IN SWEDEN 75

with full liberty to raise a certain number of troops and
of building fortresses, on the condition that he should
raise none to the prejudice of Denmark. This was an-
other of those stipulations which inevitably lead to trouble,
for it afforded to Denmark a pretext for continual com-
plaint and interference. When Frederick the Fourth suc-
ceeded his father as Duke of Holstein in 1694 the quarrel
grew so hot that Denmark would have invaded Holstein
had not the parties to the ‘lreaty of ’89 interfered and
brought about a conference. ‘This lasted all through the
year 1696, but the negotiators appointed to settle the
matter were unable to arrive at any conclusion.

“Vhe following year Charles of Sweden, who had just
succeeded his father, furnished the duke with some troops,
to help him to build some forts that were intended to pro-
tect the frontier in case of invasion by Denmark. Christian
of Denmark at once attacked and captured these forts and
levelled them to the ground. The duke being too weak to
engage in a war with his powerful neighbour did not resent
this attack, and the negotiations were continued as before.
In view of the danger of the situation, and the necessity
for a monarch at the head of affairs, the Swedish Diet met
at Stockholm to take part in the funeral of the late king,
which was to be performed on the 24th of November, and
to deliberate upon the situation.

“By the will of the late king, Charles was not to ascend
the throne until he reached the age of eighteen, but the
diet passed a vote overruling this, and as the regency con-
curred, he was at once crowned, and the alliance with
Holstein was cemented by the marriage, that had been
previously arranged between Charles’s eldest sister and the
Duke of Holstein, being celebrated at Stockholm. Charles
XII. at once concluded treaties with France, ngland, and
Holland, while Denmark is reported to have prepared for
war by making a secret alliance with Augustus of Saxony,