Chapter Chaonian Food to Charles of C by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Charles XII. of Sweden. Determined to brave the seasons, as he had done his enemies, Charles XII. ventured to make long marches during the cold of the memorable winter of 1709. In one of these marches 2000 of his men died from the cold.

Or learn the fate that bleeding thousands bore,
Marched by their Charles to Dnieper’s swampy shore;
Faint in his wounds, and shivering in the blast,
The Swedish soldier sank, and groaned his last.
   —Campbell: The Pleasures of Hope, ii. (1799).

(Planché has an historical drama, in two acts, called Charles XII.; and the Life of Charles XII., by Voltaire, is considered to be one of the best-written historical works in the French language.)

Charles “the Bold,” duke of Burgundy, introduced by sir W. Scott in two novels, Quentin Durward and Anne of Geierstein. The latter contains an account of the battle of Nancy (Nahn-seé) where Charles was slain.

Charles, prince of Wales (called “Babie Charles”), son of James I., introduced by sir W. Scott in The Fortunes of Nigel.

Charles “the Good,” earl of Flanders. In 1127 he passed a law that whoever married a serf should become a serf: thus if a prince married a serf, the prince would become a serf. This absurd law caused his death, and the death of the best blood in Bruges.—S. Knowles: The Provost of Bruges (1836).