Charles XII was only 15 when he became the king of Sweden in 1697. This 1868 statue in King’s Garden shows him with a saber in one hand and pointing toward Russia with the other. The historical significance is that in 1700, a triple alliance of countries attacked Sweden during the Great Northern War. Charles XII defeated two of the enemies but failed twice to overpower Russia. The first time led to the king’s exile. He was killed during the second attempt in 1718.
