Source:
Memoirs of Christina, Queen of Sweden, volume 1, pages 106 to 109, by Henry Woodhead, 1863; original at the University of Michigan
Kristina's letter of April 3/13 (Old Style), 1641 to Johan Kasimir is here:
The account:
... 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 [sic], Gabriel Gustaf Oxenstiern, died.
Christina was invited to nominate his successor, and it was hinted to her that if she wished to name her cousin, Charles Gustavus, her choice would meet with the approbation of the Council. She displayed great good sense on this occasion, and declined the responsibility of choosing an officer who was to stand to her in the relation of tutor and governor. She wrote to the Prince Palatine of Deux-Ponts, the father of Charles Gustavus, on the 3rd of April, 1641: — "The Regents wish to have my opinion, whom I should prefer in the place of G. G. Oxenstiern, and they have deliberated whether they should propose several for me to choose from, or whether I should name one without any restriction. They have also said that they would be satisfied with my nomination of Prince Charles. I answered that I appreciated their affection for me in wishing me to have one of my own near relations, but that I did not wish to run this risk, knowing well that you would not like it. I told them that it did not become me to name my own tutor, unless several were proposed. I said, also, to please the Chancellor, that he would be the most proper person to decide. I also observed, that if several names were proposed to me, they would certainly all belong to men of merit, and that, therefore, the best plan would be to decide by lot."
Although the Council had at first no intention of deciding by lot who should have the vacant office, they were obliged, eventually, to adopt this method. The parties of Brahe and Oxenstiern were so exactly balanced in the Council, that the two principal candidates, Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstiern, and Brahe himself, had each eight votes. It was then decided that Christina should draw lots to show which of them should be nominated. The two names were written on pieces of paper, which were presented to Christina in Axel Banér's cap. She drew forth Brahe's name, and he was declared duly elected accordingly. The Chancellor came forward handsomely, and congratulated the new Grand Marshal. The jealousy between the two great officers continued for some time, but it gradually subsided. When Oxenstiern became acquainted with the particulars of Brahe's administration in Finland, he no longer withheld his commendation, but said that Brahe loved and served his country well. After the latter became one of the Regents, he began to take wider views of government, than to think it was designed only for the aggrandizement of one order, and ceased to oppose Oxenstiern's patriotic measures. Their mutual antipathy was first changed to mutual respect, and, finally, to regard and esteem. After a time, Brahe used to postpone deciding any important matter, even in his own particular province, until he had first asked the opinion of his great colleague.
Above: Kristina.
Above: Per Brahe.
No comments:
Post a Comment