Sources:
Essai de l'histoire du regne de Louis le Grand jusques à la Paix générale 1697, seconde edition, livre I, pages 14 to 17, by Louis le Gendre, 1698
Mémoires concernant Christine, volume 1, pages 556 to 557, Johan Arckenholtz, 1751
The history of the reign of Lewis the Great till the general peace concluded at Reswick in the year 1697 by Mr. Le Gendre; made English from the third edition of the French, book 1, translator unknown, published by D. Brown, Th. Leigh, D. Midwinter and Robert Knaplock, 1699
The account:
[... La Reine Christine de Suede, qui pour lors demeuroit à Rome, fit un voïage en France, pour voir si la Renommée ne flattoit point ce jeune Prince.] Cette Héroïne, fille unique de Gustave-Adolphe, qui conquit en deux ans deux cent lieuës de Païs, & fit trembler par son génie autant que par ses victoires, jusques à ses amis: cette Princesse, dis-je, avoit regné sept ou huit ans, avec d'autant plus d'éclat, qu'elle n'avoit rien à desirer de ce qui peut contribuer à faire une grande Reine; de l'esprit, du courage, l'ame élevée, une éloquence vive, qui couloit de source; elle aimoit les Sciences & les Lettres. Elle parloit parfaitement toutes les Langues de l'Europe. Ces avantages joints au secours de ses Ministres, gens habiles & de réputation, devoient, ce semble, lui faire croire qu'elle seroit toute sa vie aimée de ses peuples, reverée de ses ennemis, & estimée de tout le monde. Ces esperances, aussi solides que pompeuses, avoient de quoi la satisfaire; cependant elle avoit mieux aimé briller parmi les Sçavans dans l'empire du Bel-Esprit, que de tenir parmi les Rois un rang distingué. Il est rare de rencontrer dans les Personnes de son Sexe ce que les Princes les plus celebres ont eu d'extraordinaire & de superieur: Lasse de commander elle avoit quitté la Couronne, non par legereté & par inquietude, comme disoient ses envieux, ou parce que le Senat de Suede la pressoit de se marier à un Prince qu'elle n'aimoit pas; mais pour avoir la liberté d'aller par toute l'Europe recueillir les loüanges & ce tribut d'admiration que les Peuples les plus polis ne pouvoient refuser, du moins à ce qu'elle croyoit, à un mérite comme le sien; Ensuite elle estoit passée de Suéde en Flandre; de Flandre en Allemagne; de là à Rome, d'où la réputation du Roy l'avoit attirée en France. Il n'est point de respects qu'il ne lui fit rendre, point de regal qu'il ne lui donna. Les plaisirs se succedant les uns aux autres, c'étoient des fêtes continuelles, dont ce Prince faisoit les honneurs, autant par sa bonne mine, que par sa magnificence. Il avoit alors dix-neuf à vingt ans; la taille grande, l'air auguste, une phisionomie marquée de tous les traits de l'honneur & de la vertu, un mêlange agréable de majesté & de douceur. Quand la Reine de Suéde le vit la premiére fois, elle eut les yeux collez sur lui pendant toute l'entrevûë: c'étoit un hommage qu'elle rendoit à sa bonne mine. Elle conçut dans la suite tant d'estime pour lui, qu'elle ne pouvoit se lasser, même aprés son retour à Rome, de témoigner à tout le monde, que la vuë de ce jeune Prince avoit païé avec usure toutes les peines du voïage, & que son merite surpassoit sa réputation.
With modernised spelling:
[... La reine Christine de Suède, qui pour lors demeurait à Rome, fit un voyage en France, pour voir si la renommée ne flattait point ce jeune prince.] Cette héroïne, fille unique de Gustave-Adolphe, qui conquit en deux ans deux cent lieues de pays et fit trembler par son génie autant que par ses victoires jusquu'à ses amis. Cette princesse, dis-je, avait régné sept ou huit ans, avec d'autant plus d'éclat, qu'elle n'avait rien à désirer de ce qui peut contribuer à faire une grande reine: de l'esprit, du courage, l'âme élevée, une éloquence vive qui coulait de source. Elle aimait les sciences et les lettres. Elle parlait parfaitement toutes les langues de l'Europe. Ces avantages, joints au secours de ses ministres, gens habiles et de réputation, devaient, ce semble, lui faire croire qu'elle serait toute sa vie aimée de ses peuples, révérée de ses ennemis, et estimée de tout le monde. Ces espérances, aussi solides que pompeuses, avaient de quoi la satisfaire; cependant, elle avait mieux aimé briller parmi les savants dans l'empire du bel esprit que de tenir parmi les rois un rang distingué. Il est rare de rencontrer dans les personnes de son sexe ce que les princes les plus célèbres ont eu d'extraordinaire et de supérieur.
Lasse de commander, elle avait quitté la Couronne, non par légèreté et par inquiétude, comme disaient ses envieux, ou parce que le Sénat de Suède la pressait de se marier à un prince qu'elle n'aimait pas; mais pour avoir la liberté d'aller par toute l'Europe recueillir les louanges et ce tribut d'admiration que les peuples les plus polis ne pouvaient refuser, du moins, à ce qu'elle croyait, à un mérite comme le sien. Ensuite elle était passée de Suède en Flandre, de Flandre en Allemagne, de-là à Rome, d'où la réputation du roi l'avait attirée en France. Il n'est point de respects qu'il ne lui fit rendre, point de régal qu'il ne lui donna.
Les plaisirs se succédant les uns aux autres, c'étaient des fêtes continuelles dont ce prince faisait les honneurs, autant par sa bonne mine que par sa magnificence. Il avait alors dix-neuf à vingt ans, la taille grande, l'air auguste, une physionomie marquée de tous les traits de l'honneur et de la vertu, un mêlange agréable de majesté et de douceur. Quand la reine de Suède le vit la première fois, elle eut les yeux collés sur lui pendant toute l'entrevue. C'était un hommage qu'elle rendait à sa bonne mine. Elle conçut dans la suite tant d'estime pour lui qu'elle ne pouvait se lasser, même après son retour à Rome, de témoigner à tout le monde que la vue de ce jeune Prince avait payé avec usure toutes les peines du voyage et que son mérite surpassait sa réputation.
Arckenholtz's transcript of the account:
Cette héroine, fille unique de Gustave-Adolphe, qui conquit en deux ans deux cent lieuës de païs, & fit trembler par son génie, autant que par ses victoires, jusqu'à ses amis. Cette Princesse, dis-je, avoit régné 7 ou 8 ans, avec d'autant plus d'éclat, qu'elle n'avoit rien à desirer de ce qui peut contribuer à faire une grande Reine; de l'esprit, du courage, l'ame élevée, une éloquence vive, qui couloit de source: elle aimoit les sçiences & les lettres. Elle parloit parfaitement toutes les langues de l'Europe. Ces avantages joints au secours de ses Ministres, gens habiles & de réputation, devoit, ce semble, lui faire croire, qu'elle seroit toute sa vie aimée de ses peuples, révérée de ses ennemis & estimée de tout le monde. Ces espérances aussi solides que pompeuses, avoient de quoi la satisfaire: cependant elle avoit mieux aimé briller parmi les Savans dans l'Empire du bel esprit, que de tenir parmi les Rois un rang distingué. Il est rare de rencontrer dans les personnes de son sexe ce que les Princes les plus célèbres ont eu d'extraordinaire & de supérieur: lasse de commander elle avoit quitté la Couronne, non par légéreté & par inquiétude, comme disoient ses envieux, ou parce que le Sénat de Suède la pressoit de se marier à un Prince qu'elle n'aimoit pas: mais pour avoir la liberté d'aller par toute l'Europe recueillir les louanges & ce tribut d'admiration que les peuples les plus polis ne pouvoient réfuser, du moins à ce qu'elle croïoit, à un mérite comme le sien: ensuite elle étoit passée de Suède en Flandre, de Flandre en Allemagne; de-là à Rome, d'où la réputation du Roi l'avoit attirée en France. Il n'est point de respects qu'il ne lui fit rendre, point de régal qu'il ne lui donna. Les plaisirs se succéderent les uns aux autres, c'étoient des fêtes continuelles, dont ce Prince faisoit les honneurs, autant par sa bonne mine que par sa magnificence. Il avoit alors dix neuf à vingt ans: la taille grande, l'air auguste, une phisionomie marquée de tous les traits de l'honneur & de la vertu, un mêlange agréable de Majesté & de douceur. Quand la Reine de Suède le vit la prémiere fois, elle eut les yeux collés sur lui pendant toute l'entrevûë: c'étoit un hommage qu'elle rendoit à sa bonne mine. Elle conçut dans la suite tant d'estime pour lui qu'elle ne pouvoit se lasser, même après son retour à Rome, de témoigner à tout le monde, que la vûë de ce jeune Prince avoit païé avec usure toutes les peines du voïage, & que son mérite surpassoit sa réputation.
Swedish translation (my own):
Denna hjältinna var Gustav Adolfs enda dotter, som på två år erövrade tvåhundra landslag och fick till och med sina vänner att darra av sitt geni lika mycket som av sina segrar. Denna prinsessa, säger jag, hade regerat 7 eller 8 år, med desto mer glans, eftersom hon inte hade något att önska av det som kan bidra till att göra en stor drottning: ande, mod, en upphöjd själ och en livlig vältalighet som flödade naturligt. Hon älskade vetenskap och litteratur. Hon talade alla Europas språk perfekt. Dessa fördelar, tillagda till hjälp av hennes ministrar och människor med skicklighet och anseende, borde, verkar det som, få henne att tro att hon skulle älskas hela sitt liv av sitt folk, vördad av sina fiender och uppskattad av alla. Dessa förhoppningar, lika solida som pompösa, hade nog att tillfredsställa henne: hon hade dock föredragit att lysa bland lärda i det fina kvickhetens välde än att ha en framstående rang bland konungar. Det är sällsynt att hos personer av hennes kön hitta det som de mest berömda furstarna har ägt av de extraordinära och överlägsna.
Trött på att befalla hade hon lämnat Kronan, inte av tanklöshet och ångest, som hennes avundsjuka sade, eller för att Sveriges senat pressade henne att gifta sig med en furste som hon inte älskade, utan för att ha friheten att gå över hela Europa att samla in de lovord och den där hyllningen av beundran som de mest artiga folken inte kunde förneka, inte minst, så hon trodde, till en förtjänst som hennes. Sedan gick hon från Sverige till Flandern, från Flandern till Tyskland och därifrån till Rom, varifrån konungens rykte hade dragit henne till Frankrike. Det finns ingen respekt som han inte gav henne, ingen behandling som han inte gav henne. Nöjena lyckades det ena efter det andra, det var ständiga fester, vid vilka denne furste gjorde hedern, lika mycket genom sitt vackra utseende som genom sin storhet.
Han var då nitton eller tjugo år gammal, lång, högdragen till utseendet, ett ansikte präglat med alla drag av ära och dygd, en behaglig blandning av majestät och mildhet. När Sveriges drottning såg honom för första gången hade hon blicken fäst på honom under hela intervjun. Det var en hyllning hon hyllade hans goda min. Hon fick sedermera så mycket aktning för honom att hon inte ens efter återkomsten till Rom kunde tröttna på att betyga för alla att synen av denne unge furste hade betalat för alla smärtor under resan med ocker och att hans förtjänster översteg hans rykte.
English translation (my own):
This heroine was the only daughter of Gustav Adolf, who conquered in two years two hundred leagues of land, and made even his friends tremble by his genius as much as by his victories. This princess, I say, had reigned 7 or 8 years, with all the more brilliance, as she had nothing to desire from what can contribute to make a great queen: spirit, courage, an elevated soul, and a lively eloquence which flowed naturally. She loved science and literature. She spoke all the languages of Europe perfectly. These advantages, added to the help of her ministers and people of skill and reputation, should, it seems, make her believe that she would be loved all her life by her people, revered by her enemies, and esteemed by everyone. These hopes, as solid as they were pompous, had enough to satisfy her: however, she had preferred to shine among scholars in the empire of fine wit, than to hold a distinguished rank among kings. It is rare to find in persons of her sex that which the most celebrated princes have possessed of the extraordinary and the superior.
Tired of commanding, she had left the Crown, not out of thoughtlessness and anxiety, as her envious people said, or because the Senate of Sweden pressed her to marry a prince she did not love, but to have the freedom to go all over Europe to collect the praises and that tribute of admiration that the most polite peoples could not refuse, at least to what she believed, to a merit like hers. Then she passed from Sweden to Flanders, from Flanders to Germany, and from there to Rome, from whence the reputation of the King had drawn her to France. There is no respect that he did not render her, no treat that he did not give her. The pleasures succeeded one after the other, they were continual celebrations, at which this prince did the honours, as much by his good looks as by his magnificence.
He was then nineteen or twenty years old, tall, august in appearance, a countenance marked with all the traits of honour and virtue, an agreeable mixture of majesty and gentleness. When the Queen of Sweden saw him for the first time, she had her eyes fixed on him throughout the interview. It was a tribute she paid to his good mien. She subsequently conceived so much esteem for him that she could not get tired, even after her return to Rome, of testifying to everyone that the sight of this young prince had paid for all the pains of the journey with usury and that his merit exceeded his reputation.
Swedish translation of the original (my own):
[... Drottning Kristina av Sverige, som då var bosatt i Rom, gjorde en resa till Frankrike för att se om inte berömmelsen smickrade denna unge furste.] Denna hjältinna var Gustav Adolfs enda dotter, som på två år erövrade tvåhundra landslag och fick till och med sina vänner att darra av sitt geni lika mycket som av sina segrar. Denna prinsessa, säger jag, hade regerat sju eller åtta år, med desto mer glans, eftersom hon inte hade något att önska av vad som kan bidra till att göra en stor drottning: kvickhet, mod, en upphöjd själ och en livlig vältalighet som flödade naturligt. Hon älskade vetenskap och litteratur. Hon talade alla Europas språk perfekt. Dessa fördelar, tillagda till hjälp av hennes ministrar och människor med skicklighet och anseende, borde, verkar det som, få henne att tro att hon hela sitt liv skulle vara älskad av sitt folk, vördad av sina fiender och aktad av alla. Dessa förhoppningar, lika fasta som pompösa, hade nog för att tillfredsställa henne; dock hade hon föredragit att lysa bland lärda i kvickhetens välde än att ha en framstående rang bland konungar. Det är sällsynt att man hos personer av ens kön finner det som de mest berömda furstarna har ägt av de extraordinära och de överlägsna.
Trött på att befalla hade hon lämnat Kronan, inte av tanklöshet och ångest, som hennes avundsjuka har sagt, eller för att Sveriges Råd uppmanade henne att gifta sig med en furste hon inte älskade, utan för att ha friheten att resa över hela Europa, att samla pris och den där hyllningen av beundran som de mest artiga människor inte kunde förneka, inte minst, så trodde hon, till en förtjänst som hennes. Sedan gick hon från Sverige till Flandern, från Flandern till Tyskland, därifrån till Rom, varifrån konungens rykte hade dragit henne till Frankrike. Det finns ingen respekt som han inte gav henne, ingen behandling som han inte gav henne.
De nöjen som avlöste varandra, de var ständiga firanden där denne furste gjorde hedern lika mycket genom sitt snygga utseende som genom sin storhet. Han var då nitton eller tjugo år gammal, lång, högdragen till utseendet, ett ansikte präglat med alla drag av ära och dygd, en behaglig blandning av majestät och mildhet. När Sveriges drottning såg honom för första gången hade hon blicken fäst på honom under hela intervjun. Det var en hyllning hon gav till hans goda min. Hon utvecklade sedermera så mycket aktning för honom att hon inte ens efter hans återkomst till Rom kunde tröttna på att betyga för alla att åsynen av denne unge furste hade betalat för alla smärtor under resan med ocker och att hans förtjänster överträffade hans rykte.
English translation of the original (by the anonymous translator of the 1699 English version):
[... Queen Christina of Sueden, who was at that time at the Court of Rome, undertook a journey into France, to be an Eye-witness whether Fame had not flattered this young Prince in those matters that had been related concerning him abroad, so much to his advantage.]
This Heroine, the only Daughter of Gustavus Adolphus the Famous King of Sueden, who, in two Years time Conquer'd above 200 Leagues, and made himself by his Victorious Arms, the terror of his Enemies, as by his great Genius he purchased the esteem, and was accounted the darling of his Friends. This Princess, I say, had sway'd the Scepter for 7 or 8 Years with an extraordinary success, being endowed with all the noble Qualities which are requisite to make a Great Queen; she had a most piercing Wit, a Soul elevated above the common Rank, and a great share of Courage. As she was a great Patroness of Learning and all manner of Sciences, so she had made her self Mistress of most Languages used in Europe, to that perfection, as to be able to entertain each Foreigner in his Native Tongue with a great deal of Eloquence. These advantages joyn'd to the great ability of her Ministers of State, gave her all imaginable hopes of being always belov'd by her People, of being feared by her Enemies, and esteemed by all the World; so that she seemed not to stand in need of any thing that could compleat her satisfaction; notwithstanding all these advantages, she chose rather to maintain an eminent rank among the Learned of our Age, than among the greatest Kings of Europe. It is the rarest thing in the World, and perhaps without parallel in History, to meet in a Person of her Sex so many excellencies, which the greatest Princes have always been ambitious of, to render themselves famous to Posterity. Weary of Commanding, she had quitted the Crown, not out of a fickle or froward humour, as it has been spread abroad by her Enemies, or because the Swedish Senate would have obliged her to Marry a Prince for whom she had no inclination; but because she preferred her own liberty before the toils of a Crown, and that she might not want the opportunity of taking a view of Europe, to receive the tribute of Praises and Admiration, which, as she had all the reason in the World to believe, the more polite sort of mankind would be ready to pay to such extraordinary merits.
After her Abdication she travelled out of Sueden into Flanders, from thence into Germany, and so to Rome, from whence the great reputation of our young King had brought her into France, where she was received with all the imaginable demonstrations of Respect, the King thinking no Honour too great for so excellent a Princess. There was nothing to be seen at Court but Balls and Feasting, every one striving to out-vie the other in magnificence, in which, as well as in his Person, the King surpassed all the rest.
He was then betwixt nineteen and twenty Years of Age, large of Stature, his Mien and Physiognomy carrying along with it something extraordinary and great, with all the true marks of Honour and Vertue, there appearing in his Countenance a most agreeable mixture of Majesty and Sweetness. The first time the Queen of Sueden came in his Presence she had her Eyes fix'd upon him during the whole Interview; and she had so extraordinary an esteem ever after for his Person, that even after her return to Rome, she could not forbear to speak highly in his praise, and to declare to all that came to see her, that she thought her self amply rewarded for the trouble of her journey into France, by the sight of that Prince, and that his merits infinitely surpassed the reputation he had acquir'd abroad.
With modernised spelling and punctuation for easier reading:
[... Queen Kristina of Sweden, who was at that time at the court of Rome, undertook a journey into France to be an eyewitness whether fame had not flattered this young prince in those matters that had been related concerning him abroad, so much to his advantage.]
This heroine, the only daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, the famous king of Sweden who, in two years' time, conquered above 200 leagues and made himself by his victorious arms the terror of his enemies as by his great genius he purchased the esteem and was accounted the darling of his friends. This princess, I say, had swayed the scepter for 7 or 8 years with an extraordinary success, being endowed with all the noble qualities which are requisite to make a great queen. She had a most piercing wit, a soul elevated above the common rank, and a great share of courage. As she was a great patroness of learning and all manner of sciences, so she had made herself mistress of most languages used in Europe, to that perfection as to be able to entertain each foreigner in his native tongue with a great deal of eloquence.
These advantages, joined to the great ability of her ministers of state, gave her all imaginable hopes of being always beloved by her people, of being feared by her enemies, and esteemed by all the world, so that she seemed not to stand in need of anything that could complete her satisfaction. Notwithstanding all these advantages, she chose rather to maintain an eminent rank among the learned of our age than among the greatest kings of Europe. It is the rarest thing in the world, and perhaps without parallel in history, to meet in a person of her sex so many excellencies which the greatest princes have always been ambitious of to render themselves famous to posterity.
Weary of commanding, she had quitted the Crown, not out of a fickle or froward humour, as it has been spread abroad by her enemies, or because the Swedish Senate would have obliged her to marry a prince for whom she had no inclination, but because she preferred her own liberty before the toils of a Crown, and that she might not want the opportunity of taking a view of Europe to receive the tribute of praises and admiration, which, as she had all the reason in the world to believe, the more polite sort of mankind would be ready to pay to such extraordinary merits.
After her abdication, she travelled out of Sweden into Flanders, from thence into Germany, and so to Rome, from whence the great reputation of our young King had brought her into France, where she was received with all the imaginable demonstrations of respect, the King thinking no honour too great for so excellent a Princess. There was nothing to be seen at court but balls and feasting, everyone striving to outvie the other in magnificence, in which, as well as in his person, the King surpassed all the rest.
He was then betwixt nineteen and twenty years of age, large of stature, his mien and physiognomy carrying along with it something extraordinary and great, with all the true marks of honour and virtue, there appearing in his countenance a most agreeable mixture of majesty and sweetness. The first time the Queen of Sweden came in his presence, she had her eyes fixed upon him during the whole interview; and she had so extraordinary an esteem ever after for his person that, even after her return to Rome, she could not forbear to speak highly in his praise and to declare to all that came to see her that she thought herself amply rewarded for the trouble of her journey into France by the sight of that prince, and that his merits infinitely surpassed the reputation he had acquired abroad.
English translation of the original (my own):
[... Queen Kristina of Sweden, who was then residing in Rome, made a journey to France to see if fame did not flatter this young prince.] This heroine was the only daughter of Gustav Adolf, who conquered in two years two hundred leagues of country and made even his friends tremble by his genius as much as by his victories. This princess, I say, had reigned seven or eight years, with all the more brilliance, as she had nothing to desire of what can contribute to make a great queen: wit, courage, an elevated soul, and a lively eloquence that flowed naturally. She loved science and literature. She spoke all the languages of Europe perfectly. These advantages, added to the help of her ministers and people of skill and reputation, should, it seems, make her believe that she would be all her life loved by her people, revered by her enemies, and esteemed by everyone. These hopes, as solid as they were pompous, had enough to satisfy her; however, she had preferred to shine among scholars in the empire of wit than to hold a distinguished rank among kings. It is rare to find in persons of one's sex that which the most celebrated princes have possessed of the extraordinary and the superior.
Tired of commanding, she had left the Crown, not out of thoughtlessness and anxiety, as her enviers have said, or because the Senate of Sweden urged her to marry a prince she did not love, but to have the freedom to go all over Europe to collect the praises and that tribute of admiration which the most polite people could not refuse, not least, so she believed, to a merit like hers. Then she passed from Sweden to Flanders, from Flanders to Germany, from there to Rome, whence the King's reputation had drawn her to France. There is no respect that he did not render her, no treat that he did not give her.
The pleasures succeeding one another, they were continual celebrations where this prince did the honours as much by his good looks as by his magnificence. He was then nineteen or twenty years old, tall, august in appearance, a countenance marked with all the traits of honour and virtue, an agreeable mixture of majesty and gentleness. When the Queen of Sweden saw him for the first time, she had her eyes fixed on him throughout the interview. It was a tribute she paid to his good mien. She subsequently developed so much esteem for him that she could not get tired, even after his return to Rome, of testifying to everyone that the sight of this young prince had paid for all the pains of the journey with usury and that his merit surpassed his reputation.
Above: Kristina.
Above: King Louis XIV of France.
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