Sunday, August 31, 2025

Anonymous biography of Kristina in "Eccentric Biography; or, Memoirs of Remarkable Female Characters, Ancient and Modern", year 1803, part 10

Source:

Eccentric Biography; or, Memoirs of Remarkable Female Characters, Ancient and Modern, pages 96 to 97, by anonymous author, 1803; original at The British Library


The biography:

... She made her abjuration at Brussels, where she saw the great Conde, who, after his defection, made that city his asylum. 'Cousin', said she, 'who would have thought, ten years ago, that we should have met at this distance from our countries!' But there happened another thing less likely than their meeting, the great coolness with which, after they had been drawn towards each other by mutual admiration, they came together at last, when the interview which they had both so ardently desired, took place. The prince of Conde demanded to be received with the same honours that had been shewed to the Archduke Leopold at his interview with the queen; but this she refused. The prince, therefore, determined to see her incogn. and with that view he got into her apartment among the crowd; the queen knew him, the moment she saw him, by a picture which had been given her, and was about to give him a reception suitable to his rank; but the prince, seeing himself discovered, instantly withdrew; and perceiving that the queen followed to bring him back, he turned about and said, 'Madam, all or nothing:' and immediately left the room. From this time they never saw each other but by chance, with great coldness and a mutual discontent with each other. ...


Above: Kristina.


Above: Louis de Bourbon, the Prince de Condé.

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