Charles or Carl, Swedish: Karl Sverkersson, (c. 1130 – 12 April 1167), is ruler of Gothenland, and then King of Sweden from circa 1161 to 1167, when he is assassinated.

He is the first historically known king of Sweden with the name Karl, and widespread use of Charles VII is not accurate.

Charles VII is a posthumous invention, counting backwards from Charles IX (1604–1611) who adopted his numeral according to a fictitious history of Sweden.

Six others before Charles Sverkersson are unknown to any sources before Johannes Magnus's 16th century book Gothorvm sveonvmqve historia, and are considered his invention.

The first Swedish monarch of the name to actually use a regnal number is Charles II (later retrospectively renumbered VIII), on his queen's tombstone (1451) at Vadstena.