Karl XII Statue

The Karl XII Statue (Karl XII:s staty) is a bronze monument to King Charles XII of Sweden (1682–1718), located at Karl XII:s torg, the southern square of Kungsträdgården in central Stockholm. The statue was created by Swedish sculptor Johan Peter Molin and unveiled on 30 November 1868, marking the 150th anniversary of the king's death. It depicts Charles XII in military uniform, holding a sword in his right hand while his outstretched left arm points eastward — widely interpreted as gesturing towards Russia, against whose forces he campaigned extensively during the Great Northern War. The statue stands on a plinth of Swedish granite and is flanked by four bronze cannons captured as war trophies. In the 1990s, the square gained notoriety as a gathering point for right-wing extremist demonstrations held annually on November 30, the anniversary of the king's death.