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Welcome to the channel, and thank you so much for watching! 😊 Swedish history is such a treasure trove of fascinating stories, and we’re thrilled to bring them to life. Stick around-we’ve got plenty more to come!

Wigs and tight trousers weren’t just symbols of power-they were the height of fashion at the time. Generals dressed to project authority and inspire their troops, but it was also about adhering to the era’s sense of style. Impractical on the battlefield, perhaps, but undeniably fashionable!

@whitetreehistory okayyyy thanks for ur insight.. dressing for projection

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoy the video and music - it really does add to the atmosphere, doesn’t it? The music is inspired by Swedish traditional music. In this case "kulning", which really help bring these stories to life. And you are absolutely correct about the nickname! Apparently he was the stubborn type.

@@whitetreehistoryMusic is a great fit, not overpowering your narration. Well done video, thank you 😊 👍

Mycke bättre❤Svensk/ Z🧟‍♂️🚩

Swedish slavery? Had it not been for Sweden the Finns would have fallen under Russian rule centuries earlier.

It would take almost 100 years before sweden and Denmark - Noway fought their last war in 1814

Trondheim have about one meter of snow today..

Not much to celeberate considering how the Norwegians suffered during the campaign.

One might as well try ;)

Agreed! It's one of those stories that deserves way more attention. Glad you appreciate it and thank's for watching!

Thank you so much! Glad to hear you enjoyed it. We've got more coming, so stay tuned!

That’s a tragic detail that really highlights how harsh the aftermath was, not just for the soldiers but for their families and communities. The price they paid feels even heavier knowing how vulnerable they were once the campaign ended. Thank's for watching!

We didn’t know that - it’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made. Storvallen truly stands as a silent witness to the loss in those mountains. Thanks for watching!

Thank you! Really glad you enjoyed it!

It’s easy to call it stupidity from where we sit now, but imagine being one of those soldiers - freezing, starving, but still following orders because turning back meant death anyway. I think that kind of perseverance, even in a hopeless situation, says more about their resilience than poor planning.

That’s a interesting way to look at it. I suppose in the end, it wasn’t really about winning or losing for those soldiers - it was survival, step by step. Makes you appreciate their perseverance, even if the whole campaign feels like a tragic mistake in hindsight.

The winter was late that year and December had not been that harsh and there wasn't that much snow up in the mountains so the march home could be done without too many problems. Retreating while they could and still had some supplies. Obviously no one knew that there was to be a snowstorm for days..

That’s a really interesting point, and I think you’re onto something. There could definitely be a mix of practical and cultural reasons behind the initial restraint shown by the Caroleans. On the practical side, keeping local populations calm and cooperative would make it much easier to move through and control the area without constant uprisings or disruptions. A peaceful populace is less likely to sabotage supply lines or resist, which would have been crucial for maintaining order during a long campaign. The cultural aspect is just as compelling. Many recruits in the Swedish army, especially those from regions like Jämtland, had deep ties to Norway through trade and shared heritage. These soldiers likely knew the land well and may have even known local families personally. For them, crossing the border might not have felt like entering enemy territory in the same way marching into Poland or Russia would. The close linguistic and cultural similarities could have fostered a sense of kinship, making the idea of plundering feel more like stealing from neighbors than from a foreign foe. Interestingly, we actually had a section in the original script that touched on this - specifically how soldiers from Jämtland had long-standing ties across the border. In the end, we decided to cut it during editing to keep the focus tighter, but it’s great to see others picking up on that same idea. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - it’s always great to dig into these layers of history!

_"Based on the information above, could it this be some kind of early recognition of kinship between Swedes and Norwegians? In the modern day, all of the Nordic countries consider our neigbors to be our brothers, but could this extend even to so long ago when our peoples were enemies?"_ No, you're extrapolating too much from too little and too loose an anecdote. It is true, as Whitetree has already written, that populations living just along the border often had shared ties. However, the Norwegian population as a whole was very anti-Swedish. This goes for even large sections of the border population, like the inhabitants of Frederikshald, who happily scorched their own town just to stop the Swedish advance in 1716. Recommendations given for jobs or posts in Norway at the time sometimes include sentences like "He is a good, honest hater of Swedes, like all good Norwegians".

That’s such a haunting and vivid image. The idea of ghostly Caroleans still wandering the mountains, searching for a way home, is both chilling and fascinating. Imagine sitting around a campfire and catching a glimpse of them through the mist - it’s the kind of thought that sticks with you. History and legend have a way of blending in places like that, and it’s easy to feel like the past is never too far away. Thanks for watching!

Thank you for sharing - having a personal connection to this history makes it even more powerful. We appreciate you bringing that perspective to the story!

Interesting. It's fantastic that we have such good records in Sweden compared to most other nations. Where do you come from from? Hälsingland? On my dad's side there was 8 carolean soldiers if I remember correctly. Most was Dragoons from Upplands dragonregemente. Some died in the storming of Lemberg 1704(?) and others in Poltava. ( It was a long time since I heard the stories so I don't fully remember all facts )

@@hnorrstrom I am from Jämtland and the stories about this event is still told in the mountain villages. But most of the knowledge about this tragedy comes from the book "Död på fjället" (Dead on the mountain) printed by I5 Fältjägarna (5 field jaeger regiment) for the 250 year memorial.

I was doing a road trip and walked in the area and saw the monuments and stuff some 10 years ago. I might try to see if I can find that book. It's a very interesting time in our history.

I guess you could say they were Finnished!

Thanks for the comment! 'Skåne skans' is actually the name of the specific redoubt in this case. But you're absolutely right - there were many skansar built during that time!

@whitetreehistory no, Stene skans, thats according to the map. Hej då. Åsa

Thanks for sharing - Sabaton’s way of turning history into music is incredible. It’s amazing how a song can make these events feel even more alive and impactful!

Absolutely! Mother nature can be the most unforgiving enemy . There’s something haunting about armies falling to cold and hunger rather than battle. A quick end in combat almost seems merciful by comparison. Although freezing to death is more like falling asleep. Thanks for sharing your thoughts - we love exploring these powerful moments in history!

Thank you so much for the support! The Great Northern War could have taken a very different turn.

Perhaps Norway have been a part of Sweden today`?

@@drdal We don’t think so - at least not at this stage. By this point, the goal seemed to be saving as much as possible. As we mentioned in the video, with Denmark out of the war, Sweden had a chance to retake Finland and possibly the Baltics. During our research, we found that Tsar Peter actually hesitated to attack Sweden because of how quickly a new army could be raised. The Carolean army still carried its reputation - even more so with Charles XII leading it. A victory in Norway would have only strengthened that belief.

We're glad the video resonated with you - history like this carries such emotional weight. Thank you for the continued support!