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602 NOTES TO VOLUME I.
NOTE 3.
CHARLES XII.
The famous Charles XII of Sweden, was born in 1682, and
ascended the throne in 1697. He defeated Peter the Great at Narwa
in 1700 ; conquered Poland in 1703 ; and finally concluded peace
with Augustus, King of Poland and Saxony, in 1706. He was,
however, himself defeated by Peter the Great, near Pultawa, in 1709;
and had to take refuge in Turkey. In 1713 he was made prisoner
by the Porte, but the next year he escaped, and arrived before
Stralsund in the month of November. This fortress he defended
against the Danes, Saxons, ’Prussians, and Russians, but was forced
to surrender on the 23rd of December, 1715. He then crossed over
to Lund in Scania, and invaded Norway. While besieging Frederics
hall, he was killed on Nov. 30, 1718. Charles was characterised by
undaunted courage and an iron will; but his firmness degenerated
into obstinacy which sometimes bordered on insanity. At his death,
Sweden lay prostrate and bleeding; and after a century the wounds
she had received during his reign were not entirely healed. On the
other hand he entertained great plans for developing the industry
and resources of his country, and under his administration the Göta
canal was commenced. He was besides a patron of the arts and
sciences, and was especially fond of mathematics and mechanics. In
1716, Swedenborg was introduced to him by Polhem, when he at
once became an object of his favour, and was appointed an assessor
extraordinary in the College of Mines. After the death of Charles,
the royal power in Sweden was greatly diminished and that of the
nobles was proportionately increased.
It will no doubt be interesting to our readers to hear Sweden
borg’s account of Charles in the other life, where his true internal
nature became manifest. He speaks of him in as many as thirty
different places in his “Spiritual Diary," from which we collect the
following information :
“There was a certain spirit, who had been one of the most obstin
ate of mortals on this earth [Charles XII ). So obstinate was he,
that he would never desist from his purpose; but would remain in
it, even though he should suffer the most cruel death, or indure the
most terrible hell-torments. When he had made up his mind to do
an evil, he was able to confirm his headstrong opinion by such
arguments as might make it appear as if he acted from a motive
not in itself wrong. For instance, when during his life in the world
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