Charles XII. The Last Viking of Europe

The name of Charles XII, the King of Sweden, is known in Russia for his inglorious campaign and the lost battle of Poltava in 1709. Moreover, the king and his campaign have become synonymous with a manifestly erroneous decision and a fatal adventure. However, the real Charles and his commanders were not so simple; they often achieved brilliant victories not only "by numbers but also by skill," and the Swedish army, in terms of training and experience, was the best at the end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century. The proposed book will introduce the reader to the extraordinary and controversial personality of the "last Viking of Europe" — Charles XII. He believed in predestination, and fate sent its fateful signs during his short life — bullets during battles. He endured four wounds with his characteristic courage, the fifth became fatal.