Source:
Memoirs of Christina, Queen of Sweden, volume 1, pages 159 to 166, by Henry Woodhead, 1863; original at the University of Michigan
Kristina's letter of June 24/July 4 (Old Style), 1645 to Axel Oxenstierna is here:
Her speech to him, given on November 27/December 7 (Old Style), 1645 is here:
The account:
The first act which originated in Christina's own will, was a great and noble one, although it was not popular among her subjects: this was to restore peace in the North, preparatory to restoring it in Germany.
Denmark, defeated both by land and sea, was now almost defenceless. Königsmark and Wrangel followed up the successes of Torstenson. Horn also marched with a considerable force to attack Malmö, but just as he had thrown up his first works, he received an order from Christina to discontinue the siege, because she had agreed to make peace with Denmark.
The Swedish nobles wished to continue the war, or at least to impose very hard conditions on Christian. The young Queen was more moderate, and she was supported by the clergy and citizens. She said that Sweden also required peace, that it was injudicious to draw the bow too tight, or to drive an enemy to despair.
Oxenstiern went to Brömsebro, on the frontier between Småland and Blekingen, to meet the Danish negotiator, Corfitz Ulfeld.
The mutual exasperation was so great that, by the advice of the French mediator, La Thuillerie, the negotiators did not meet, but employed agents to discuss the conditions of peace.
The task at first seemed hopeless, for Christian disputed every point as tenaciously as if he had been the victor. He demanded an indemnification for the expenses of the war, and the restitution of all conquests. On the other hand, Oxenstiern's usual desire for the aggrandizement of his country was heightened by particular animosity towards the Danes. He considered it was his especial duty to take care that Sweden did not lose by the pen what she gained by the sword.
He worked indefatigably at these negotiations, and the whole of the correspondence was written with his own hand. It was on this occasion that he said of himself, "I was born to work, I have worked all my life, and I shall die working." If his industry and talents had been employed only in serving his own country, without injuring others, he would have been a greater benefactor to Sweden, but his name would never have become so famous. On the present occasion his wish to injure Denmark was as great as his desire to serve Sweden, for he said, "I was obliged to submit to their terms at Knäröd, but we have turned over another leaf now, and it is Sweden's turn to prescribe conditions."
Oxenstiern refused to continue any negotiations unless all claim to Sound dues was given up so far as Sweden was concerned. Christian insisted that the cession of the places captured by the Swedes, and an indemnity for the expenses of the war, must precede any further arrangement.
Peace would never have been made while both sides were so inflexible, but tidings arrived almost simultaneously of a great victory gained by Torstenson at Jankowitz, of Königsmark's conquest of Bremen, and Wrangel's successes in Holstein, and the brave old King was obliged to give way. He agreed most reluctantly to cede Gothland, Jemtland, and Ösel. Oxenstiern now raised his demands, and appeared to aim at the complete dismemberment of Denmark.
Christian was driven to despair by the terms proposed. He assembled the States, and asked them to make another effort to resist such disgraceful conditions. The citizens, and even the clergy, were willing to perish with their King rather than submit to these hard terms, but the nobles voted for peace.
The Danish nobility were as powerful and as tyrannical as the Swedish. Almost all the country, except the Crown domains, belonged to them; but, unlike the Swedish nobility, they wanted their revenues in luxury and sloth. Courage and fortitude, which an aristocracy generally preserve after all other estimable qualities are gone, were quite lost among the Danish nobles.
It would be difficult to find another example in any age where king, citizens, and priests have been willing to draw the sword for their country, and where they have been held back by the nobles.
It was to Christina's honour that she rejected the advice of her ministers, and refused to drive a brave king and a gallant nation to extremity.
She did not give any sentimental reasons for her forbearance, but urged sound maxims of policy. She said that the most complete success would not relieve Sweden from the odium of unmeasured ambition, and that "the chief thing is, to satisfy our own conscience, and to show before God and all the world that we are willing to agree to reasonable terms." She said it was better to secure solid advantages rather than trust the uncertainty of war to gain still more. She reminded her councillors that the Dutch were doubtful allies, who might soon recollect it was their interest to preserve some balance of power in the North, and that the Poles were always ready to take advantage of any false step. Her letter to Oxenstiern, in which these opinions are embodied, is a model of good sense and moderation.
The peace of Brömsebro was signed the 13th of August, 1645, and the terms were sufficiently favourable to Sweden. She was in future to have a free passage through the Sound, for herself and her allies. Denmark ceded Jemtland, Gothland, and Ösel, and also made over Halland to Sweden for thirty years, on the singular condition that it should afterwards be still retained by that power unless she received some other territory, of which the choice should be left to her.
Gothland had been an ancient dependence of the Swedish crown, and had only been in the possession of Denmark since the union of Calmar. The island of Ösel was important on account of its proximity to the part of Livonia recently conquered by Sweden.
Although Oxenstiern's opinions had been opposed to those of the Queen, she appreciated the zeal with which he had conducted the treaty, as well as his many former services; and after his return she raised him to the dignity of Count, a rank which was then so rare in Sweden that it only belonged to three families. That she might not bestow a barren honour upon him, she gave him, at the same time, a considerable domain, which contained the district of Brömsebro, in which the treaty had been signed.
She conferred the title upon him on the 27th of November, in the presence of the whole Senate, when she thus addressed him: —
"My Lord Chancellor, — Although other titles of honour have their value, it cannot be doubted that the title of Count is the highest of all.
Finding myself, by the grace of God, in a position to reward good and faithful services, I confer on you this dignity, the first in the kingdom. I can say with truth, and without injury to any one else, that during the thirty-four years you have served my grandfather, my father, and myself, you have performed every duty entrusted to you, in a manner worthy of the great minister of a great king.
"Perhaps it hardly becomes me to speak thus of my father; but every one knows that he made Sweden greater than she had ever been before, and he therefore deserves from us the name of Great. I will not dwell on your own particular actions, lest I should offend your modesty. God and your own conscience are your witnesses that you had the full approbation of a great king, whose good fortune it was to have you for his minister. It is not the least of your merits that, although you laboured with him, and assisted him with your advice, you still respected your King as your master.
"When it pleased the Most High to take my father from this world, and to leave me a helpless child, you continued to serve your country, and you took care that I was properly instructed. Another in your place might not have known how to impose limits on his own ambition; but you have always been loyal, and have remembered what you owed to God and to me, your lawful Sovereign.
"Although I have ruled so short a time, I have had many proofs of your vigilance, your capacity, and your other eminent qualities." ...
Above: Kristina.
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Above: Axel Oxenstierna.
Notes: Jankovich, Jankowitz or Jankau is the German name for what is now the town of Jankov in what is now the Central Bohemian region of the Czech Republic.
Ösel is the old German and Swedish name for the Estonian island of Saaremaa.
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