By Atilla Altuntas

STOCKHOLM

A Swedish king who fled to the Ottoman Empire over three centuries ago was commemorated in Stockholm on the anniversary of his death on Thursday.

Charles XII ruled from 1697 to 1718. After losing a war to Russia, the king, accompanied by 2,000 soldiers, had to take refugee for around five years in Moldova, north of the Black Sea, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire.

During the traditional commemoration, guests enjoyed Turkish delights and the traditional baklava dessert, as well as Turkish coffee.

The local Skarholmen Theater Group also staged a musical about Turkish coffee.

Annie Mattson from Uppsala University’s Literature Department told an audience that when the king returned to Sweden, he brought along a lot of items from Turkish culture, including Turkish coffee.

Turkish coffee was introduced to Swedish at that time, she added.