Charles XI of Sweden

Charles XI (Karl XI) (November 24, 1655 – April 5, 1697) was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death. He was the only son of Charles X of Sweden and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp.

Domestic affairs

Charles devoted the rest of his life to the gigantic task of rehabilitating Sweden by means of a reduction, or recovery of alienated crown lands, a process which involved the examination of every title deed in the kingdom, and resulted in the complete readjustment of the finances.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

But vast as it was, the reduction represents only a tithe of Charles XI's immense activity. The constructive part of his administration was equally thorough-going, and entirely beneficial. Here, too, everything was due to his personal initiative. Finance, commerce, the national armaments by sea and land, judicial procedure, church government, education, even art and science emerged recast from his shaping hand. Charles XI died on April 5, 1697, in his forty-first year. On May 6, 1680, he had married Ulrike Eleonora (1656 - 1693), daughter of King Frederick III of Denmark (1609-1670) and whose death in July 1693 produced a shock from which Charles would never recover.

Related Topics:
April 5 - May 6 - 1680 - Ulrike Eleonora - Frederick III of Denmark

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After Gustav Vasa and Gustavus Adolphus Charles XI was perhaps, the greatest of all the kings of Sweden. His modest, homespun figure has indeed been unduly eclipsed by the brilliant and colossal shapes of his heroic father and his meteoric son; yet in reality Charles XI is far worthier of admiration than either Charles X or Charles XII. He was in an eminent degree a great master-builder. He found Sweden in ruins, and devoted his whole life to laying the solid foundations of a new order of things which, in its essential features, has endured to the present day.

Related Topics:
Gustav Vasa - Gustavus Adolphus - Charles X - Charles XII

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~