Carl XII’s Oak

Sweden is home to scores of mighty oaks, many of them ancient, twisted, and, in some cases, dying. The reason there are so many is due to a centuries-old law that forbade the felling of oaks because of their value for shipbuilding. All Swedish oaks were considered to be the property of the crown. Though these days, this law is no longer upheld, many old oaks still fall under the natural monument law. As a byproduct of their impressive age, many of these oaks have a story tied to them. Perhaps one of the most notable is the oak of King Charles XII.

This ancient oak is now sadly dead. Its branches have been removed and only the trunk, which measures some 20 feet around, remains. But the trunk has been preserved because of its connection to King Charles XII, who reigned from 1697 to 1718. When Charles—often known as Carl–was a boy, he and his sisters moved to Karlbergs Slott (Karlberg Palace) after their main palace burned down.