Carolus Rex was one of the first kings to crown himself. The story gos that he walked into the church during his coronation, took the crown from the priests hands and crowned himself while walking out. During this time period this was unheard of, the church crowned the kings and queens to give them legitimacy, Charles (Carolus) cut out the middle man and gave himself legitimacy. Thats what the lyrics are referencing.
@Ower8x Жыл бұрын
You could say it symbolizes the rise of Absolutism from the 17th Century ... as the destruction of the authority of the churches caused by the denomination wars in the wake of the Reformation and the Improvements in Infrastructure and Communication left the field open for Absolute Monarchs.
@texasqzacharymiller626 Жыл бұрын
Sweden along with England and the Northern German states had left the Roman Catholic Church. Carolus’s father was the self proclaimed protector of protestantism. Born to rule is a direct reference to Christ bloodline. The people thought of their kings as having the divine bloodline of Christ.
@Green-Olle Жыл бұрын
Bullshit. Karl XII av Sverige Regeringstid 1698-04-05 - 1718-11-30 His Father reign Karl XI Regeringstid 1660-02-13 - 1697-04-05. That facts and end of it.
@raven_1133 Жыл бұрын
“Don’t worry, he’s in his rebellious teenage phase!”
@chairmanm7686 Жыл бұрын
@@raven_1133 Funniest comment I’ve read in a while.
@gene1131 Жыл бұрын
The whole album has this kind of ''holy aura'' to it and it's arguably one of their best in my opinion!
@miafranlund6982 Жыл бұрын
I concur!!!
@gd88467 Жыл бұрын
The Carolean prayer is my favorite if the Album
@ThumperE23 Жыл бұрын
During this period, Sweden was fanatically Protestant, Swedish Lutheran Church. Charles 10-12 used the church to send the message about how it was their Holy Duty to serve the King. Carl XII himself believed it was his divine right to rule.
@Wurzelknecht Жыл бұрын
Yeah I'd say either this or Art of War is their best. Both albums are full of absolute bangers.
@Sebolmoso Жыл бұрын
@@gd88467 Its very underrated. I think in secular Sweden the whole prayer thing is a bit touchy. I'm a born Christian, now atheist. Still love it!
@chrisumana7644 Жыл бұрын
He had to be strong and at times ruthless because he was a young king and he knew some would try to take advantage of him and wouldn't take him seriously. He was beloved by his troop for his willingness to show that he was just one of them not sitting behind castle walls safe, eating the same meals as they did, and willing to fight alongside endangering his life to fight with troops when he didn't need to. I believe he was protestant now I'm not a religious person so I could be wrong but protestants don't recognize the pope as the representative of God.
@thecroc1301 Жыл бұрын
you are correct there, protestants don't follow the pope.
@dreamypizza84588 ай бұрын
sweden was protestant even at the time the "protector of protestantism" but karl was also described as VERY zealous
@mperor_ Жыл бұрын
Charles XII, (Swedish: Karl XII) or Carolus Rex, Latin for 'King Charles' (17 June 1682 - 30 November 1718), was King of Sweden (including current Finland) from 1697 to 1718. Charles had to take on the kingship after his father's death in April 1697, - when he was barely 15 years old.
@mperor_ Жыл бұрын
In 1700, a triple alliance of Denmark-Norway, Saxony-Poland-Lithuania and Russia launched a threefold attack on the Swedish protectorate of Holstein-Gottorp and provinces of Livonia and Ingria, aiming to draw advantage as the Swedish Empire was unaligned and ruled by a young and inexperienced king, thus initiating the Great Northern War. Leading the Swedish army against the alliance, Charles won multiple victories despite being usually significantly outnumbered. Winning a major victory over a Russian army some three times their size in 1700, at the Battle of Narva, compelling Peter the Great of Russia to sue for peace, an offer that Charles subsequently rejected.
@LaserSeQ Жыл бұрын
it is also around the time where the major split in christianity appeared, it started with Edward the 8 of england in the 1600s, and protestatism really caught on in northern europe, where, instead of sharing the power with the religion (pope, Catholosism) the king himself was the leader of the church (Protestatism) . it's all just politics in the end (in my opinion) but it was what sparked the long war, and kept it burning
@TheRealRealMClovin Жыл бұрын
Don’t forget also king over current latvia, lithuania and estonia, parts of northern germany. Parts of norway and later all of norway, putin poland under vassal rule, denmark to surrender while also invading russia
@Catholicterp7 Жыл бұрын
I love that you not only broke down the music but you also showed curiosity about the history and how the two interacr
@karl-erikmumler9820 Жыл бұрын
Karl XII was also quite the warrior king as well, leading his army in person from the front (not that that was a new thing for Sweden). He saw battle soon after he took the throne and really got into it. His dad had left him one of Europe's best armies (but small; because Sweden) which he used rather skillfully (e.g the battle of Narva). He also got a bear drunk to the point where it fell out of the castle window and died.
@Krillori Жыл бұрын
he got a bear… drunk?
@merryrose6788 Жыл бұрын
Sabaton has a history video, can't remember which one, from WW2 with Polish soldiers having a pet bear to help pull military equipment. They used to give the bear beer., cigarettes. "During World War II, the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the 2nd Polish Corps had an unusual soldier among its ranks, a 440-pound Syrianbear named Wojtek. Wojtek first came to the company as a cub, but over the course of the war he matured and was given the rank of corporal in the Polish army."
@Krillori Жыл бұрын
@@merryrose6788 ive heard of wojtek before, crazzzy story!
@jonashansson2320 Жыл бұрын
Carolus Rex underrated? I would say definately not. Pretty much the opposite. He was an amazing general, leading his army through victory after victory against sometimes overwhelming enemy forces. But he didn't know when to stop. His mind was always out in the fields, planning new ways to seek glory, no matter how rough it was back home. That was what killed the Swedish empire. After him, Sweden decided it had had enough of wars. Which is of course great. So him seeking war and battles everywhere ironically lead to the peaceloving Sweden we have had for a very long time now.
@laisphinto6372 Жыл бұрын
so basically swrdish Alexander the great
@user-kd2se5rk8x Жыл бұрын
I'm from Sweden and i learned about The Swedish Empire shortly after discovering Sabaton. I realy enjoyed the history lessons becouse i could learn about the history behind Sabaton songs from the carolus rex album.
@magnusnilsson9792 Жыл бұрын
Background noise @8:00 is Swedish words that translates to "Forward Caroleans, crush them, throw them through the gates of hell".
@randomguy4184 Жыл бұрын
You should really react to the swedish verisions of the carolus rex album, they all have different lyrics and way of telling the story compared to the english ones.
@80sHeavymetalchick9 Жыл бұрын
Saw sabaton at a club and these guys are AWESOME!! It was a triple header with delain and nightwish.. Hope you check out these two bands too!
@Calimbandil87 Жыл бұрын
Sweden at the time had a protestant state church, that made the king not only the head of state but also the head of the state religion. So while there was a religious leader in Sweden (the archbishop), even he answered to the king. But traditionally the archbishop was the person crowning the king, not Charles XII though. He did that himself as basically a flex.
@rogerhack3750 Жыл бұрын
"I vow i will never start an unjust war, but i will finish each one".
@toxicequinox4749 Жыл бұрын
I have been watching your reactions for about a year now. My man keep killing it i love your true interest behind everything. Def my favorite reaction youtuber
@ilmarihiltunen277911 ай бұрын
I really enjoy watching your reaction videos. The song is dope also!
@NikesZ28 Жыл бұрын
You need to sit down and watch the Sabaton History about this song, the story about this King is great. The song might give you the wrong impression about him 🤘😎
@annasofiehjelm6332 Жыл бұрын
Partly shoutout to @karl-erikmumler; not only was he leading his army in person from the front, he was the last ruler to do so. In fact, he was the last ruler to be present on the battle field at all. And it's interesting that he's went down in history as the Warrior King, since he's the only Swedish king during the 17th and 18th century not to start one single war. He simply defended himself. And yes, it is possible to get a bear drunk - it's possible with mooses, right? So why not a bear? Fun fact; Carolus Rex himself didn't drink (at least not hard, strong booze), which was known all over Europe, and he managed to save his life two times by drinking. One time during a house fire in Turkey, another time by taking a shot in the presence of enemies in order to convince them he was a GI Joe and certainly not the Swedish king.
@dreamypizza84588 ай бұрын
the belgian king fought in ww1 and prince harry in afghanistan but I get the point
@tealepeck8580 Жыл бұрын
Great reaction as always, Dave. You always give good and insightful Sabaton reactions. Also, happy belated birthday, homie! Oh and I hope you got to go to one of their concerts on the current North American Tour. They play a bunch of favorites including this one.
@presspaws9712 Жыл бұрын
I discovered you through the latest sabaton album! Im thrilled you're enjoying the earlier work!
@suntiger745 Жыл бұрын
There is a lot to be said about Karl XII. He was an excellent general and field commander - but a mediocre king, whose constant warfare bled Sweden almost dry. He favored a simply and austere living and would speak freely with his commoner troops and eat the same meals they did, as well as fighting with them - yet he also saw himself as chosen by God to rule and crowned himself, breaking with longstanding tradition of having the archbishop of the church crown the new monarch. He took the system of soldier-farmers that his father Karl XI had started, where each equivalent of a county were expected to provide a third of their eligible men as soldiers for the crown and in exchange they were given a small plot of land to build on and farm as their own, and expanded on it to a tiered system where a second and third series of soldiers could be called on. Allowing commoners a way to own their own land and a few other social reforms were quite progressive for their time, but also contributed to drain the manpower of the nation, since he called up the last and third wave to serve abroad, while they were meant to serve primarily in Sweden itself to preserve a fighting force at home. That's not all of his and Sweden's story, but it highlights some of the contrasts of both his rule and the king as a person.
@Fuilleverte Жыл бұрын
During the era, Kings ruled by "Divine Right." Even if the church had disagreed with Carolus Rex, He held the title against all comers and even Took most of Northern Europe under his Standard (Flag). Remember that History is told by the winners, so there may be 'some' Salt needed.
@johncrwarner11 ай бұрын
Interestingly this song looks at Karl XII early in his career he was the last absolute monarch of Sweden except for Gustav III attempting to restore it a century later. Later in his career - he lost badly to the Russians at the battle of Poltava then died at the siege of Fredriksten invading Norway and his death marks the end of the age of the Swedish Empire.
@johncrwarner11 ай бұрын
BTW I first encountered Karl XII in Estonia which is a part of the Swedish Empire which was lost to Russia so they weren't terribly happy with him LOL
@rimisark5 ай бұрын
He answers to the god directry, not through the church.
@thecroc1301 Жыл бұрын
Agreed Dave, gotta love them key changes Sabaton does.
@OSSY17 Жыл бұрын
Old but great song ,especially in swedish this song is more powerful , 😁😁😍
@rasmuswestridge Жыл бұрын
Dude your voice would be perfect for audiobooks.
@petervenkman69 Жыл бұрын
Carolus Rex is unfortunately a divisive character as he is often held up by Swedish Nationalists (this has caused some controversy for the band, but while being proud of their country, they are clear they reject racism and are non-political, they are simply history geeks) Carolus Rex was the last of the absolute rulers, and was most happy on the battlefield, but as the band has pointed out while he demanded complete loyalty, he was actually very inclusive (at least by the standards of the day) and his only concern was loyalty, not race/gender etc, and he also promoted significant domestic reforms.
@monkeymoment6478 Жыл бұрын
I understand being against racism, but nationalism? Really? Is there something wrong with believing your nation shouldn’t be relegated to a liberalized economic zone? In believing that your history is living, and you are the living descendant of thousands of years of tradition? What is wrong with this?
@petervenkman69 Жыл бұрын
When I said Swedish Nationalist I was referring to the extreme end, specifically Neo-Nazis.... so yes it is racists who hold him up. While you are entitled to your own views of course; on the subject of nationalism in general, I would suggest looking at what it has done to Britain, the US, Russia, Hungary and historically Germany, I would suggest there are some serious issues with it. While nationalism is not in itself necessarily racist, it certainly lends itself to it. People equate patriotism to nationalism, they aren't the same.
@mmasque2052 Жыл бұрын
@@monkeymoment6478, there is nationalism as a form of patriotism; holding up your countries achievements as a whole and including all its people regardless of origins. This is seen most often in times of world-level sporting competitions like the Olympics or World Cup Football. Then there is nationalism as it is generally practiced. Our ‘nation’ is exclusively ‘us,’ people of our ethnicity, color, religious beliefs. There is no ‘thousands of years of traditions’ as you put it as no nation has survived that long unchanged. Rome changed as other nations were absorbed into the Empire. And, don’t forget, it was a Republic before it became an Empire. England was occupied many times, the Celts, the Romans, the Saxons, the Normans… the ‘nationalism’ of the United States is a celebration of white colonists not only supplanting the native peoples who were already there, but importing numerous black slaves to do most of the backbreaking work needed to make the US a prosperous nation in the first place. That is the ‘nationalism’ we don’t, nobody does, needs. That is the ‘nationalism’ of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Putin, Trump…
@Kartoffelkamm Жыл бұрын
From what I remember, Carolus Rex went completely off the rails when he became king. Normally, the king would still answer to the pope, God's representative on Earth, but Charles was like "Ok, I see you, but God put me on this throne Himself. So shut up." Also the "My will be done" line, which is historically more "Thy will be done," as in doing God's work, but Carolus saw himself as a messenger of God, so his will was God's will by default.
@Tim_Nilsson Жыл бұрын
Answer to the pope? Sweden turned protestant in the 16th century and there was no love for the catholic church. There is a staircase in Kalmar castle made out of catholic grave stones. You must walk on them to climb the stairs. ;) Sweden of course also fought the catholics in the 30 year war. The kings would however normally be crowned by an arch bishop of the Swedish protestant church. Carolus Rex crowned himself but the actual "coronation act" was still held by an arch bishop. Pretty much all monarchs in Europe ruled by "the will of god" and also inherited their throne by the same will...
@Kartoffelkamm Жыл бұрын
@@Tim_Nilsson Ah, ok. Thanks for clearing that up.
@johncenashi5117 Жыл бұрын
@@Tim_Nilsson Oh shit is there? I live right by Kalmar and see that castle every few days when i take the train there. Have been inside for school trips but want to go in there more now when im actually interested in history.
@Tim_Nilsson Жыл бұрын
@@johncenashi5117 If my memory is not completely failing me. It's not impossible because it's 20+ years ago since I went on a guided tour and I haven't been back. ;)
@TerroristiRiku Жыл бұрын
just imagine if they had loud speakers at the time and they just blast this song towards enemy :D
@afriendlycadian9857 Жыл бұрын
Carolus Rex a great commander and leader and also a true soldier i remember reading that in a naval landing he was in the front boats with his grenadiers leading the attack you dont seee many leaders doing that
@alexanderbezumov3531 Жыл бұрын
When you have done all their songs you should do a tier list with all their albums!!!
@visig0th1523 ай бұрын
The term "absolute monarch" refers to a particular style of rule which appeared in the 1600-1700s which reflected an ideological shift during that time. During the middle ages, a king balanced his power against that of his vassals, the kingdom's nobility, who often had comparable power to the king in practical terms (or even more power than the king, as was the case in places like Germany at various times). However, with the reintroduction of classical literature to Europe at the end of the middle ages and the emergence of Enlightenment philosophy, on top of the development of the primitive legal concept of the nation state coming out of the 30 Years War, there developed an ideology of a sort of progressive government in which the role of a king was not as the first-among-equals of land-owning military leaders, but as the guiding fathers of their respective nations. In this new concept, the king stood at the head of the nation as the father of the people, and the king had a moral responsibility to stamp out any hinderance to his authority for the good of the nation, up to and including the nobility. This ideology, alongside other factors, led to the loss of power among the nobility and the centralization of power into the royal throne. The first and possibly greatest of the Absolute Monarchs was Louis XIV "The Sun King" of France, who essentially made the nobility his bitch through political maneuvering, military power, and propaganda. The Sun King's rule was the model off of which all future monarchs would base their rule going into the 1700s, including Charles XII of Sweden, but also other big hitters like Frederick the Great of Prussia and Catherine the Great of Russia.
@jonassundell9366Ай бұрын
First time he heard the cannons roar he said ' from this date, this will be my music'. He drove our country ( and the Russians as well) to hell. He ruled the church! His power was by the carolian soldiers resiliance and their fearless tenacity. Very fine reaction by you.! Greatings from Jonas Gothenburg Sweden.
@carolusrex7627 Жыл бұрын
Don’t forget the bear Carl XII got drunk to the point where it fell out the window and died
@Inferiis Жыл бұрын
Charles/Karl not only wanted to be a king, he KNEW he will be one, sooner or later. That's just how it worked and still works in monarchies. However, he was only 14/15 when his father, Karl XI passed so he legally couldn't be the king. He did it anyways. Edit: 6:40 The head of the state and the head of the religion was usually the same person until like the 18th century or so (well, except the Pope, he was above kings, although some did not like this)
@marksharpe5384 Жыл бұрын
The Divine Right of Kings concept.
@danielnystrom6117 Жыл бұрын
When they sing crown by god, not the church. That is true. He took the crown from the minster and put on himself. Nutter he was, fanatic some say. Still makes us swedes patriotic.
@ovader9059 Жыл бұрын
6:40 A pure guess. What can the Church say? Prior to Carolus Rex, the Swedish monarchy turned around the thirty year war where Protestant's and Catholics fought. Protestants were losing the 'thirty year war' getting slaughtered. Then the so called 'swedish intervention' happened where Gustav II Adolph ordered a full scale invasion of Catholic states after receiving letters of friends asking for help. Germans started calling him the incarnation of 'the lion of the north' after sweden drove back the Catholic forces off Protestant land. Not sure if it was him that was at a big losing battle when friends in Germany asked for help at a key point town was under Siege, the swedes divided their army in two and went to help, later won both battles. Did he have hubris because of the protestant church debt owned to his predecessors, probably, a little. Also, along Gustav II Adolph nickname 'the lion from the north' was 'father of modern warfare'. I mean damn, I suffer hubris in CSGO only by getting reminded of that....
@PepaRadovansky Жыл бұрын
absolute monarhcy its when king or whatever have no limits and rule the whole country without parlament or anythink
@merryrose6788 Жыл бұрын
Dave, you guessed it, that absolute rulers don't think anyone else is in charge. For many years, as Carolus did, they claimed the divine right of kings, that God put them on the throne, and to disobey the ruler was to disobey God. After the American and French Revolutions, that notion was dismissed. Some people held onto it, to their demise. The Russian Tsar, Nicholas and his wife, insisted that God wanted them to rule Russia. What they should have done was to have become commoners and gottern themselves and their family out of Russia ASAP. Instead, their faith in people supporting absolute monarchy led to their deaths.
@aleksandarpetrovic3245 Жыл бұрын
Coronation is always in church
@aleksandarpetrovic3245 Жыл бұрын
Sooo Goood
@dominicdevore2570 Жыл бұрын
He had a massive ego matched with an equally powerful military of the time
@MegaHomer123456 Жыл бұрын
ey. honsestly would love to see you react to the swedish one also
@connorwilliamson2660 Жыл бұрын
I know I'm a day late but Charles the 12th believed that he was chosen by God to lead Sweadin to glory and he showed that he was a brilliant military leader and strategist and his reign would be dominated by war
@aleksandarpetrovic3245 Жыл бұрын
Sweden was as BIGGEST when he was on the throne
@EliBoTyt Жыл бұрын
Would be great if you could react to sabaton history :).
@filipforza8133 Жыл бұрын
React to Sabaton history about carolus, it's a great video 👍🏻
@TheSimon253 Жыл бұрын
He wasn't actually that excited to become king. According to historians he wanted to travel the world not become king.
@Vakaria-plays Жыл бұрын
I am not sure if Carolus wasn't wanted to become king so early in life by the church, he was in some kind of government caretaker for 7 months but then he assumed the throne and became king, however he was known for showing very little emotion when it came to pain or general human feelings, and he was most comfortable on a battlefield, he was also known for being very abstinent never drinking alcohol as well as sex as he felt that those things were distractions from the war that he went through over half of his life and most of his reign, so the whole, crowned by god, not by the church, i think that refferences his lack of emotions and feelings, he knew the throne was his by right and blood and then assumed it and then proclaimed that the church may go against his crowning, but he believed that he was crowned by god and did not need the church if they would go against his destiny.
@Calumetto Жыл бұрын
LOL. The king they have in this video looks more like Hannes Van Dahl -- Sabaton's drummer -- than the actual king. He wasn't a "looker" by today's standards. ••• Thanks! PEACE!!!
@texasqzacharymiller626 Жыл бұрын
Born to Rule - the bloodline of Christ. Carolus’s father became the self proclaimed protector of the the new protestant sect of Christanity. He went to war against the Hapsbergs and Russia……
@aleksandarpetrovic3245 Жыл бұрын
Im from Sweden
@michaelginnis521 Жыл бұрын
He Didn't Dignify The Church's Power for he was above it
@cynic7049 Жыл бұрын
Of course, the Church of Sweden answered to the King since Gustav Vasa ditched the Pope (for insisting he reinstate his father murder as Archbishop).
@cynic7049 Жыл бұрын
Absolut royal rule in Sweden started by Carolus Rex father (Charles XI, it had been growing slowly until then, but reached it zenit by him) and was abandoned after Charles XII (Carolus Rex) died in the deal his sister did with the Riksdag to be elected monarch and then be allowed to abdicate and have her husband take the throne, then as most times until the 1980's only sons or brother could inherit the Swedish throne and lacking any such the Riksdag elected the monarch (they always elected the daughter or sister to the King if he had any ). Doubt the Church objected he was the head of it so any clergy objecting would probably have lost their job and possibly freedom.
@MrMcSmack Жыл бұрын
Its about the Karl the 12th, and he was born to rule
@falxgod6848 Жыл бұрын
Back in those days 15yo was considered adult.
@miafranlund6982 Жыл бұрын
Back then the Kingston and queen of Europe was chosen and crowned by the catholic church, but Sweden went protestantic, so we didn't acknowledge that the church would have anything to do with the crowning. Therefore crowned by God, not by the church.
@Tim_Nilsson Жыл бұрын
The coronation and crowning were normally done by some arch bishop. This to give the ruling monarch some religious legitimacy. So the church was absolutely a part of the process. The church's approval was however not needed to make the coronations legit which was more or less necessary in the catholic nations.
@WolfHeathen Жыл бұрын
Like so many Swedish kings before - and after - him, Carolus Rex absolutely hated organized religion. He believed that faith was connected directly with God and that man, by inventing organized religion, had inserted himself as an unworthy middleman. He saw the church as insignificant compared to God.
@carinarodebak9419 Жыл бұрын
Sweden decided to go protestant 1527, formally declared as a lutheran protestant state in 1544, with the King as head of church, ruling over the archbishop. Archbishp formally coronates, but Carl XII decides not to be consecrated and coronated, instead putting the crown on himself, declaring himself the mightiest, not needing to recieve crown from hand of archbishop. To this day ruling king is formally head of church, much like in UK. That means that the ruling king or queen today is the ONLY individual in Sweden who hasn't freedom of religion, must be lutheran protestant bc of being formal head of church. Nowadays church and state are separated and there is freedom.of religion and people getting more secularised. And the King/Queen a constitutional head of state and not absolute monarch any longer.
@faarsight6 ай бұрын
I mean, he was a tyrant. Being an absolute ruler is not a good thing. That said, he was arguably a good king. Sort of. Good general at least.
@ullis5125 Жыл бұрын
Swedish version live pls…
@Fuerwahrhalunke3 ай бұрын
"Europe, yep"? Of course this was in Europe, where do you think Sweden is lol. I swear, sometimes I think the American brain can't comprehend having thousands of years of history.
@whatitdodave3 ай бұрын
😅
@Gustav_Kuriga8 ай бұрын
If you think he was underrated I think you missed the point of the album...
@MegaHomer123456 Жыл бұрын
i like youre reactions hey from swedan swedish version is way better :) tho
@hakankarlsson191 Жыл бұрын
Swedish version is better
@colefritz5320 Жыл бұрын
Bro listen to the fucking song and then hyperanalyze it, you take away from the message by pausing it every 4 seconds
@nancy.dave.williams Жыл бұрын
Dude your eyes smile 😂
@lazyidiotofthemonth Жыл бұрын
Yes, King Karl was an absolute, he took the throne very briefly after France's King Louis XIV had died(the one known as the Sun King)
@misfit666_usmc6 Жыл бұрын
Again... more great content! I'm a month late, but here's my like. 🤌🏻 Gotta pay my respects.