Anna Brownell Jameson's biography of Kristina, part 8

Source:

Memoirs of celebrated female sovereigns, volume 1, pages 51 to 54, by Anna Brownell Jameson, 1831

https://archive.org/details/memoirsofcelebra02jameuoft/page/50/mode/2up

The biography:

The conduct of Christina during the next two or three years of her life exhibits a tissue of inexplicable extravagances; in most of her actions, private and political, we see such madness of self-will, such a total disregard to principle and consistency, that she can only be excused by the admission that her intellect was in some degree disordered. One of the most unaccountable of all her caprices, was her partiality for a French physician named Michon Bourdelot, who had been introduced to her by M. de Saumaise, and, on his recommendation, entertained in her service. He was an ignorant, intriguing, impudent quack, who by mere assurance, and the most superficial powers of pleasing, obtained an extraordinary ascendancy in her court and councils. This man persuaded her that study would injure her health, induced her to throw aside her books; to banish, or neglect, or insult with ridicule the learned men she had invited to her court, and led her into a thousand follies. All those who possessed or deserved the esteem and confidence of the queen he contrived either to render ridiculous, or to undermine by the most artful slanders. Among others, Count Magnus de la Gardie, who had so long held the post of chief favourite, and was at this time high-treasurer and master of the royal household, began to lose his credit with the queen; and his own indiscretion aiding the machinations of his secret enemy, he became the object of a contempt and aversion as inexplicable, and apparently as unmerited, as his extreme favour had been before. It is said that Bourdelot first taught the queen to swear, an accomplishment in which she afterwards excelled.

The Queen Dowager venturing to remonstrate against the power exercised by this unworthy foreigner, Christina replied with a degree of arrogance and harshness which silenced her mother, and she retained Bourdelot in her court till her ministers, her nobility, and even her people, murmured so loudly, that she resolved to send him to France, loaded, however, with presents and marks of her favour, and with a hope of being soon recalled. But he was scarce out of sight when he was forgotten. The first letter she received from this ci-devant favourite, she threw from her with disgust, exclaiming, "Fi! cela sent la Rhubarbe!" Bourdelot, on his arrival in France, found himself completely neglected, and he died in obscurity. His influence lasted not more than a year and a-half, and during that period a great part of the magnificent library which Christina had collected at such an immense cost, was pillaged by her learned protégés, and the most valuable manuscripts stolen or dispersed.

On the disgrace of Magnus de la Gardie, and the banishment of Bourdelot, the old Chancellor Oxenstiern and his sons regained their former influence at court; but the person who succeeded to all the favour and confidence which had been possessed by the Count Magnus, M. Chanut, and Bourdelot, was Don Antonio Pimentelli, the Spanish ambassador, a man of the most consummate political address and the most insinuating manners. Through his intrigues the Spanish and Austrian interests triumphed over those of France, and he is supposed to have fixed the wavering opinions of the queen in favour of the Roman Catholic religion.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Pierre Bourdelot.

Above: Antonio Pimentel.

Above: Anna Brownell Jameson.