My Life As A Historian: Sabaton History's Early Modern Sweden Trilogy (Part 3)

I'll let the boys do the talking.

The defeat in the Battle of Poltava had shattered the Swedish Army of King Charles XII. Retreating south into the territory of the Ottoman Empire, the "Northern Paladin" becomes the honored guest of the Sultan. But Charles XII. is restless. Despite the comforts and luxury, he enjoys at the fortress of Bender, the King yearns for a chance to regain the initiative. More and more he gets involved in Ottoman politics, urging the High Porte to renew its enmities with the Russian Tsar. But even a famous King has to learn that hospitality has its limits.

And here's the video.

The adventures of Charles XII are an epic tale of their own, and this should be taught as an epic take of heroism. I fully comprehend the exhaustion and frustration that comes with dealing with a popular insanity of self-hatred in one's own nation, and Joachim's talking about how this went down back home should feel familiar with a lot of nationalists out there living under occupation. (Sabaton? Muh Right Wing? Please.)

The result is that Sabaton has done more to honestly present Swedish history to a nation in dire need of it than the Swedish government. No wonder they get shit on at home when they make music about it, because the Globohomo traitors in the Swedish state rightly perceive this as a threat to their generational gaslighting and want it shut down. Sabaton may not be Muh Right Wing, but you can bet that their audience leans that way; Nationalism is inevitable, so don't be surprised to see a future Swedish nationalist come to power with "Carolus Rex" as his theme song.