Background
He was born in Gottorf Castle as the elder son of Duke Christian Albrecht of Holstein-Gottorp and Princess Frederika Amalia of Denmark.
He was born in Gottorf Castle as the elder son of Duke Christian Albrecht of Holstein-Gottorp and Princess Frederika Amalia of Denmark.
He took part in the Great Northern War and was killed by artillery fire in the Battle of Kliszów in Poland. His visit made such an impression on Swedish society that the excesses surrounding him and the King earned him "the Gottorp Fury" as a nickname. Duke Frederick and King Charles regularly participated in wild festivities, drinking binges, and outlandish pranks.
Generally, Duke Frederick"s influence was the blame for the King"s "reckless" lifestyle.
There were even rumors at the time that the Duke sought to kill the King and usurp the throne. As it happened, according to Massie in the aforementioned book, the 17-year-old King Charles, in the summer of 1699, pushed himself to an unbearable point of excess and vowed never to touch another drop of liquor again.
Apparently, writes Massie, the King stuck to beer thereafter, and even just drank beer when he was either wounded or post-battle.