Thursday, May 30, 2019

A letter on Kristina's intention to abdicate, dated January 6/16, 1654

A letter written by a C.V. Beuningen, mainly on Kristina's intention of abdicating. Written January 16/6, 1654.

Source:


Transcript:

My lord,
The queen prepares every thing for the execution of that great design, which she has meditated a long while, but at last firmly resolved upon, to lay down the government of the kingdom, and to resign the same to the duke Charles, who is now styled prince of Sweden. And it is believed, with the greatest appearance of truth, that the next summer will not expire, before the will of her majesty be intirely brought to bear. I am informed by a good hand, that the councils of the chamber are charged to examine the state of the kingdom, in order to find out the necessary fund, for the support of the queen, after the abdication of the crown; nay even that the queen for that purpose has proposed the revenues of Gothland, Oeland, Smalland, and Gottenburg; as likewise the tolls of Pomerania and Wismar. I leave it to your lordship's consideration, if this design of the queen will not give to her majesty great cause to chuse no side in the English war, neither for the one nor the other party; nor to engage herself in an enterprize of great charges and consequence: for besides that her majesty has declared to others, as also to me, that she would fain leave her kingdom in peace and tranquility, there are a great many debts still to pay by the court; and her majesty intends, as soon as she has layd down the crown, to enter upon a great voyage out of the kingdom: for the one and the other, money is required; and in the bad state of the finances of the kingdom, the same is very hard to be found: so that it is very likely, that it will cost much trouble, as well as in collecting the money, as in laying out the same. The princess, wife to my lord the count de la Gardie, has again attempted in vain the reconciliation of her husband with the queen*; and has got this final answer, That it was impossible to undo what was done before in this affair. Four or five senators, that were resolved jointly to make some remonstrations to the queen in favour of the said lord the count, have thought best to let it alone. ...

Upsal, Jan. 16/6, 1654.

My lord, &c.

C. V. Beuningen.


Above: Kristina, year 1649 or 1650.


Above: Count Magnus de la Gardie (1622-1686) and his wife, Princess Marie Euphrosyne (1625-1687), year 1653.

Note: By this time, Count Magnus de la Gardie had fallen out of favour with Kristina, most likely for insulting a man who was said to have started a rumour that Kristina had accused Magnus of treason and that she/he/they would laugh if he were ever insulted. Kristina wrote Magnus a scathing criticism in letter dated December 3, 1653.

Magnus' wife, Princess Marie Euphrosyne, was Kristina's cousin and foster sister.

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