Source:
Monarchs Retired from Business, volume 2, pages 274 to 275, by Dr. John Doran, 1857 (1902 edition)
The account:
Restless, and perplexed by pecuniary difficulties, Christina, in 1666, announced her intention to revisit Sweden. Intimation was conveyed to her, that if she returned with Romish priests in her train, she could not be permitted to cross the frontier. In great vexation, she remained for some time at Hamburg, negotiating this question. While the negotiation was in progress, she visited the Museum. Among the medals there, exhibited to her, was one in memory of her own abdication. On one side was her head, with the words "REGINA CHRISTINA"; on the other, a crown, with the subscription "ET SINE TE". The feelings of the ex-sovereign got the better of her judgment, and dashing the medal to the ground, she passed haughtily on.
She journeyed onwards to her old home, not without hopes of being permitted to have her own way. There is little doubt that she was desirous of fixing her residence there. Her letters speak respectfully of Lutheranism. In one, she says that she gave it up, not because she found any error in it, but for other reasons which she could show, as Coriolanus could his wounds, when it happened to please her. Perhaps it was on account of these expressions that her return to the faith of her father was weekly prayed for in all the Swedish churches. Before anything was settled, she set out for Sweden; but discovering that she not only was forbidden to have a priest in her train, but that she would not be permitted to attend Mass at any of the Ambassadorial chapels, she once more returned to Hamburg.
Tranquillity went not in her company. It was while residing there (1667) that she learned the death of Alexander VII., and the election of Clement IX. To demonstrate the measure of her joy at the latter event, Christina gave a grand festival, displayed a marvellous exhibition of fireworks, and illuminated the front of her mansion. Amid the lamps however was a transparency, on which were seen the symbols of the Romish faith. The city cried 'fie!' upon the superstition, and the orthodox Reformed sailors of all nations, fired by religious zeal, or by something else, attacked the palace, smashed all that was breakable, and raised a riot, in which many persons were wounded, and a couple slain. Christina, herself, narrowly escaped falling into the hands of these zealous individuals; but she was smuggled out of her home in disguise, and shortly after, she proceeded on her way to Stade.
The errant lady here signalized herself at a review, at which she attended in a male dress, and rode a horse in cavalier fashion. She placed herself at the head of the squadrons of dragoons, and put everything into such confusion by the commands which she gave, that the field-day ended more like a rout than a review.
On her arrival at Rome in 1668, Clement IX. received, with splendid demonstrations of welcome, a lady who had suffered so much for the good cause. For a long period, her time was now passed between pleasures of every possible quality and intercourse with philosophers. Never till this time were stage-representations of such gorgeousness exhibited in Rome. The entire Sacred College were for ever going to the play, and the balcony of her box was every night crowded by Cardinals, who looked with edification on the ballerinas, and listened with delight to the exquisitely dressed singing girls, who resorted to Rome at the invitation of Christina. The etiquette, when she was present, was of the very strictest. The noblest in Rome were compelled to remain uncovered as long as she was in the house. The gay [cheerful] Cardinals, who lolled over the balcony in front of her box, alone wore their caps. In allusion to this privilege, a paper was one night fixed beneath the balcony, on which was inscribed, "Plenary indulgence for the gentlemen in purple!"
Above: Kristina.
Above: Dr. John Doran.
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