Portrait of Charles XII of Sweden from Wikkipedia
This week ABC-Wednesday has the letter 'B'. For my 'B-post' I have shown a portion of my collection of beads and buttons, as well as featured two blogging jewelley-artists that make beautiful pieces with both beads and buttons. A post that appeals more to women than to men.
Painting of battle from Wikkipedia
This is why I am adding an extra button that may be of interest to all of you boys out there and history-buffs: My extra button is a button-bullet, that is believed to have killed the Swedish king, Charles XII (1682-1718). There has been a long debate about who actually killed this king. Was it the enemy's that shot him in the battle of Fredrikshald in 1718, or was it one of his own? To look at what Wikipedia has on this subject please click here.
This is a painting from the National Gallery of Art in Stockholm. Photo from Wikkipedia,_m%C3%A5lning_av_Gustaf_Cederstr%C3%B6m_%281845-1933%29.jpg)
This picture depicts the body of Charles XII being carried home to Sweden.
According to popular belief at that time, Charles XII was immune to bullets; He was considered to be protected by Divine Powers, and that only something that belonged to him, such as a button from one of his uniforms, could kill him. According to this button-bullet-theory a soldier named Nordenstierna saw Charles XI get shot and picked up the bullet that had gone through the king's head. Nordenstierna found that the bullet was made from a button from one of Charles XII own uniforms. At first Nordenstierna kept the button-bullet, but then later threw in a gravel pit, for fear of being cursed. The button-bullet was miracleously found in 1924 and left to Varberg's Museum in 1932. In 2002 it was analysed for DNA to see if blood traces were the same as on a pair of gloves that had the king's blood stains on it. The DNA tests showed that the button-bullet in Varberg's museum could be the bullet that killed Charles XII.
This would seem to support the idea that CharlesXII was assassinated by one of his own, but the experts are still not in agreement on this point.
This would seem to support the idea that CharlesXII was assassinated by one of his own, but the experts are still not in agreement on this point.
To read more about the button-bullet that ended the life of Charles XII (in English here) (in Swedish here).
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6 Comments:
Always strikes me as ultra-weird to see DNA testing in with the historical stuff *grin*. Fascinating story though. Thanks for the link love! :o)
What a great story. I have it all figured out. There was a spy in his midst. The spy then found out the secret and did him in. I liked your other post also.
What an interesting post. I agree with Jen that hearing about DNA testing regarding historical events seems weird. It's amazing what can be done. Thanks for the little history lesson today
What an interesting story. I like history.
Ahhhh!!! Killer Buttons! Better avoid my studio :)
Interesting story, Thanks, Anna :)
Dear Folks, Jen, Russ, Ann, Jean and Lisa,
Thank you all so much for taking the time to leave a comment.
I know that this is sort of a wierd post. Maybe I should just delete it. I am really sorry if this post is too unpleasant for anyone. History is history, yes. But it doesn't really matter how far back in time you go, human suffering is nothing to laugh at.
I did however get a chuckle from Lisa's comment! Killer Buttons!!! These are the words that save a post that probably never should have been posted. Thank you, Lisa.
Please come back. I'll try to do better next time!
Best wishes,
Anna
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