Editing Charles XII of Sweden (section)

== Early life ==
[[File:Carl XI & Ulrica Eleanor weddding medal 1680.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Charles's parents King Charles XI and Queen Ulrica Eleonora]]
Prince Charles of Sweden was born on 17 June 1682 [[Old Style and New Style dates|O.S.]] in the royal castle of [[Tre Kronor (castle)|Tre Kronor]] in Stockholm. He was the first son born to King [[Charles XI of Sweden]] and his wife, the Danish princess [[Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark|Ulrika Eleonora]]. He had an older sister, [[Hedvig Sophia of Sweden|Hedvig Sophia]], born in 1681.<ref>{{cite book |last=Hatton |first=R. M. |title=Charles XII of Sweden |date=1968 |publisher=Weidenfeld & Nicolson |isbn=9780297748267 |location=London |pages=19, 22–23}}</ref> He spent more time with his parents than would be typical in a European royal court of the time and traveled with them from a very early age. Four more sons were born to the royal couple in the years following Charles's birth: Gustav in 1683, Ulrik in 1684, Frederick in 1685, and Charles Gustavus in 1686. However, all of these four died in infancy. In 1688, Charles's younger sister [[Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden|Ulrika Eleonora]] was born, who later succeeded him as ruler of Sweden.<ref>R. M. Hatton, ''Charles XII of Sweden'', 1968, pp. 40–42.</ref> 

In 1693, Charles's mother died, and his father found consolation in spending more time with his son and heir. Charles XI brought his son with him to inspections and on other official business. Charles received an excellent education and was conscientiously prepared for the throne.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Nordlund |first=Sven |last2=Hatton |first2=Ragnhild Marie |date=26 November 2024 |title=Charles XII |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Charles-XII |access-date=30 November 2024 |website=Encyclopedia Britannica |language=}}</ref> He learned to ride by the age of four<ref>R. M. Hatton, ''Charles XII of Sweden'', 1968, p. 44.</ref> and engaged in rigorous physical training in his adolescence. He was very strong-willed and as king often stubbornly stuck to the standards which had been instilled in him by his moral and religious education. In April 1697, Charles XI died, and Prince Charles ascended the Swedish throne. Charles XI had provided for a regency for his teenaged heir, but already in November 1697 the [[Riksdag of the Estates|Riksdag]] (Sweden's assembly of [[the Estates]]) recognized the fifteen-year-old Charles's majority. Charles XII was the first (and the last) Swedish ruler to inherit [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarchical authority]] from his predecessor.<ref name=":0" />