The Kalabalik at Bender revolved around King Charles XII of Sweden, who sought refuge in the Ottoman Empire after his defeat at the Battle of Poltava in 1709 during the Great Northern War. Charles was welcomed by the sultan, who saw utility in the Swedish king's military experience. However, as time passed, Sultan Ahmed III became increasingly apprehensive about the potential political ramifications if Charles gained support or attempted to regain his power. The fear of revolution sparked by a foreign king living within the empire led to tensions between the Ottomans and the Swedish court. On February 1, 1713, Ahmed III gave the order for Charles's arrest, which heralded the beginning of the skirmish. King Charles, recognizing the danger, sought to defend himself, leading to an armed conflict between his supporters and the Ottoman forces. The clash was marked by chaos; it involved not only soldiers but also local inhabitants drawn into the fray. The Ottomans were eventually able to subdue Charles’s loyalists, but the conflict showcased the complicated dynamics of foreign relations and the precariousness of power during this period.