--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Charles arrived around eight a.m. with a…" description: "\"“Charles arrived around eight a.m. with a squadron of Drabants and began riding along the bank at the water’s edge to inspect the men and their positio..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/robert-k-massie-19874_hurt-charles_charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a_268427.jpg" --- # Charles arrived around eight a.m. with a squadron of… ![“Charles arrived around eight a.m. with a squadron of Drabants and began riding along the bank at the water’s edge to inspect the men and their positions. Some of the Russians from the force which had been driven back remained on one of the numerous islands in midstream, and they began to fire at…” quote by Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/robert-k-massie-19874_hurt-charles_charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a_268427.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/robert-k-massie-19874_hurt-charles_charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a_268427.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/robert-k-massie-19874_hurt-charles_charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a_268427.jpg) > ““Charles arrived around eight a.m. with a squadron of Drabants and began riding along the bank at the water’s edge to inspect the men and their positions. Some of the Russians from the force which had been driven back remained on one of the numerous islands in midstream, and they began to fire at the party of Swedish officers across the water. The musket range was short and a Drabant was shot dead in his saddle. Charles, without the slightest care for his own safety, continued his slow ride at the water’s edge. Then, his inspection finished, he turned his horse to ride back up the bank. His back was to the enemy, and at that moment he was hit in the left foot by a Russian musket ball. The ball struck his heel, piercing the boot, plunging forward through the length of the foot, smashing a bone and finally passing out near the big toe. Count Stanislaus Poniatowski, a Polish nobleman accredited to Charles XII by King Stanislaus, who was riding next to the King, noticed that he was hurt, but Charles commanded him to keep quiet. Although the wound must have been excruciatingly painful, the King continued his tour of inspection as if nothing had happened. It was not until eleven a.m., almost three hours after being hit, that he returned to his headquarters and prepared to dismount. By this time, the officers and men near him had noticed his extreme pallor and the blood dripping from his torn left boot. Charles tried to dismount but the movement caused such agony that he fainted. By”” [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Charles XII displayed reckless bravery, ignoring personal injury to maintain authority and morale during battle. **In simple terms:** He kept leading despite being wounded. Key Takeaway Lead by example, even when hurt. Themes leadership courage military sacrifice Mood determined grim heroic Type historical military leadership When to use this quote - battlefield inspection - command decisions - morale management Key Concepts personal sacrifice command presence risk tolerance Questions to Reflect On - What are the limits of personal sacrifice in leadership? - How does a leader’s pain affect troop confidence? A Different Perspective His injury could have compromised his judgment, risking strategic errors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Charles Arrived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charles-arrived-2630006/) [Charles Commanded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charles-commanded-2630005/) [Charles Tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charles-tried-1402753/) [Charles Xii](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/charles-xii-2630007/) [Hurt Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-charles-671747/) ## Related quotes > [“He used their bond to soak up her pain and take as much of its into himself as he could. Then he set the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-used-their-bond-to-soak-up-her-pain-and-take-as-much-of-its-into/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“ Stop that , Anna scolded him. You don’t need to hurt because I do. But I do , Charles replied, more honestly than he intended.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stop-that-anna-scolded-him-you-don-t-need-to-hurt-because-i-do-but-i/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [His brother maintained that what sent people backing away was neither his size nor his mother's blood, but solely the expression on his face.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/his-brother-maintained-that-what-sent-people-backing-away-was-neither/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Charles had tried to open the pond and called up for wolf to defeat the black magic and hadn't been able to. Brother Wolf…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/charles-had-tried-to-open-the-pond-and-called-up-for-wolf-to-defeat/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Gendemen, I have resolved never to make an unjust war, but to end a just one only with the utter ruin of my enemies.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bolitho/gendemen-i-have-resolved-never-to-make-an-unjust-war-but-to-end-a/) [William Bolitho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bolitho/) > [ “\[Charles XII\] seldom took a more active part in the council than to cross his legs upon the table.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/charles-xii-seldom-took-a-more-active-part-in-the-council-than-to/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) ## More by Robert K. Massie > [“Petersburg to examine the uniforms, dresses, helmets,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/petersburg-to-examine-the-uniforms-dresses-helmets/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“I used to say to myself that happiness and misery depend on ourselves. If you feel unhappy, rise above it and act so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/i-used-to-say-to-myself-that-happiness-and-misery-depend-on-ourselves/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [Four of my children are daughters, and I've watched them devote themselves to reading books about how little girls learn to become women -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/four-of-my-children-are-daughters-and-i-ve-watched-them-devote/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“For twenty years, Peter had been playing with soldiers; first toys, then boys, then grown men. His games had grown from drills involving a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/for-twenty-years-peter-had-been-playing-with-soldiers-first-toys-then/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“Books were her refuge. Having set herself to learn the Russian language, she read every Russian book she could find. But French was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/books-were-her-refuge-having-set-herself-to-learn-the-russian/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“In January in Northern Russia, everything vanishes beneath a deep blanket of whiteness. Rivers, fields, trees, roads, and houses disappear, and the landscape becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/in-january-in-northern-russia-everything-vanishes-beneath-a-deep/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“Why Lenin triumphed, why Nicholas failed, why Alexandra placed the fate of her son, her husband and his empire in the hands of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/why-lenin-triumphed-why-nicholas-failed-why-alexandra-placed-the-fate/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“This marriage had resulted from impulse: he had seen her on a high-flying swing at Tsarkoe Selo and her skirt, flared by the breeze,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/this-marriage-had-resulted-from-impulse-he-had-seen-her-on-a-high/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [ “To prove to \[her friend, Swedish diplomat Count\] Gyllenborg that she was not superficial, Catherine composed an essay about herself, "so that he would… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/to-prove-to-her-friend-swedish-diplomat-count-gyllenborg-that-she-was/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“She was intelligent, well read, and a shrewd judge of character. During the coup, she had shown determination and courage; once on the throne,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/she-was-intelligent-well-read-and-a-shrewd-judge-of-character-during/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“Don't worry. Don't worry. The Devil does none of these things. He neither smokes nor drinks nor engages in revelry, and yet he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/don-t-worry-don-t-worry-the-devil-does-none-of-these-things-he/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“Only one further prize remained on the entire North Pacific coast, the peninsula of Korea. Although Japan clearly regarded Korea as essential to her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/only-one-further-prize-remained-on-the-entire-north-pacific-coast-the/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“Gregory Rasputin, his bloodstream filled with poison, his body punctured by bullets, had died by drowning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/gregory-rasputin-his-bloodstream-filled-with-poison-his-body/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“One sultan, Ibrahim the Mad, encased his beard in a network of diamonds and passed his days tossing gold coins to the fish in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/one-sultan-ibrahim-the-mad-encased-his-beard-in-a-network-of-diamonds/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) > [“She (historian Barbara Tuchman) draws on skepticism, not cynicism, leaving the reader not so much outraged by human ability as amused and saddened by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/she-historian-barbara-tuchman-draws-on-skepticism-not-cynicism/) [Robert K. Massie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) [Explore all 31 Robert K. Massie quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/) ## More Hurt Charles quotes > [“He used their bond to soak up her pain and take as much of its into himself as he could. Then he set the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/he-used-their-bond-to-soak-up-her-pain-and-take-as-much-of-its-into/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“ Stop that , Anna scolded him. You don’t need to hurt because I do. But I do , Charles replied, more honestly than he intended.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stop-that-anna-scolded-him-you-don-t-need-to-hurt-because-i-do-but-i/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) [Browse all 3 Hurt Charles quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-charles-671747/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Charles arrived around eight a.m. with a squadron of Drabants and began riding along the bank at the water’s edge to inspect the men and their positions. Some of the Russians from the force which had been driven back remained on one of the numerous islands in midstream, and they began to fire at the party of Swedish officers across the water. The musket range was short and a Drabant was shot dead in his saddle. Charles, without the slightest care for his own safety, continued his slow ride at the water’s edge. Then, his inspection finished, he turned his horse to ride back up the bank. His back was to the enemy, and at that moment he was hit in the left foot by a Russian musket ball. The ball struck his heel, piercing the boot, plunging forward through the length of the foot, smashing a bone and finally passing out near the big toe. Count Stanislaus Poniatowski, a Polish nobleman accredited to Charles XII by King Stanislaus, who was riding next to the King, noticed that he was hurt, but Charles commanded him to keep quiet. Although the wound must have been excruciatingly painful, the King continued his tour of inspection as if nothing had happened. It was not until eleven a.m., almost three hours after being hit, that he returned to his headquarters and prepared to dismount. By this time, the officers and men near him had noticed his extreme pallor and the blood dripping from his torn left boot. Charles tried to dismount but the movement caused such agony that he fainted. By”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert K. Massie" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a-squadron-of-drabants-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Hurt Charles" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a-squadron-of-drabants-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/robert-k-massie-19874_hurt-charles_charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a_268427.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/robert-k-massie-19874_hurt-charles_charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a_268427.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f94/robert-k-massie-19874_hurt-charles_charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a_268427.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Charles arrived around eight a.m. with a squadron of Drabants and began riding along the bank at the water’s…” — Robert K. Massie", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Robert K. Massie", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-k-massie/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Charles arrived around eight a.m. with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a-squadron-of-drabants-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-k-massie/charles-arrived-around-eight-a-m-with-a-squadron-of-drabants-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```