Source:
Christina, Queen of Sweden, pages 233 to 237, by Francis William Bain, 1890; original at the University of Connecticut Library
The account:
In Feb. 1654 she wrote her letter to Chanut; on the eleventh of the same month she had already communicated her intentions to the Senate; she told them that she had summoned them to hear what she was going to lay before the Diet at the next meeting, namely, her abdication. Though three years ago she had yielded to their dissuasions, she had now determined to carry it out; for her successor they had Charles Gustavus, already nominated, and well able to supply her place. She did not fear criticism, her resolution was taken: she did not apply to them now for advice, but assistance in furthering the matter. The Senate, astonished and dismayed, made every effort to alter her mind, but unsuccessfully; she said her purpose was fixed, and left them. On a subsequent meeting, four days later, she placed it before them again. Count Brahé opposed her with great vehemence, asserting it to be a desertion of duty, and that they who counselled her in the matter were rascals. Christina said he was going too far; there were many who would see her abdicate with great pleasure: she was not able to discover to them the true reason for the course she took, which, however, they would learn ere long. The matter was adjourned to the meeting of the Diet in the following May. In the interval Christina treated with Charles respecting the revenues she wished to retain in her private condition. The ambitious Prince saw the dawn of his reign with secret joy, nevertheless he made decent but ineffectual attempts to turn her from her purpose. Christina at first demanded the absolute sovereignty and revenues of many important towns and districts; this, however, she had to forego, and content herself with a fixed revenue, to be submitted to the Diet. She also endeavoured to make further regulations for the succession, seeing Charles Gustavus was as yet unmarried, and might die without heirs; but here, too, she had to give way. She is said to have cast her eyes for that purpose on the young Count Tott, whom she viewed with favour at the time, a descendant of Eric XIV.; she wished to make him a duke, along with Brahé and Oxenstiern; but by the representations of the two latter she relinquished her design.
On May 12 [sic] the Diet was held at Upsala. Among others, Whitelocke has left us an account of it, "being in an upper room or gallery, where he sat privately, not taken notice of by any, yet had the full view of the great hall where the Ricksdag met, and heard what was said." He describes the splendid appearance of this great hall and the entry of the four Orders. "About nine o'clock there entered at the lower end a plain lusty man in his boor's habit, with a staff in his hand, followed by about eighty boors;" after them the citizen Order, then the nobility, and clergy. "All being sat", came in the Queen's guard, the senators, the Court, and the Queen herself, who walked up the lane they made for her and took her seat "in the chair of state, all of massy silver, a rich cushion in it, and a canopy of crimson velvet richly embroidered over it." The Chancellor should have made the opening speech, but he remained silent. The Queen beckoned to him, and after a little speaking together he returned to his place; he would take no part in removing the crown from the head of a descendant of the house of Vasa. "The Queen sat down again a little time; then[,] rising up with mettle, she came forward, and with a good grace and confidence spake to the assembly." She told them that they would doubtless be astonished at the reason why they had been summoned, being a thing without precedent: but if they reflected upon it, they would see that it was no new resolve, but a thing of long premeditation. She reminded them of the succession assured to her cousin, and his eminent qualities, whom they would doubtless joyfully welcome to the throne; she recalled her unwearied diligence and service of the state during the ten years of her reign, demanding nothing in return but that they would consent to her resolution, which was firm and ineradicable: and concluded with her wishes for the future good of the country. Her speech was answered by others from the Archbishop and the Grand Marshal, setting forth their gratitude and approbation of her reign, and praying her to give up her determination to abdicate. "In the last place stepped forward the Marshal of the Boors, a plain country fellow, in his clouted shoon, and all other habits answerable;" "without any congées or ceremony at all, he spake to her Majesty:
"'O Lord God, Madam, what do you mean to do? It troubles us to hear you speak of forsaking those that love you so well as we do. Can you be better than you are? You are Queen of all these countries, and if you leave this large kingdom, where will you get such another? ... Continue in your gears, good Madam, and be the forehorse as long as you live, and we will help you the best we can to bear your burden.' ... When the boor had ended his speech, he waddled up to the Queen without any ceremony, took her by the hand and shook it heartily, and kissed it two or three times; then[,] turning his back to her, he pulled out of his pocket a foul handkerchief, and wiped the tears from his eyes."
Schering Rosenhane then read a paper in which the Queen reviewed her political and domestic relations, and invited the Estates to consider the allowances to be paid her. And then the Estates left the hall as they had come in.
After attempting to shake her resolution once again, the Diet agreed to her abdication; yet would not, as has been said, grant the lands demanded, but only the revenues accruing from them: namely, from the isles of Œland, Gothland, and Œsel, Wollin, Usedom, the town and castle of Wolgast, and some lands in Pomerania. There were some who wished to compel her to live in Sweden, and not spend these revenues out of the country. But Charles Gustavus opposed himself to this, not only to oblige Christina, but because he had no wish to see her remain in the kingdom on his own account.
Above: Kristina.
Notes: The famous speech by the peasant to Kristina is a fabrication by Whitelocke.
Ösel is the old German and Swedish name for the Estonian island of Saaremaa.
Wollin is the German name for the Polish island of Wolin and a town on it, in the Baltic Sea.
Usedom is the German name for the Polish island of Uznam in the Baltic Sea.
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