Alexander of the North
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), so called from his military achievements. He was conquered at Pultowa (1709), by Peter the Great.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Alexander of the North” mean?
Charles XII of Sweden (1682-1718), so called from his military achievements. He was conquered at Pultowa (1709), by Peter the Great.
Is “Alexander of the North” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.