Source:
Monarchs Retired from Business, volume 2, pages 235 to 249, by Dr. John Doran, 1857 (1902 edition)
The account:
When Christina of Sweden, after she had resigned the throne, addressed herself to the task of writing her own life, she commenced her autobiography with the remark that, except Charles XI., then reigning, she was the only living being who had any right to the Swedish crown. The remark was characteristic of the author. Despite her abdication, she never made entire surrender of her right.
Her birth, at Abo, on the 8th December, 1626, put the astrologers to shame. They had foretold that a son would be born to the great Gustavus Adolphus, and that matters would go ill with mother and child. The prophecy failed in every point. "She will be a clever girl", said Gustavus, "for she has already deceived every one of us."
Thus the royal birth was contrary to expectation; — so was there in the baptism something opposed to ordinary custom. The Lutheran minister signed her with the sign of the cross. This was accounted a superstitious usage. Christina, after she went over to the Romish Church, remembered it with joy. "O Lord", she wrote, with enthusiasm, "he enrolled me in your militia, without being aware of what he was about!" Her next subject of congratulation was, that although she was born a girl, Heaven had inspired her with manly sentiments, and endowed her with a virile constitution. If she had only died, she said, when young and innocent, her happiness would have been complete.
At two years of age, Christina listened to salvos of artillery with delight. She remembered, long after, that the Christmas before her father left Sweden for the seat of war in Germany, the river Motala, at Nikoping, stopped in its course. This river was always supposed thus to foretell the death of a Swedish King. On the subject of that glorious death, she remarked (then being a Romanist) that she trusted that a ray of the triumphant grace of God fell upon her (Lutheran) father. "But", added the orthodox ex-Queen, "whether that was, or was not, the case, I submit to, admire, and adore the decrees of God." And with this observation, she dismisses the subject of her father's salvation.
Christina was but a child when, by the death of the great Gustavus, she became Queen (or King, for the old Swedes, like the Hungarians, applied the latter title to female sovereigns) of Sweden. She remembered little more of her accession than the delight she experienced at seeing many grand people kissing her hand.
The peasants too had their share in consenting to receive her as Queen. The little lady was introduced to a body of them, and their chief, Lars Larsson, after examining her closely — never having seen her before — exclaimed, "Yes, I recognize the nose, eyes, and forehead of Gustavus Adolphus. Let her be Queen."
In the fragment of her autobiography she confesses that she soon forgot her father; and she avows that the long and weary speeches of congratulation to which she was obliged to listen, gave her more annoyance than her father's death.
The Queen-Dowager mourned for her lost husband in a very characteristic fashion. She shut herself within her apartment, which was hung, ceiled, and carpeted with black. The light of day was excluded; and beneath the lamps suspended from the roof, the disconsolate widow lay, laughing till her sides ached, at the jests of the buffoons and the drolleries of the dwarfs, by whom the apartment was crowded.
Educated by men, and under the guardianship of men like Oxenstierna and his colleagues, Christina imbibed a hatred of all that was womanly. She swore like a dragoon. It was the little foible of persons of all ages. She was passionate, proud, revengeful; but her application to study was wonderful, and the success more wonderful still, even when in application of twelve hours a day is taken into account. The difficulty would be to say what she did not know; and of half of what she had acquired, she was herself the teacher.
She states, as one of her characteristics, that she sometimes passed days without drinking. She detested wine and beer, and did not particularly care for any other liquid. There was one exception, however; she was extremely fond of the rose-water with which her royal mother washed her face. To the Dowager's toilet-table the thirsty little Queen would repair, and there drink the cosmetic with great enjoyment. At length she was caught in the fact, and, Queen as she was, the dowager lady administered to her such a whipping, that Christina could never think of it, to her latest hour, without a feeling of uneasiness.
She endured hunger and thirst with singular patience; and she rallied those who did not resemble her in this matter. For womanly refinements she had the most extreme contempt; but she boasted of a delicacy of sense which prevented her from falling into vices, against which she was by no means disinclined. And it was judging upon a thorough knowledge of herself, and supposing all other women to be like her, that she expressed her conviction of the utter disability of women for conducting the affairs of a nation.
The affairs of her own kingdom were indeed admirably conducted during her minority by Oxenstierna, eminent as both warrior and statesman. With such success was his policy carried out that, in 1648, she may be said to have almost dictated the Peace of Westphalia, which commenced a new era and a new system in Europe.
The Senate nobly carried out her father's views with respect to her education. Noble ladies, sage men, skilful instructors surrounded her. She learned the dead languages as easily as the living, — and by the same simple means, — not merely by grammar and dictionary, but colloquially. She was an excellent Latin scholar when very young, and she turned her scholarship to excellent account when Sweden was abandoned by her ally, France. On that occasion, Christina designed a medal and inscription. Sweden was represented as a female towards whom a hand was extended from the clouds, while a cock (the emblem of France) was flying away, in a opposite direction. The legend was, "A Socio derelicta, a Deo restituta Suecia" — "Sweden, forsaken by her ally, upheld by God." On the reverse was the Swedish Lion with uplifted head, and the words "Confidenter et Solus" — "Boldly though singly."
The great Gustavus had provided for the succession of his daughter, when he repaired to Germany, in the event of his death. Christina was eighteen years of age when, in 1644, her mother Maria Eleanor ceased to be Regent, and the three Oxenstiernas (Gabriel Gustavus, Axel, and Gabriel Benedict), Jacques de la Gardie, and Charles Guldenheim [sic], surrendered their faithful stewardship, without ceasing to be faithful servants, and left her to both reign and govern.
The war which was raging when her father fell at Lützen, was continued on the part of Sweden, under Banner, Torstensohn, Horn, Wrangel, and Königsmark. Success departed from them at Nördlingen in 1634, and the cause upheld by Sweden was perilled by the defection of the Elector of Saxony, in 1635. The alliance, however, of France with the Swedish Crown, was rendered glorious by several victories within the nine immediate succeeding years. Austria was weary of the contest, and when the Treaty of Westphalia was signed, five millions of thalers, with Pomerania, Rügen, Bremen, and Verdun [sic], were added to the Swedish territory.
Meanwhile Sweden had engaged separately against Denmark, the friend of Austria. Torstensohn carried on a successful invasion of the enemy's country; and this war concluded in 1646 with an augmentation of the Swedish possessions, at the expense of Denmark.
After the Treaty of Westphalia had secured, for awhile, the tranquility of Sweden, Christina was crowned under circumstances of more than ordinary splendour and rejoicing, in 1650. She then named, as her successor, Charles Gustavus, son of the Pfalzgraf John Casimir and Catherine, sister of Gustavus Adolphus.
Among the greatest glories of this celebrated Queen was the founding of the University of Abo, in Finland. She invited, and that at great cost, to her aid, as well as for her own intellectual entertainment, great scholars from all countries: Grotius and Descartes, Salmasius, Vossius, Nicholas Heinsius, Comingius, Freinshemius, and others not less celebrated, gave splendour and dignity to a Court where the Muses were as much in favour as deeds of arms.
Her liberality, however, extended to extravagance, and she was prodigal in laying out money, even on worthless objects. The nation bore silently with the faults of the daughter of Gustavus. The people became more discontented and less reserved in manifesting their displeasure, when they observed the closeness of her intercourse with Romanists, — particularly with the French doctor Bourdelot and the Spanish ambassador Pimentelli. Both were deeply in her confidence; but while she trusted Bourdelot, she was first led, then commanded, by the Spaniard. Her close intimacy with the latter was complete, and it excited against her the indignation, not unmingled by compassion, of those who loved the daughter of Gustavus, but who saw the abyss into which she was descending. She resolutely refused to contract any matrimonial engagement, although several princely suitors offered themselves to woo a lady who would not be won — in that fashion.
Her impatient spirit manifested itself even at church. She there used two chairs, one of purple velvet, in which she was seated, and one in front of her, over the back of which she would lean her head or arms, thinking of divers matters — but apparently not of religious subjects. If the good minister were a little prosy, or a trifle long, Christina would begin playing with the couple of spaniels which always accompanied her; or she would chat with some gentleman-in-waiting; and if the minister still continued dividing and sub-dividing his subject, — for he would do so, regardless of her impatience, — the Queen would rattle her fan on the back of the chair before her, and distract the attention of the congregation, if she could not stop the preacher.
Her own acknowledgement that she was never nice of speech, hardly needs confirmation. It is, however, confirmed by an anonymous writer (1656) who states that one of his friends used to entertain her with stories of a very unseemly character, with which she was abundantly delighted; "yet because there were some of his narrations, which did sometimes require more modest expressions than the genuine or natural, chiefly before a Royal Majesty and in a maid's presence, — as she saw him going about his circumlocutions and seeking civil terms, she would boldly speak out the words, though they were never so filthy, many of which he hath specified to me, which modesty forbids me to write here."
A Flemish writer in the 'Mercure Hollandois', writing of her in the year of her abdication, 1654, is loud in praise of her queenly qualities, and of her intellect and discernment. But the Fleming confesses that she had nothing of the woman in her, save her sex; and that her presence, voice, and manners were altogether masculine. Her horsemanship was of the haute école; and nothing pleased her more than to drive a sledge with the utmost rapidity and carelessness. Any fare was welcome to her; and hard beef was devoured by her with the same indifference with which she swallowed the most exquisite dishes. Five hours' sleep she thought too great a luxury. The Flemish writer adds, that the great reserve of Christina gained for her, from her courtiers, more profound homage than was ever paid to mortal potentate. He must simply mean that she was haughty, for as to reserve, he adds, that although she went great lengths in her conversations, yet her authority suffered nothing thereby, as she knew when to stop. "It was a wonderful thing to see how, at the very opening of her mouth, every one present trembled; even the great General Wrangel, who had made all Germany tremble, was in presence of this Princess as submissive as a child."
Manneschied, the confessor of Pimentelli, the Spanish Ambassador at the Swedish Court, and a great admirer of the Queen, who was a lukewarm Lutheran, and who execrated Calvinism, agrees with this portraiture, to which he makes some additions. He speaks wonderingly of the poor quality of her riding-habit: "I hardly know if it were worth four or five ducats;" and the good priest proceeds to inform us that, even at Court, she was always simply dressed, and never wore ornaments of any sort on her dress or person. "All the gold she has about her body consists of a plain gold ring. She never combs her hair but once a week, and sometimes lets it go untouched for a fortnight. On Sundays her toilet takes about half an hour; but on other days it is despatched in a quarter." Manneschied says that he occasionally remarked, when talking with her, that the long sleeve of her chemise was covered with spots of ink, made when writing, and that her linen was ragged and much torn. She was in fact that horrible thing, a dirty person; that most horrible thing, a dirty woman. Sometimes a bold friend would hint at the salubrity of cleanliness, to which she would answer, "Wash! that's all very well for people who have nothing else to do!" "Tota lavanda Dea est" was not a rule to which this nasty lady yielded allegiance.
The priest sets her down for a heroine because she was wont to say that there was nothing under heaven that could give her mind a moment's uneasiness. This was only confessing that she was intensely selfish; and she was fond of uttering very fine sentiment, as is the case with the few selfish women who are to be found in the world. "I no more care for death", she was wont to say, "than I do for sleep", — an assertion that proves nothing for it has been uttered by the worst of criminals.
One of her great merits was her indefatigable industry. She loved work, hated those who preferred to be idle, and held in her heart's extremest contempt that curse in society, an idle man. No amount of business daunted her; the more there was, the better she was pleased; and if it elicited her skill in the use and knowledge of several languages, she was still more content. Nothing could be more majestic than the general bearing of this little lady on all state occasions, but the dignity was dropped with the circumstances; and she who had a minute before been addressing grandly rounded periods to a grave and admiring ambassador, was the next indulging in all sorts of wild talk with the perhaps confused, bewildered, and blushing man.
She so hated hypocrisy and sham in all things, that although she was below the middle stature, she would not wear heels to her shoes, as was the fashion with ladies of that period, but rather wore slippers of an even sole, that she might not appear a hair's-breadth higher than God had made her. As for her complexion, it came of the air, and not from the perfumer's. Chénut [sic], the French Ambassador, ends a long eulogy of her virtues, her erudition, her grace, condescension, and good-humour, by expressing his astonishment that she never wore "coif or mask." "Sunshine, wind, or rain, in town or country", says Chénut, "it is all the same to Christina." The only things on earth for which she seemed to care, according to this Envoy, were honour, virtue, and learning; the last thing she ever cared for was the manly homage of affection.
"Her hand had many suitors,
But she smiled them down imperially, as Venus did the waves."
There were many men at her Court, scholars, philosophers, poets, artists, and others, whose presence would have added glory to any throne; but with them there were the two, already mentioned, Doctor Michon, who assumed the name of his more celebrated uncle, Bourdelot, and Pimentelli, the Spanish ambassador; and these men, the first openly licentious and the second darkly designing, caused her to forfeit the good opinion of her subjects, and brought her to the point at which she saw, or affected to see, that her safest course was to abdicate, whether she regarded her pleasures or her duty. She fancied that she might fulfil both all the easier by such a course.
The anonymous author of 'The Relation of the Life of Christina' assigns to the influence of Bourdelot much of the evil which marked the character of the Queen. "That man", says the author, "being without religion and piety, impressed all his false opinions on the mind of the Queen, whom then, in a short time, he did make like himself. ... She did indeed still bear the name of 'Great Christina', but she had no more her virtues. She did before eat for the most part in public, where they used to discourse of some fine matters, wherein all the Court did, with admiration, partake of the knowledge and subtlety of that Princess's wit, who by those means was reverenced and cherished of all men. But this foolish statesman, quite contrary to that commendable practice, stole her from her courtiers to possess her alone, and entertain her royal mind with jests and ridiculous sports, so that her counsellors and the great men of her kingdom could hardly see her, and seldom speak to her."
After enlarging in the same strain upon similar subjects, the author (himself a Frenchman) adds, "that Imprudence and Impudence grew at last to that height, that, being judged intolerable, some did resolve and endeavour to murder him;" but we are told that "this base and fearful heart ... was forced to think of his retreat; for which he made an advantageous provision, carrying out of the kingdom, whether in coin or plate, to the value of a hundred thousand crowns and more." Of the subsequent career of Bourdelot the author says: — "He, like a great mastiff, eats this day the bread of the poor, and sucks the blood of the Crucifix, having obtained an Abbey of the King of France, by the urgent intercession of Christina (after her abdication), who took so much to heart the getting of that benefice (which Rome, informed of Bourdelot's ill qualities, had refused him), that she ceased not her importunities to the Court of France till she saw her Dagon sit in the Temple of God."
The same author speaks of the wildly irreligious nature of the conversation of Christina previous to her abdication; but he adds, "There is some probability that what this Princess did in those strange disputes was rather to show her fine wit than out of a design to overthrow those truths so well established in the world, that none but fools will oppose them."
Pimentelli was the successor of Bourdelot in the favour of Christina. His influence over her was unbounded, says the author of the 'Relation', "all the time of his negotiation in Sweden; for him she made feasts, balls, walks, and public rejoicings. And it is not without reason that many persons suspected that it was this man that made her conceive the monstrous design to quit the crown. ... It was he only that did eat oftenest with her — that accompanied her in all her walks — that entertained her at night until three or four o'clock after midnight; and, lastly, who was her Achates or inseparable companion, and who transacted no less all her business than his predecessor Bourdelot." The festivals she held in his honour, the gifts she conferred on him, and the embassy extraordinary which she despatched to the King of Spain, to thank him for sending her so gallant a man as Pimentelli, were scandals to the honest people of Sweden.
A report that Christina was disposed to abdicate, was current in Europe some years previous to the accomplishment of the fact. She was herself silent on the subject; but her conduct was watched, and her speech was scrutinized, and people drew conclusions in the best manner they could.
One day, the Queen remarked, with a yawn, that she never heard but the same thing — was sick of hearing the same thing, and was longing for something new. That night, all the Court was gossiping about her abdication.
On another occasion, when her cousin, Prince Charles Gustavus, was with her, two secretaries entered the apartment, with documents which required her signature. "I would as soon see the devil, as see these people", was the remark of the Queen to her cousin. She added an expression of her determination to resign the crown to some one who had strength to bear it, sufficient capacity to govern the nation, and courage and prudence enough to be at the head of the army. The report of an abdication became, of course, stronger than ever. The faithful old Oxenstierna had heard of a letter on the subject, addressed by the Queen to Chénut, the French Ambassador at the Hague. The letter contained an assurance that, except the Ambassador and another friend, the writer despised "all the rest of them." Oxenstierna and "all the rest" were more hurt by this expression than by the determination of the Queen to abdicate.
She had been meditating the step for eight years; and had been determined to realize it, for five years past. "You have been my confidant in this matter", wrote the Queen to Chénut, in February, 1654, "I have made up my mind, and I do not trouble myself to know or care what people may say of it."
Pimentelli and Bourdelot had already left Stockholm, and Christina had sent to Gothenburg a vast quantity of books, jewels, gold and silver vases, medals, paintings, statues, and rare manuscripts. There were more than a hundred cases, and the citizens began to think the wealth of the kingdom was being carried away in them. She increased the number of Senators to forty: the newly-appointed, it was said, would enable her to carry her project to a successful end.
On what, it was asked, was such a project founded? And it was answered that Christina, having resolved not to marry, was not bound to bear the oppressive weight of government longer than she chose; she was weary of war and diplomacy, and was looking, with longing eyes, towards Italy and tranquility. Besides, the finances of the nation were nearly exhausted, and would no longer suffice, not merely for the exigencies of war, but for the necessary splendour of her Court, etc.
Christina was aware of the motives attributed to her, and when she assembled the States-General in February, 1654, and announced to them her fixed determination to divest herself of the crown, and to resign it to her cousin, Charles Gustavus, she expressed her indifference as to the motives attributed to her by the world, and begged of the States to simply and speedily accept the resignation, from which no remonstrance could turn her.
The remonstrances were duly and repeatedly made, but in vain. Charles Gustavus is reported to have proposed a compromise, by offering to share the throne, by marrying the Queen. "All that I desire", said Christina, "is a guaranteed annual income of two thousand rixdollars, and certain lands which I may hold at my sovereign disposal." The revenue was not thought exorbitant; but the cautious Senate would not alienate Swedish territory, which the sovereign holder might, perhaps, subsequently sell to a foreign power. She wished also to regulate the succession after Charles Gustavus. The long-headed Swedish nobles respectfully observed that while they, with regret, sanctioned her resolution to abdicate, and acknowledged for their sovereign the successor named by herself, that nomination must be the last act of her sovereignty; her successor would relieve her of all further trouble touching the royal inheritance.
She was annoyed, but she submitted. On one sovereign act more, however, she was resolved. She sent an order to the Portuguese Ambassador to leave the kingdom. The reason alleged was, that she did not acknowledge his master, "the Duke of Braganza", as King of Portugal, the throne of which country, she said, belonged to her dear friend, Philip IV. of Spain. The ambassador was confounded; but the Senate, and the Prince designated as Christina's successor, bade him quietly remain where he was, as in a few days his master would be recognized as Sovereign of Portugal by the King of Sweden. The undoubted authority of Christina was thus set aside by others, before she had herself laid it down!
At length, the 10th of June, 1654, arrived. As if to show her impatience for the coming of that day, the Queen appeared before the Senate at seven o'clock in the morning. In the presence of all assembled, she signed the deed of resignation, after it had been read aloud; subsequent to which, the deed securing to her her revenue and landed property was also read and signed.
Christina then arose. The crown was on her brow. The royal mantle hung from her shoulders. The sceptre was still grasped by one hand; in the other she held the symbolic orb. With a crowd of brilliant officials around her, and two officers at her side bearing the Sword of State and the Golden Key, Christina entered the great hall of the palace. It was completely filled by glittering nobles and ladies, in whose presence Christina took her seat upon a solid silver throne. Deputations from different States of the realm were also among the spectators. The acts signed in the Senate were then read aloud, and the hereditary Prince, whose chair was a little in the rear of the massive low throne occupied by the Queen, placed the acts in her hands. She let them lie in her lap for a moment. Then, feeling that all was over, or should be over, she stood erect, and made a sign with her hand to Count Brahé to approach and take the crown from off her head. The great official drew back, resolved not to perform such solemn service. Again the sign was made, but the Count only turned aside to conceal his emotion. Christina then raised her hands, lifted the crown from her brow, and held it in her extended hands, towards the Count, who now approached and received it, kneeling. She then stripped herself of all her remaining royal adornments, which were carried by officers present, and deposited upon a table near the throne. Christina was left standing in a simple dress of white taffeta. She advanced a few steps, and spoke during a full half-hour on the past struggles and glory of Sweden, and on its prospects. She spoke eloquently, gracefully, touchingly. The whole assembly was drowned in tears and admiration at beholding such a sight, and hearing such sentiments — a Queen in the prime of life voluntarily surrendering power, and testifying by her speech her worthiness to retain it.
Sundry complimentary addresses followed from members of the Senate, nobles, and from Charles Gustavus, who even went so far as to persuade her to resume the symbols of royalty which she had just laid down. Christina smiled, shook her head, and all present having kissed her hand, she was conducted by Charles Gustavus to her private apartments. There was a pretty struggle on the occasion, but Charles, with gentle restraint, led her on his right, and leaving her at the door of her chamber, proceeded to the Cathedral, where he was crowned.
The coronation was not a splendid ceremony on this occasion, inasmuch as not only was Sweden exhausted of money, but Christina had sent away the crown jewels. She had been considerate enough not to carry off the crown; and Charles Gustavus celebrated his accession thereto, by striking a medal, on which he was represented being crowned by the ex-Queen, surrounded by the inscription, "From God and Christina!" "He might have added", said a legislator, "by election of the Senate!"
In the evening, although the rain descended in torrents, she announced her intention of quitting Upsal. Her friends remonstrated with her. "I cannot rest here", said Christina, "where I was so lately a crowned sovereign." She accordingly went; and on her arrival at Stockholm, declared her intention of repairing to Spa, for the purpose of drinking the waters, with a view of invigorating her shattered health.
The whole body of peasantry declared that she ought to be kept within the Swedish frontier by force, if necessary, otherwise she would squander good Swedish dollars in foreign countries. The entire body of Lutheran clergy loudly protested against her leaving the kingdom. "It is not Spa waters she thirsts after", remarked those clerical gentlemen, "she hungers for the Roman wafer." Unqueened Queen as she was, however, Christina would not allow her way to be impeded. She left Sweden accordingly, after taking hasty leave of her mother, the Queen Dowager, at Nikoping. Escorts by land, and convoy by sea, were placed at her disposal, but she escaped from, rather than refused, all, and Christina began her career of errant-lady.
Chénut reports, that when Christina had arrived at the little rivulet, which then divided Sweden from territory belonging to Denmark, she descended from her carriage and jumped across the boundary. On alighting on the other side, she exclaimed, "At length! here I am, at liberty, and out of Sweden; may I never return thither!"
_-_Nationalmuseum_-_18075.tif.jpg)
Above: Kristina.
Above: Dr. John Doran.
Notes: Kristina was born in Stockholm, not in Åbo (Turku).
Maria Eleonora was never Kristina's regent, as Gustav Adolf had ordered that she be excluded from the regency due to her mental and emotional fragility and instability and the fear that she might be a bad influence on Kristina.
The abdication ceremony took place on June 6/16 (Old Style), 1654, not June 10/20.
The story of Kristina at the stream is a fabrication.
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