Recent advancements in forensic science have provided fresh insights into the circumstances surrounding Charles's death. A 2022 study by Finnish researchers at the University of Oulu utilized ballistic testing and medical imaging to analyze the injuries sustained by Charles.

The researchers fired various projectiles into ballistic skull models to compare the resulting damage to the autopsy findings from Charles's skull. They concluded that the lethal projectile was likely not a standard musket ball but rather an iron grapeshot with a diameter exceeding 20 millimeters, fired from a considerable distance.

Their findings suggest that Charles XII was most likely killed by enemy fire from Norwegian forces rather than an internal conspiracy. The projectile's size and speed indicate it could have come from a fortress positioned approximately 200 meters away.

This video, "Charles the Almost-Great | The Life & Times of Carolus Rex (ft. Kinetic History!)", provides an engaging overview of Charles XII’s life and the historical context surrounding his reign.

Concluding Thoughts

While the exact events of that fateful night in November 1718 may never be fully understood, modern forensic analysis has clarified many aspects of Charles XII's death. The combination of ballistic testing and medical imaging supports the conclusion that he was likely killed by enemy fire rather than through an internal plot.

The ongoing investigation not only honors the legacy of a king whose life remains a subject of fascination but also addresses the enduring mystery surrounding his untimely demise.

The second video, "Charles XII: The Last Great King of the Swedish Empire", delves deeper into the life and legacy of this enigmatic ruler, shedding light on his military campaigns and the political climate of his time.

Sources

• A Mystery Solved: Who killed the Swedish King Charles XII, Science Norway
• Charles XII of Sweden, Wikipedia
• Charles XII (sometimes Carl XII) (1682–1718) of Sweden, Kulturportal Lund
• Death of King Charles XII of Sweden revisited, PNAS Nexus
• Researchers clear up Swedish King's Mysterious Death from 1718, The Local
• Test shots fired by researchers confirm King Charles XII killed by enemy fire, University of Oulu
• The Death of Charles XII of Sweden — It Was Murder (PDF) by Carl O. Nordling
• The death of Charles XII — The forensic verdict, ScienceDirect
• Who killed Sweden's warrior king? BBC News