Source:
Monarchs Retired from Business, volume 2, pages 272 to 274, by Dr. John Doran, 1857 (1902 edition)
The account:
Christina lingered in France through the winter, repaired to Paris in February, visited the Academy, laughed heartily on the Dictionary of that solemn body being opened at an illustration of the word "Jeu" — "jeux de Prince, qui ne sont amusans qu'à ceux qui les font", and saw Louis dance in a ballet, after all. There was, perhaps, some difficulty in getting rid of a lady who was, probably, what she was reported to be, a negotiatrix in the delicate affairs of France and Spain. Accordingly, she was invited or permitted to behold the royal ballet-dancer expose himself on the stage of the palace; and having enjoyed this approximation to a beatitude, she returned to Italy.
Christina arrived in Rome early in the month of May, 1658. She was well received, but without any extraordinary demonstrations. The irregularity with which her annuity was paid, exposed her to great difficulties: but Cardinal Azzolini accepted the controllership of her household, and his Eminence placed on it so stable and respectable a footing, that the gratitude of Christina is said to have been without limit.
Tranquillity, however, was not possible with her. She was constantly at feud with some adversary, from the Pope downwards, and on all sorts of questions. She was for ever suspected of being politically engaged, and of not being favourably inclined towards Italian interests. Her behaviour was contradictory enough to authorize almost any report, — even that of her being about to become a nun. And, indeed, she was highly disgusted with worldly matters, when she discovered that the vicinity of her residence was no longer considered by the authorities to carry with it the privilege of sanctuary, and that her very servants, if they were saucy to men in power, were unceremoniously arrested, and unmercifully flogged.
She maintained a gay [cheerful] house, nevertheless, in her various residences, till the year 1660, when she returned to Sweden, after the death of Charles Gustavus, and the accession of the young Charles XI. She was received with respect and suspicion. There was an idea that she had pretensions to the crown, in case of the demise of the young King without lineal heirs; and the public performance of Mass in her Chapel at Norköping, irritated the clergy, and exasperated the people. She relieved herself from suspicions of pretensions to the throne, by executing a second renunciation. The Senate, nevertheless, suspended her Chapel on the 23rd December, and positively forbade the celebration of Mass in any place wherein she might be residing, within the realm.
Her protests were disregarded, and she accordingly quitted the kingdom, after the royal funeral, in January, 1661. During more than a year she resided at Hamburg, sending counsel to the young King, urging more honesty in the payment of her annuity, devoting herself to chemical studies, and catching a few Protestant professors, whom she carried away, converts to Rome.
She reached the ancient city in June, 1662, and for the next ten or twelve months her mansion was the resort of all the intellectual people of Rome, and of celebrated travellers who were sojourning there. She was still the "Tenth Muse", and poets sang her praises; but in the political intrigues of the time, she was also as busy as ever. And she loved this occupation almost as much as that of puzzling the philosophers who attended her soirées, by questions which they could not answer, without risking at the same time, to be ridiculous and appear ignorant.
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Above: Kristina.
Above: Dr. John Doran.
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