Music Welcome to Snewscast. The podcast is designed to help you fall asleep. Find a SetsNewscast.com and if you enjoy our show, please share us with a friend. This episode is brought to you by Uncomparable Obstanacy. Tonight, we'll read from the opening two, History of Charles XII, written by French writer and philosopher Voltaire. It was first published in 1731. In this first major historical biography from the author, Voltaire tells the story of a warrior king who was the embodiment of the archetypal hero. Voltaire's Charles was a leader both atmurly strong and unabashedly tyrannical. Charles XII, also known as Carl XII, or Carolus Rex, was the king of Sweden and what is now Finland. Charles assumed power at the age of 15. His reign lasted

for about 20 years, ending in the year 1718. Let's get cozy.

Close your eyes. Relax your body into the softness of your bed. Take a few deep breaths. The Kingdom, which is made up of Sweden and Finland, stretches from the south to north as far as the 55th degree, or thereabouts. The climate is severe. There is scarcely any spring or autumn, but there are nine months of winter in the year, and the heat of summer follows hard upon the excessive cold of winter.

Frost from the month of October onwards is continuous, nor are there any of those

imperceptible gradations between the seasons, which, in other countries, render changes less trying. In compensation nature has endowed the Swedes with clear sky and pure air. summer sunshine, which is almost continuous, ripens fruit and flowers very rapidly. The long winter nights are shortened by the twilight evenings and dawns, which last in proportion to the sun's distance from Sweden. the light of the moon unveiled by any clouds and intensified by reflection from the snow-clad ground. And often too, by lights like the Aurora Borealis, which makes traveling in Sweden as easy by night as by day. The fauna are smaller than in the more central parts of Europe, on account of the poor pastures. The people are well developed.

The purity of the air makes them healthy, and the severity of the climate hardens them. They live to a good old age when they do not undermine their constitutions by strong drink, which northern nations seem to crave the more because they have been denied them by nature. The Swedes are well built, strong and active, and capable of undergoing the most arduous labors, hunger and want. They are born fighters, high-spirited and daring rather than industrious. They have long neglected commerce and are still poor businessmen, though commerce alone can supply their country's wants. Tradition says that it was chiefly from Sweden, a part of which is still called Gothland, that there poured those hordes of Goths who overran Europe and rested it from the sway of Rome. Who, for the past 500 years had played the role of tyrant, usurper, and logiver in that country? The northern countries were at that time far more populous than they are today. The only reproached known to the woman folk was that of idleness, and as they were both as industrious and as strong as the men, the period of maternity was of longer duration. In spite of this, Sweden, together with what remains to it of Finland, has not above four million inhabitants. The soil is poor. And Scania is the only district which produces barley. There is not more than 4 million's current money in the whole land. The public bank, the oldest in Europe, was established to meet a want because as payments are made in brass and iron coin difficulties of transport arose.

Sweden enjoyed freedom until the middle of the 14th century. During this long period,

several revolutions occurred, but all innovations were in the direction of liberty. The chief magistrate had the title King, which in different countries involves very different degrees of power. Thus in France and Spain, it implies an absolute monarchy. While in Poland, Sweden, and Finland, it stands for a representative or limited monarchy. In Sweden, the king was powerless without the council, and the council in turn derived its powers from the parliament, which was frequently convened. In these great assemblies, the nation was represented by the nobility, the bishops, and deputies from

the towns.

In course of time, even the peasantry, that section of the community which had been unjustly

despised throughout almost the whole of North Europe was admitted to the Parliament. In about 1492, this nation essentially liberty-loving and never forgetful of the fact that she had conquered Rome 13th centuries before was brought into subjection by a woman and a nation weaker than the Swedes. Margaret of Valdemar, queen of Denmark and Norway, conquered Sweden partly by force of arms and partly by means of diplomacy, and her vast states into one kingdom. After her passing, Sweden alternately shook off and submitted to the Danish Yoke and was ruled by kings and ministers alternately. about 1520, she passed through a period of oppression at the hands of two tyrants. One was Christian the Second, King of Denmark, a monarch with not one redeeming feature.

The other archbishop of Upsala and primate of the kingdom. Gustavus Vasa, a youth descended from the old line of kings, issued from the depths of the forest, where he had been in hiding, and appeared

as the deliverer of Sweden. He was one of those rare products of nature, a great genius with all the qualities of a commander of men,

his noble stature, and an air of distinction brought him adherence the moment he appeared. His eloquence reinforced by his good looks was all the more persuasive because it was unassumed. His genius led to the conception of great undertakings, which ordinary people deemed foolhardy, but which, in the eyes of the great, were simply brave. His never failing courage which carried him through all difficulties. He combined valor with discretion, was essentially gentle in an age of savagery and had a reputation for uprightness as far as that is possible for a party leader.

Vasa had been kept prisoner, contrary to the laws of nations. Having escaped from prison, he had wandered, disguised as a peasant, in the mountains and woods. There, to provide himself both with livelihood and with a hiding place, he found himself forced to work in the copper mines. While buried in these vaults, he dared to form the project of dethroning the tyrant. He revealed himself to the peasants and impressed them as a man of extraordinary gifts, whom ordinary men instinctively obey. In a short time, he turned these barbarians into veterans. He gained several victories over the tyrants, and drove them both from Sweden. Then the states duly elected him king of the country, which he had liberated. Firstly, was he firmly seated on the throne throne before he embarked on an enterprise of greater difficulty than his conquests. The real tyrants of the state were the bishops, who possessing nearly all the wealth of Sweden employed it to oppress the people. This power was all the more terrible because in their ignorance the people regarded it as sacred. less than two years Gustavus introduced Lutheranism into Sweden, using as a means diplomacy rather than force. Having thus, as he put it, rested the kingdom from the Danes and the clergy, he reigned in prosperity and absolutism and died at the age of 70, leaving his dynasty securely seated on the throne and his form of faith firmly established.

One of his descendants was Christine, an extremely gifted woman, preferred disputations with savants to the government of a people whose knowledge was confined to the art of war. She won as a great reputation for resigning the throne as her ancestors had gained in winning and securing it. The Protestants have defamed her as if Lutherans have the monopoly of all the virtues in the conversion of a woman who was a mere philosopher. She retired to Rome, where she passed the rest of her life, surrounded by the arts which she loved, and for the sake of which she had renounced an empire at the age of 27. After her abdication, she induced the states of Sweden to elect as her successor, her cousin, Charles Gustavus, the tenth of that name. His son. Charles XI. A warrior like all his ancestors, was more absolute than them all. He abolished the authority of the Senate, which was declared to be a royal and not a national assembly. He was economical, vigilant, and hardworking. He married in 1680, Al-Rica Eleanorah, daughter of Ferdinand, King of Denmark. A virtuous princess worthy of more confidence than her husband gave her. The offspring of this marriage was Charles XII. Perhaps the most extraordinary man ever born, a hero who summed up in his personality all the great qualities of his ancestors, and whose only fault and only misfortune was that he carried them all to excess. It is of him and all that is related of his actions and person that we now purpose writing. The first book they gave him to read was Samuel Puffendorf, in order that he might become early acquainted with his own and neighboring states. He then learned German, which he hence forward spoke as fluently as his mother-tongue. At seven years old, he could manage a horse, vigorous exercise in which he delighted, and which revealed his inclinations, early laid the foundation of a strong constitution equal to the privations to which his disposition prompted him. Though gentle enough in early childhood, he was uncomcrobly obstinate. The only way to manage him was to appeal to his honor. He could be induced to do anything in the name of honor. He had an aversion to Latin, but when he was told that the kings of Poland and Denmark understood it, he learned it quickly. And for the rest of his days, remembered enough speak it. Recourse was had to the same means to induce him to learn French, but he was so obstinately determined against it that he could not be prevailed upon to use it, even with French ambassadors, who knew no other language. As soon as he had some knowledge of Latin, they made him translate Quintis Cardius. He took a liking to the book rather for the subject than the style. the tutor who explained this author to him asked him what he thought of Alexander. I think, said the prince, that I would like to be like him. But was the answer? He only lived thirty-two years. Ah, replied the Prince, and is not that long enough when one has subdued kingdoms? These answers were reported to the king, his father, who exclaimed, That child will excel me, and he will even excel Gustavus the Great.

He was 11 years old when he lost his mother to illness. When he lost his father, the king, a few years later, when he was 15 years old, he inherited a kingdom secure at home and respected abroad. His subjects were poor, but brave and loyal. The treasury in good order and managed by able ministers. Charles XII on his access, not only found himself absolute and undisturbed master of Sweden and Finland, but also of Lavenia and Corralia and Ingria. He possessed the most beautiful part of Pomerania and much more. All conquests of his ancestors assured to the crown by long tenure, strengthened by the prestige of Swedish arms. law fixes the age of the King's majority at fifteen years. But Charles, who exercised absolute power in all points, deferred that of his son by will to the age of eighteen. By this will he favored the ambitious views of his mother. at Wiga, Eleanoria of Holstein, Guardian of her grandson, and, in conjunction with the Council of Six Persons, Regent of the Kingdom. The Regent had taken part in politics during the reign of the King, her son.

She was old, but her ambition, greater than her strength and ability, made her hope to enjoy the suites of authority, long during the minority of the King, her grandson. She kept him away from public business as far as possible.

The young prince passed his time hunting or busied himself with reviewing his troops. Sometimes he even went through their exercises with them. pursuits, seemed the natural outcome of the vivacity of youth, and there was nothing in his conduct to alarm the regent. One November day, after he had reviewed several regiments accompanied by the state councillor, he was standing plunged apparently in deep thought. May I take the liberty, son the latter to him, of asking your majesty of what you are thinking so seriously? I am thinking, answered the Prince, that I feel worthy of the command of those fine fellows. They then went in a body to propose it to the queen, who did not in the least expect such a declaration. The states general were then assembled.

The councillors of the Regency laid the matter before them, and they voted unanimously for it. The affair was hastened on with a rapidity which nothing could check, so that Charles the twelfth, merely expressed a wish to rule, and within three days the states handed over the government to him. The power and influence of the queen melted away at once. The king was crowned on the following 24th of December. He made his entry into Stockholm on a soar all horse, shod with silver, with a scepter in his hand, and amid the acclimations of a whole nation. A nation always extravagantly fond of novelty and full of great expectations of a young prince. The right of consecrating and crowning the king belongs to the Archbishop of Upsala, and is almost the only privilege remaining to him from among a number claimed by his predecessors. After having anointed the prince according to custom, he was holding the crown ready to put on his head. When Charles seized it from his hands, and with a proud glance at the prelate, crowned himself. The mob, always impressed by a touch of majesty, applauded the King's action. Even those who had suffered most from the tyranny of the Father could not refrain from praising the pride which was the inauguration of their servitude. As soon as Charles was master, he took counsellor piper into his confidence and handed over the direction of affairs to him so that he was soon premier in all but name. A few days later, he made him count. A title of distinction in Sweden and not as in France an empty title to be assumed at will. The first period of the King's rule did not give people a good impression of him. It looked as if he had been rather impatient of rule than deserving of it. As a matter of fact, he indulged no dangerous passions, and the only remarkable thing about him seemed to be youthful fits of rage, and a settled obstinancy. He seemed proud and unable to apply himself. Even the ambassadors to his court took him for a second rate genius, and so described him to their masters. The Swedish people had the same opinion of him. No one understood his character. He himself had not realized it. When storms arising in the north, suddenly gave hidden talents an opportunity of displaying themselves. Three strong princes, taking advantage of his extreme youth, made simultaneous plans for his ruin. The first was Ferdinand IV, King of Denmark, his cousin, the second Augustus, a lector of Saxony and King of Poland. The third was Peter the Great, Zahar of Russia. Russia occupies the whole of Northern Asia and Europe. from the frontiers of China extends 1500 leagues to the borders of Poland and Sweden. Yet, the existence of this immense country was not even realized by Europe before the time of of the Tsar Peter. The Russians were sunk deep in ignorance and unequainted with the arts and sciences, and so insensible of their use that they had no industry. An old law held sacred among them, forbade them to leave their own country without the permission of their patriarch. Yet this law, a vowedly enacted to prevent them from realizing their state of bondage, agreeable to a people who disdained all commerce with foreign nations. The era of the Russians began with the creation of the world. They reckoned up 7,207 years at the beginning of the last century without being able to give any reason why they did so. The first day of the year corresponded to our 13th of September. The reason they gave for this was that it was probable that God created

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