In the World of Lesnaya, the Great Northern War represents a transitional point in Swedish history, a trial by fire for the small Swedish Empire, whereby Sweden was able to assert its dominance in Northern Europe, despite its very small size and population. A rigorous regime of disciplinary and managerial tactics known as the Carolean strategy made the Swedish army a juggernaut capable of overpowering enemy forces with twice the manpower (a situation that the Swedish army faced in almost every engagement during the Great Northern War).