Kristina's letter to Emperor Fasilides of Ethiopia, dated August 13/23 (Old Style), 1653

Sources:

Riksarkivet, image 98/page 1584 in Augusti 1653; Riksregistraturet

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/nad?postid=Arkis+8cb4d152-9b89-11d5-a701-0002440207bb&s=Balder

Mémoires concernant Christine, volume 1, page 352, Johan Arckenholtz, 1751

https://books.google.com/books?id=KgtcAAAAcAAJ&dq=reine+christine+de+suède+ferrario+savant+d%27italie+1653+lettre&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The letter (copy):

Nos Christina etc. Serenissimo ac potentissimo principi. Consangvineo et amico Nostro Charissimo, eadem Gratia Aethiopum Regem Salutem & Prosperos rerum Successus. Serenissime princeps etc. Hac occasione, qvâ ad Serenitatem Vestram Subditus Eiusdem redit intermittere non Potuimus, qvin Seren:tem V:ram, Vnicum ijs in Locis Christianum principem, eoqve magis omnibus illis, qui eadem Sacra profitentur æstimandum hisce Salutaremus, atqve initio Nostrj commercij literarij Prospera quæque eidem comprecamur; addito etiam hocce voto, vt qvæ inter tot Christiani nominis hostes adoleverat religio, Sub imperio S:tis V:ræ Eiusdemqve Successorem inconcussa illibataqve maneat. Qvod vt ex animo vovemus, Jta dictum Akalaxtumqz benignissimo S:ti V:ræ favori Commendatum Cupimus, Atque hisce finientes etc:

Stockholmiæ

With modernised spelling:

Nos Christina, etc.

Serenissimo ac Potentissimo Principi, consanguineo et amico Nostro carissimo, eadem gratia Æthiopum Regem, salutem et prosperos rerum successus.

Serenissime Princeps, etc. Hac occasione, qua ad Serenitatem Vestram subditus ejusdem redit intermittere non potuimus, quin Serenitatem Vestram, unicum iis in locis christianum principem, eoque magis omnibus illis, qui eadem sacra profitentur æstimandum hisce salutaremus, atque initio nostri commercii litterarii prospera quæque eidem comprecamur; addito etiam hocce voto, ut quæ inter tot christiani nominis hostes adoleverat religio, sub imperio Serenitatis Vestræ ejusdemque successorem inconcussa illibataque maneat. Quod ut ex animo vovemus, ita dictum Akalaxtumque benignissimo Serenitati Vestræ favori commendatum cupimus, atque hisce finientes, etc.

Stockholmiæ...

Arckenholtz's transcript of the letter:

Nos Christina Dei gratia &c. Serenissimo ac Potentissimo Principi &c. Consanguineo nostro charissimo, eadem gratia Athiopum Regi salutem & prosperos rerum successus. Serenissime Princeps &c. hac occasione, qua ad Serenitatem Vestram subditus Ejusdem nomine Akalaxtus redit, intermittere non potuimus, quin Serenitatem Vestram, unicum iis in locis Christianum Principem, eoque magis omnibus illis, qui eadem sacra profitentur æstimandum hisce salutaremus, atque initio nostri commercii literarii prospera quæque eidem comprecamur, addito etiam hocce voto, ut quæ inter tot Christiani nominis hostes adoleverat religio sub imperio Serenitatis Vestræ Ejusdemque successorem inconcussa illibataque maneat. Quod ut ex animo vovemus, ita dilectum Akalaxtum benignissimo S.ti V.æ favori commendatum cupimus, atque hisce finientes &c:
Stockholmiæ die XIII. Aug: anno 1653.

French translation (by Arckenholtz):

Nous CHRISTINE par la Grace de Dieu &c. Au Sérénissime & Très-puissant Prince &c. Notre très-cher Cousin & Ami, par la même grace de Dieu Roi des Ethiopiens, salut & des succès heureux. Sérénissime Prince &c. Votre Sujèt Akalaxtus s'en retournant vers Votre Sérénité, Nous profitons d'autant plus volontiers de cette occasion de la saluër par la présente lettre, que votre Sérénité est l'unique Prince Chrêtien de cet quartiers-là, & par là-même est d'autant plus digne de l'estime de tous ceux qui professent la même Religion. Nous ne pouvons pas non plus nous empêcher de souhaiter à Votre Sérénité, à l'entrée de Notre commerce de lettres, toute sorte de prospérités, faisant de tout notre cœur des vœux, que cette Religion qui s'est accruë jusqu'ici parmi tant d'ennemis du Nom Chrêtien, puisse demeurer inébranlable & dans toute sa pureté & sous celui de ses Successeurs. C'est ce que Nous desirons de tout notre cœur, & nous recommandons le dit Akalaxtus à la bienveillance de Votre Sérénité.
Stockholm ce 13 d'Août 1653.

English translation (my own):

We Kristina, by the grace of God, etc. to the Serene and Most Powerful Prince, etc. Our dearest Cousin and Friend, by the same grace of God, King of the Ethiopians, greetings and happy successes. Serene Prince, etc. As your subject Akalaxtus is returning to Your Serenity, We take advantage all the more willingly of this opportunity to greet him by this letter, as Your Serenity is the only Christian Prince of your district, and by that is all the more worthy of the esteem of all those who profess the same religion. Nor can We help but wish Your Serenity, at the entrance to our letter business, all forms of prosperity, making with all Our heart wishes, that this religion which has grown so far among so many of enemies of the Christian name can remain unshakable and in all its purity and under that of his successors. This is what We desire with all Our heart, and We commend the said Akalaxtus to Your Serenity's benevolence.
Stockholm this August 13, 1653.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Emperor Fasilides of Ethiopia.

Note: Fasilides' name in his native Ge‘ez language is Fāsīladas (ፋሲልደስ); but his official throne name was Alam Sagad (ዓለም ሰገድ).

Akalaxtus is the Latin rendering of the name of Akala Krestos, a court administrator who began his career during Fasilides' reign. His name in Ge‘ez is Akalä Krǝstos (አካለ፡ ክርስቶስ).

The Ethiopian calendar lists the Julian and Gregorian calendar year 1653 as 1645-1646.