Caroleans were soldiers in the Swedish army who served under Kings Charles XI and Charles XII during Sweden's era of great power. The army employed offensive battle tactics, resulting in intense close combat involving blunt weapons such as pikes, bayonets and swords. Charles XII successfully led the Carolean army to several victories in the early stages of the Great Northern War (1700-1721). These triumphs contributed to the Swedish army establishing itself as one of the best in Europe during its time.
In 1687, Charles XI introduced a uniform in Sweden that is still synonymous with the era of Swedish great power. The Caroleans were in most cases dressed in blue coats with yellow lining, folded up at the bottom. On their feet, they had low shoes with buckles of brass and soles of fists. The shoes were of equal length on both the left and right and had a sharp end at the toes, which meant they could be used on both feet.
The cavalry wore a uniform similar to that of the infantry, but adapted to their role as horsemen. Instead of yellow lapels, the cavalry uniform featured blue lapels with brass buttons. On their heads they wore the triangular felt tricorne hat.
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Every soldier in the Carolean army wielded a sword, a blunt weapon designed for thrusting. The majority of these swords were manufactured at the Vira mill north of Stockholm. From 1701 to 1718, Vira bruk provided the army with a staggering 217,000 swords.
On 20 November 2023, a Carolean cavalry officer's coat of arms was sold at Probus Auktioner. The sword was hammered for SEK 105,000 (about £7,955), which is a new world record for a Carolean sword.
The sword features etched decoration, Charles XII's monogram, and the inscription SOLI DEO GLORIA ("To God alone the glory"), dating to 1711. Additionally, it bears the signature IB, representing Johan Bertram (1655-1734). Bertram, a German-Swedish bladesmith, served as a master blacksmith at Vira mill. Regarded as one of Sweden's leading metal engravers in the 18th century, he was among the rare few who signed their works.
When Charles XII died in 1718, the era of Sweden's great military power also ended. In March 1719, Charles XII's sister Ulrika Eleonora was crowned as reigning queen but abdicated in 1720 in favour of her husband Fredrik I.
