Karl XII Archives - Anna Belfrage

The enslaved child – of Lovisa von Burghausen and her travails in 18th century Russia

Anna Belfrage / May 7, 2025 / Leave a Comment / History, Women in history, Writing / enslavement in 18th c Russia, Great Northern War, Karl XII, Lovisa von Burghausen, Peter the Great, Sacking of Narva

In November of the year 1700, that gallant warrior king Karl XII of Sweden, hastened to defend the city of Narva (in present day Estonia) from the besieging Russian army. The Great Northern War had kicked off some months earlier when an alliance between Denmark, Russia and Saxony/Poland had initiated an attack on Sweden’s Baltic […]

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How a walk in Boston led to the setting of a novel – in Russia!

Anna Belfrage / July 30, 2023 / Leave a Comment / historical fiction, Writing / 18th century Russia, anti-miscegenation laws in Colonial America, characters set adrift, finding a historical setting, Karl XII, Kronstadt, Location location, Peter the Great

Sometimes, inspiration strikes in strange places. Like where I am walking around in Boston—lovely place, I must say, and I especially liked the harbour walks—and come upon one of those information signs that give you an insight into the history of the place. This particular info sign was about the Russian Wharf, which in itself

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Who let the dogs out?

Anna Belfrage / May 11, 2016 / 10 Comments / Animals, Historical People, History, Writing / Dogbreeds, Dogs, Karl XII, Pets, Prince Rupert, Taming the wolf

Many, many moons ago, man sat outside the cave he called home and stirred the embers of the dying fire. From inside the cave came the sounds of his sleeping companions. He, however, was on guard duty, one puny human to keep an ear out for cave lions, sabre-toothed tigers and other potential predators. Above

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So fell the mighty warrior…

Anna Belfrage / November 30, 2015 / 7 Comments / Historical People, History, Human life, Writing / 17th century, 18th century, Absolute monarchy, Karl XII, Narva, Peter the Great, Poltava, The death of the Swedish Empire

On the last day of November 1718, the Swedish Empire hit the dust, crumbling into non-existence with the death of Karl XII. This our last warrior king was out inspecting his positions in Norway when an unidentified object hit him in the temple and killed him. Since then, debate has raged as to whether it

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