Source:
Some Historic Women; or, Biographical Studies of Women Who Have Made History, pages 289 to 290, by William Henry Davenport Adams, 1890-1899; original at the University of Toronto - Robarts Library
Above: Kristina.
The biography:
Christina was a great admirer of the genius and character of Cromwell, comparing him to her ancestor, Gustavus Vasa. At one time she meditated a visit to England, but received no encouragement from the Protector, partly from reasons of policy, and partly (says Guizot) on account of his wife's jealousy. The treaty between England and Sweden was signed on the 28th of April, 1654.
Scarcely three months before, she had announced her final determination of abdicating — to which she had ultimately been brought by her conversion to the Roman Catholic Church. The Diet assembled on the 21st of May, and received in deep silence the expression of her settled resolve. Further opposition was evidently useless, and on the 6th of June the Act of Abdication was formally completed.
The ceremony was pathetic and impressive.
Christina was simply dressed in white, over which she wore the usual insignia of royalty. For the last time she took her seat on the silver throne, while her successor, Charles Gustavus, clothed in black [sic] from head to foot, stood on her right.
An official read in a loud voice the Act by which she released her subjects from their oath of fidelity, and afterwards recited the conditions on which she transferred the crown to her cousin. The domains which she reserved for herself were enumerated, and it was stipulated that she should be independent of all control, and enjoy full and unrestricted authority over her retinue.
The Queen then handed to the great officers of state the various emblems of royalty — the sword, the apple [orb], and the sceptre were placed on a table at her left hand; but when Brahe, her minister, was requested to remove her crown[,] he firmly declined the unwelcome duty, and Christina was compelled to take it off with her own hands. Her mantle was torn into shreds by those who were anxious to secure a souvenir of their beloved sovereign.
Standing forward, she then addressed the Deputies in a voice which sometimes trembled with emotion:
"I thank God who raised me to be queen over so mighty a nation, and has favoured me with such wonderful blessings and successes. I thank the nobles who preserved the kingdom for me during my minority, and the States for their unwavering allegiance.
"In difficult times I have done nothing with which my conscience reproaches me.
"So far as my strength would allow, I sacrificed my own peace to secure the tranquillity of my subjects."
After adding some words of counsel to her successor, she was conducted to her apartments, and, a few hours later, Charles Gustavus was crowned in the Cathedral of Upsala.
Thus did Christina complete that act of renunciation which for the rest of her life she never ceased to regret [sic].
Notes: Although the legend is famous and widespread, in reality Per Brahe did not refuse to take the crown off of Kristina's head, and Kristina did not take the crown off herself.
Kristina's coronation robe was not destroyed, but she took it along on travels and later sold it in order to make ends meet during one of her lowest points financially. In fact, it still exists today and can be seen on display at the Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren) in Stockholm.
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