Charles XI also Carl, Swedish: Karl XI (24 November 1655, old style – 5 April 1697, old style) is King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire (1611–1718).

Charles was the only son of King Charles X of Sweden and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp.

His father died when he was five years old, so Charles was educated by his governors until his coronation at the age of seventeen.

Soon after, he is forced out on military expeditions to secure the recently acquired dominions from Danish troops in the Scanian War.

Having successfully fought off the Danes, he returns to Stockholm and engages in correcting the country's neglected political, financial and economic situation, managing to sustain peace during the remaining 20 years of his reign.

Changes in finance, commerce, national maritime and land armaments, judicial procedure, church government and education emerge during this period.

Charles XI is succeeded by his only son Charles XII, who makes use of the well-trained army in battles throughout Europe.

The fact that Charles was crowned as Charles XI does not mean that he was the 11th king of Sweden by the name of Charles.

His father's name (as the 10th) was due to his great-grandfather, King Charles IX of Sweden (1604-1611), having adopted his own numeral by using a mythological History of Sweden.

This descendant was actually the 5th King Charles.

The numbering tradition thus begun still continues, with the present king of Sweden being Carl XVI Gustaf.