Charles XI (24 November 1655 – 5 April 1697), the son of Charles X, was king of Sweden in 1660–1697. He ascended to the throne at the age of four after his father’s unexpected death. Regents ruled in his stead until 1672, and he remained under the influence of the great nobles of the realm for some time afterwards as well. In 1675 Charles XI became engaged to the Danish princess Ulrika Eleonora (1656–1693), but this did not prevent war from breaking out between Sweden and Denmark over control of the province of Skåne. Regardless of the war, Charles XI and Ulrike Eleonora were married. Of their seven children, only one son lived to adulthood: the future Charles XII. By the latter half of the reign of Charles XI, Sweden achieved its greatest prosperity as a great power, the state treasury started being refilled, and the army gained strength. Unfortunately, a great famine struck the kingdom in 1695–1697 and the king’s unexpected death in 1697 dealt the kingdom another blow; Charles XI died of cancer at the age of only 41.