Karl XI fought alongside France in the Franco-Ducth war, crushing the Danish attempts of regaining Scania and turned his nation into an absolute monarchy. Made the great reform, getting Sweden's economy on it's feet and creating the Caroline army. Being married to the Danish princess Ulrika Eleonora, is it possible to unite Scandinavia under Swedish rule?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_XI_of_Sweden------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
His realm; The Kingdom of SwedenStatus: Great Power, Protector of the Protestant Faith.
Government: Absolute Monarchy
Ruler: King Karl XI,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_XI_of_Sweden 'The Northstar'
Population: Moderate
Economy: Wealthy
Dynasty: Von Wittelsbach
Overview: The extremely resource-rich nation Sweden rose to the status of a Great Power after the, for Sweden, gloriuous Thirty Year's War. Since then Sweden has with confidence been marching towards greater power and what long was it's goal. Dominance over the Baltic Sea. After becoming the undisputed leading power in the North after the latest wars with Denmark Sweden had now achieved this goal, although the most recent war ten years ago showed that the country was in need of a reform. So one came, in a stroke after skillfull political manouvering King Karl XI created an absolute monarchy, and claimed back nearly all lands of the previously extremely mighty nobility. This, along with the vast ammount of Money coming from Sweden's industries brought the nations up on it's feet again. Karl also reformed the army and created a new great navy for the nation. Founding the great military port of Karlskrona (Karlscrown) in the process. Sweden stands with the greatest metal industry in the World, being in the process the chief exporter of cannons due to the vast fields of irona nd copper ore in northern Sweden, and the vast ammount of fuel that enables the industry in the shape of trees. With a powerful army and navy, Sweden has many possibilities. Yet Sweden does not have one of the largest populations, will it be able to keep it's Great Power status forever?
Military: Sweden has Europe's most advanced and dangerous army, the Carolean Army thanks to the reforms of Karl XI. This meant that Sweden has 80,000 in a standing army wich mostly lived in the countryside, split up in regiments. Each Soldier is to be upkept by several peasants and in turn helped the peasants in times of peace. This enable Sweden to raise great armies of professional Soldiers without the large cost of mercenaries. However in greater wars Sweden do bolster it's army with men that they called in, who was not apart of the standing army. Leaving the most men as workers, and should the need come, reinforcements.
Land Power: 120,000 (80,000 of these are apart of the Carolean army)
Naval Power: 120 warships.