Source:
Memoirs of Christina, Queen of Sweden, volume 1, pages 103 to 107, by Henry Woodhead, 1863; original at the University of Michigan
The account:
Another judicious appointment was that of Count Brahe to be Governor General of Finland.
Brahe was both by his rank and his talent the leader of the extreme aristocratic party in Sweden. His pretensions were so high that he once said in the Council, the king ought not to call the nobles his subjects, as that was degrading to them, and made their king like some German prince.
His own order were also offended at his haughtiness when he demanded precedence over the other members of the Council, and even over the Regents, in virtue of his rank as Count. Brahe, supported by Per Banér, Tott, and Gyllenhielm formed a powerful opposition to the Government. They resisted successfully for some time the attempt of Oxenstiern to abolish the oppressive "fir skjuts", or [the] right of the nobles to use horses in travelling without payment.
Brahe gave most trouble on the subject of taxes. He said that the freedom of the nobility was at an end if they paid these like plebeians. Oxenstiern answered that he loved freedom much, very much, but that he loved the Fatherland more. Brahe still disputed that the poll tax was degrading to the nobility, and he proposed, instead, a tax on their horses. Then Oxenstiern said: "If you oppose what is necessary for the safety of the country, I will call together the States, and let them choose either another Council, or else a Dictator. If the kingdom is ruined[,] it shall not be through me, nor shall it be so long as I sit in this Council."
Oxenstiern generally carried his point, but still the continual opposition was embarrassing to the Government, and it was wisely determined to find the restless Brahe some employment to keep him quiet.
There was enough to do in Finland. Continual war with Russia, and, still more, civil war, had destroyed all kind of order. "The inhabitants are not men, but beasts", said Oxenstiern.
The two highest functionaries, Joüs Kurck [sic] and Bror Andersson Kålamb [sic], were personal enemies, and did all they could to oppose each other. The nobles practised an uncontrolled tyranny: the ignorance of the clergy was only equalled by their viciousness; few of them even knew the Lord's Prayer.
Brahe began at once by setting up what was considered an extravagantly high standard of knowledge in the church. He allowed no one to receive priest's orders who could not say his catechism: and the Finnish divines were obliged to submit.
Such universal disorder prevailed, that there was no register of farms and estates, and many had not even a name.
Brahe began his administration in the winter of 1637-38.
Notwithstanding the severity of the climate, the wildness of the country, and his own infirm health, he travelled all over Finland, both in summer and winter, and saw everything with his own eyes; his talent and activity supplied a remedy for almost every evil. He carefully observed the soil and climate in different parts; he made roads, planned canals, and in one of his expeditions he visited the stores of the White Sea, and directed the attention of his Government to the importance of the trade between Archangel and England. "The Count's time" was long remembered in Finland, and was reckoned the beginning of a better state of things. The translation of the Bible into Finnish was begun under his auspices, and was afterwards finished by the directions of Christina.
Brahe founded schools at Tavastehus, Nyslott, and Kexholm, as well as at Viborg and Abo. Oxenstiern is said to have projected, but not carried out, the plan of a college at the latter place, and to have shown some jealousy at Brahe's success. Brahe was the first Chancellor of the University of Abo, and held the office until his death. After he had established a system of order in Finland, Brahe wished to return to Sweden, but Oxenstiern, remembering his former factiousness, endeavoured to keep him away. Brahe eventually returned without leave, and was not very graciously received by the Chancellor, who did not express the public thanks for the Governor General's services in the usual way. The two rivals were still on bad terms in 1640, when the Grand Marshal, Gabriel Gustaf Oxenstiern, died.
Above: Per Brahe.
Notes: Archangel is the older English name for the Russian city of Arkhangelsk (Архангельск), located in what is now Arkhangelsk Oblast in Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina river near its mouth into the White Sea. The city spreads for over 25 miles (40 kilometers) along the banks of the river and numerous islands of its delta. Arkhangelsk was the chief seaport of medieval and early modern Russia until 1703, when it was replaced by the newly founded Saint Petersburg.
Tavastehus is the Swedish name for the Finnish city of Hämeenlinna, located in what is now the Kanta-Häme region of Finland. Its name in Karelian is Hämienlinna.
Nyslott is the Swedish name for the Finnish town of Savonlinna, located in what is now the South Savo region of Finland.
The city of Kexholm is now Priozersk (Приозерск) and has been a part of Russia again since 1721. Its name in Finnish is Käkisalmi, and in Karelian it is Kägöisalmi.
Viborg (now spelled Vyborg; Выборг) is now a town in the Vyborgsky District of Russia's Leningrad Oblast. It is located on the Karelian Isthmus, 81 miles northwest of St. Petersburg.
Åbo is the Swedish name for the Finnish city of Turku, in the Southwest Finland/Finland Proper region.
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