King Karl XII of Sweden
1707
Meet the 'Warrior King' of Sweden, Karl XII, captured here in his signature blue military uniform by court painter David von Krafft in 1707. Unlike many monarchs who posed in lavish robes and crowns, Karl preferred the life of a soldier, and this portrait shows him ready for action with his sword at the ready and a confident hand on his hip. He became king at just 15 years old and spent most of his reign fighting in the Great Northern War, eventually dying on the battlefield in Norway. It's a striking image of a young ruler who chose the battlefield over the throne room.