Charles XII of Sweden was the king of Sweden from 1697 to 1718. He was the second child and the first son of Charles XI of Sweden and Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. Charles XII spent his childhood amidst luxury. As a child, he was a keen observer of the political and military matters of his kingdom, while preparing to rule the kingdom someday. His father passed away in 1697. Hence, Charles XII inherited the throne of Sweden. He was 15 years old when he took charge after a 7-month rule by a caretaker government. In 1700, he faced his first big challenge as a king when Sweden was attacked by three neighborhood kingdoms, who wished to take advantage of a weakened country and a young and inexperienced king. The war that resulted was known as the Great Northern War. However, Charles exhibited great military prowess and emerged victorious in several battles despite his forces being severely outnumbered. He, however, ended up losing his life while fighting in Norway in 1718. He was hailed by the historians as a great military commander and an able politician.