William Henry Davenport Adams' biography of Kristina, 1890s, part 15

Source:

Some Historic Women; or, Biographical Studies of Women Who Have Made History, page 294, by William Henry Davenport Adams, 1890-1899; original at the University of Toronto - Robarts Library

https://archive.org/details/somehistoricwome00adam/page/294/mode/2up

Above: Kristina.

The biography:

On the death of Charles Gustavus in 1660, she returned to Sweden, in order to arrange for the confirmation of her revenues and the payment of her arrears. But her abandonment of Lutheranism had turned the tide of public opinion against her, and her imprudence in asserting a claim, under certain circumstances, to the throne she had voluntarily deserted, had so offended the States that they compelled her to execute a second act of renunciation, and were prepared to imprison her for life. At last she obtained some pecuniary concessions, and she then, in May, 1661, returned to Hamburg, whence she departed to Rome.

In 1667 she was again in Sweden, but spent there only a few weeks. Her journeys were so numerous, however, that I shall not attempt to follow them; nor need I dwell on her unsuccessful efforts in 1668-9 to secure her election to the throne of Poland. There was, as I have said, an impatience, a restlessness in her disposition which urged her on [to] seek something novel, some new excitement, some fresh interest, and when the sphere of political action was closed to her, she hurried from place to place or sought intellectual diversion in literary pursuits. Let it be recorded to her honour that she remained to the last a generous patron of men of letters, and to the honour of those whom she benefited that they publicly exhibited their gratitude. In the poems of Manzini, of Filicaja, and of Guiid [sic], — to mention no others, — her praises are celebrated with equal sincerity and grace.

Her last years were spent in Rome, in a tranquillity which contrasted strongly with the incessant activity of her earlier life. She continued to take an interest in public affairs, but simply as a remote spectator. In February, 1689, she had a dangerous attack of erysipelas and fever, from which she partly recovered; but a second attack carried her off on the 19th of April, at the age of sixty-three [sic]. She was interred in the stately pile of St. Peter's.

Note: Kristina died at age 62, not 63.