Kristina's letter to Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, congratulating him on the birth of his daughter Maria Josepha, dated March 26/April 5 (New Style), 1687

Source:

Bibliothèque interuniversitaire (Montpellier); Manuscrits de la reine Christine; Lettere della regina a principi; Lettere al imperatore; Lettres à Léopold Ier; 60: Christine de Suède à l'empereur Léopold Ier, [s. l.], 5 avril 1687 (digitisation page 50v-51r)

https://calames.abes.fr/pub/#details?id=Calames-201911221411883356

Christine (1626-1689 ; reine de Suède), Manuscrits de la reine Christine : Lettere della regina a principi, 1601-1700.

[En ligne sur https://ged.scdi-montpellier.fr/florabium45/jsp/nodoc.jsp?NODOC=2023_DOC_MONT_MBUM_92] (consulté le 29/10/2024 08:05).

The Foli@ online digital heritage library is here:

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Copyright SCDI-UPV - Collections Université de Montpellier (shelfmark H 258).

The letter:

5. Ap[ri]l[e] 87 —

Serenissimo Jmperatore F[rat]ello Carissimo. Hò ric[evuta] la parte datame da V M C della Nascità d'vna nuova Arciduchessina con sodisf[atione] proporzionata alla cordialita con la q[ua]le mi prof[esso] interessata nelle Sue Consolazioni, e nelle felicita dell'Jmp[eria]l Sua Casa Me ne rallegro [...] con la M V. C. e ringraziandola di q[ues]ta dimostrat[ione] del Suo aff[etto] verso di me resto pregando Dio che conservi l'Arciduchessina nata e conceda á V M. C. ogni maggior prosp[er]ita

With modernised spelling:

5 aprile '87. —

Serenissimo imperatore, Fratello carissimo,

Ho ricevuta la parte datame da Vostra Maestà Cesarea della nascità d'una nuova arciduchesina con soddisfazione proporzionata alla cordialità con la quale mi professo interessata nelle sue consolazioni e nelle felicità dell'imperial sua Casa. Me ne rallegro [...] con la Maestà Vostra Cesarea, e, ringraziandola di questa dimostrazione del suo affetto verso di me resto, pregando Dio che conservi l'arciduchessina nata e conceda a Vostra Maestà Cesarea ogni maggior prosperità.

French translation (my own):

Le 5 avril '87. —

Sérénissime empereur, très cher Frère,

J'ai reçu la part qui m'a été donnée par Votre Majesté Impériale de la naissance d'une nouvelle petite archiduchesse avec une satisfaction proportionnée à la cordialité avec laquelle je professe mon intérêt pour ses consolations et pour les félicités de sa Maison Impériale. Je me réjouis [...] avec Votre Majesté Impériale, et, la remerciant de cette démonstration d'affection envers moi, je reste, priant Dieu de conserver la petite archiduchesse née et d'accorder à Votre Majesté Impériale une prospérité plus grande.

Swedish translation (my own):

Den 5 april '87. —

Durchlauchtigste kejsaren, allrakäraste Bror,

Jag har mottagit nyheten som Ers Kejserliga Majestät gav mig om födelsen av en ny liten ärkehertiginna med tillfredsställelse i proportion till den hjärtlighet med vilken jag bekänner mitt intresse för Era tröstar och för Ert kejserliga Huss glädje. Jag glädjes [...] med Ers Kejserliga Majestät och, tackande Er för denna demonstration av Er tillgivenhet mot mig, jag förblir, bedjande Gud att bevara den lilla födda ärkehertiginnan och att ge Ers Kejserliga Majestät varje större välstånd.

English translation (my own):

April 5, '87. —

Most Serene Emperor, dearest Brother,

I have received the part given to me by Your Imperial Majesty of the birth of a new little archduchess with satisfaction proportionate to the cordiality with which I profess my interest in your consolations and in the felicities of your Imperial House. I rejoice [...] with Your Imperial Majesty, and, thanking you for this demonstration of your affection toward me, I remain, praying God to preserve the little Archduchess born and to grant Your Imperial Majesty every greater prosperity.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.

Above: Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria.

Notes: In accordance with the nobility's ideals in the early modern era, kings and queens considered themselves siblings.

Leopold's wife Eleonore Magdalene had given birth to the Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria on February 24/March 6 (New Style), 1687. Her full name was Maria Josepha Colletta Antonia. Sadly, she passed away from smallpox on April 4/14, 1703. She was just sixteen years old. Through her older brother Karl (1685-1740), and if she had lived, Anna Josepha was and would have been the fraternal aunt of Maria Theresa (1717-1780), who was the Holy Roman Empire's only empress regnant and who had among her many children Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), the last queen consort of France prior to the French Revolution.