Part 1/8:

The Tragic Story of the Carolan Death March

In the winter of 1718, a Swedish army left the borders of Sweden with the intent to conquer Norway. What followed was a catastrophe, one of the largest losses of life in Swedish history since the Bubonic plague. This event, known as the Carolan Death March, is a story of ambition, miscalculation, and human suffering.

Historical Context

The early 1700s were a time of great turmoil and change across Europe. Nations were grappling with the upheaval brought on by the Enlightenment and industrial innovations. Warfare had evolved—gone were the days when armies were made up of feudal conscripts supplying their own equipment. By this period, centralized nations needed state-funded armies, which required standardized weapons and tactics.