Showing posts with label King João IV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label King João IV. Show all posts

Sunday, November 16, 2025

Francis William Bain on Kristina's abrupt attempt at dismissal of the Portuguese resident (António de Silva e Souza) and refusal to continue to recognise Duke João of Braganza as king of Portugal

Source:

Christina, Queen of Sweden, page 238, by Francis William Bain, 1890; original at the University of Connecticut Library


Kristina's letter of May 12/22 (Old Style), 1654 to Erik von der Linde dismissing the Portuguese resident is here:


The account:

A day or two before she abdicated [sic], she disconcerted the Senate and Charles Gustavus by a strange and apparently unaccountable action. She sent to the Portuguese resident to say it was useless for him to remain in Sweden, since she was determined no longer to recognise the Duke of Braganza as king, and should always look upon him as a usurper. There seems to be something underneath this which we do not know; but[,] taking the facts as we have them, we can only explain the proceeding as a sort of friendly signal to the Spanish party, in view of her forthcoming abdication; for it neither had, nor could have, any meaning in itself, nor any consequences. The Portuguese ambassador continued at Stockholm on the same footing as before.


Above: Kristina.


Above: King João IV of Portugal, Duke of Braganza.

Note: The Portuguese resident = António de Silva e Souza.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Abraham de Wicquefort on Kristina informing the Portuguese resident António de Silva e Souza that she did not recognise Duke João of Braganza as king of Portugal, May 1654

Sources:

L'ambassadeur et ses fonctions, volume 1, book 1, section 3, page 33, by Abraham de Wicquefort, 1682 (1715 edition)


The embassador and his functions, page 18, by Abraham de Wicquefort, translated by John Digby, 1716


The account:

... Je n'oserois dire, que Jean IV. Roy de Portugal fust Usurpateur, puisque la France, l'Angleterre, la Suede & les Provinces Unies le reconnurent pour Roy legitime, aprés la declaration unanime des Estats du Roïaume; & neantmoins quelque instance, que les Plenipotentiaires de France fissent à Munster, les Mediateurs ne voulurent jamais admettre ses Ministres, ny negocier avec eux comme avec les autres Ambassadeurs. Le Nonce & l'Ambassadeur de Venise disoient, que, puisque le Pape & la Republique n'avoient pas encore reconnu le Roy, ils ne pouvoient point traiter avec ceux qui prenoient la qualité de ses Ministres. ...

La Reine Christine de Suede, qui avoit admis & reconnu ces Ministres, & qui les avoit fait assister à son Couronnement, s'avisa la veille de son abdication, de faire dire au Resident de Portugal, qu'elle ne connoissoit point d'autre Roy de Portugal, sinon Philippe VI. Roy d'Espagne. Mais ce ne fut qu'un caprice, au lieu que la Cour de Rome avoit une raison particuliere, qui l'empeschoit de le reconnoistre. ...

With modernised spelling:

... Je n'oserais dire que Jean IV, roi de Portugal, fût usurpateur, puisque la France, l'Angleterre, la Suède et les Provinces Unies le reconnurent pour roi légitime après la déclaration unanime des États du Royaume; et néanmoins quelque instance que les plénipotentiaires de France fissent à Münster, les médiateurs ne voulurent jamais admettre ses ministres, ni négocier avec eux comme avec les autres ambassadeurs. Le nonce et l'ambassadeur de Venise disaient que, puisque le pape et la République n'avaient pas encore reconnu le roi, ils ne pouvaient point traiter avec ceux qui prenaient la qualité de ses ministres. ...

La reine Christine de Suède, qui avait admis et reconnu ces ministres, et qui les avait fait assister à son couronnement, s'avisa la veille de son abdication de faire dire au résident de Portugal qu'elle ne connaissait point d'autre roi de Portugal, sinon Philippe VI, roi d'Espagne. Mais ce ne fut qu'un caprice, au lieu que la cour de Rome avait une raison particulière qui l'empêchait de le reconnaître. ...

Swedish translation (my own):

... Jag skulle inte våga säga att João IV, konungen av Portugal, var en usurpator, eftersom Frankrike, England, Sverige och Förenade Provinserna erkände honom som den legitime konungen efter Rikets Ständers enhälliga deklaration; och inte desto mindre, oavsett vilka framställningar de franska befullmäktigade gjorde till Münster, ville medlarna aldrig släppa in hans ministrar eller förhandla med dem som med de andra ambassadörerna. Nuntien och Venedigs ambassadör sade att eftersom påven och Republiken ännu inte hade erkänt konungen kunde de inte ta itu med dem som tog kvaliteten på hans ministrar. ...

Drottning Kristina av Sverige, som hade erkänt dessa ministrar och som lät dem närvara vid hennes kröning, tog till sig dagen före sin abdikation att få det sagt till residenten i Portugal att hon inte erkände någon annan konung av Portugal än Filip VI, konungen av Spanien. Men det var bara en nyckfullhet, medan hovet i Rom hade ett särskilt skäl som hindrade det från att erkänna honom. ...

English translation (by Digby):

... I dare not say that John IV King of Portugal was an Usurper, since France, England, Sweden, and the United Provinces acknowledg'd him for a lawful King, after the unanimous Declaration of the States of the Kingdom; yet nevertheless, whatever Instances the Plenipotentiaries of France made at Munster, the Mediators would never admit his Ministers, nor negotiate with them, as with the other Embassadors. The Pope's Nuncio and the Venetian Embassador said, That since the Pope nor the Republick had not as yet acknowledg'd the King, they could not treat with those who took the Quality of his Ministers. ...

Queen Christina of Sweden, who had admitted and own'd those Ministers, and had caus'd 'em to assist at her Coronation, bethought her self the Day before she abdicated, to send Word to the Resident of Portugal, that she acknowledg'd no other King of Portugal than Philip IV King of Spain. But this was only a capricious Humour, whereas the Court of Rome had a particular Reason that hinder'd it from owning him. ...

With modernised spelling:

... I dare not say that John IV, King of Portugal, was an usurper, since France, England, Sweden and the United Provinces acknowledged him for a lawful king after the unanimous declaration of the States of the Kingdom; yet nevertheless, whatever instances the plenipotentiaries of France made at Münster, the mediators would never admit his ministers nor negotiate with them as with the other ambassadors. The Pope's nuncio and the Venetian ambassador said that since the Pope nor the Republic had not as yet acknowledged the King, they could not treat with those who took the quality of his ministers. ...

Queen Kristina of Sweden, who had admitted and owned those ministers and had caused 'em to assist at her coronation, bethought herself, the day before she abdicated, to send word to the resident of Portugal that she acknowledged no other king of Portugal than Philip IV, King of Spain. But this was only a capricious humour, whereas the court of Rome had a particular reason that hindered it from owning him. ...

English translation (my own):

... I would not dare say that João IV, the King of Portugal, was a usurper, as France, England, Sweden and the United Provinces recognised him as the legitimate king after the unanimous declaration of the Estates of the Realm; and nevertheless, whatever representations the French plenipotentiaries made to Münster, the mediators never wanted to admit his ministers nor negotiate with them as with the other ambassadors. The nuncio and the ambassador of Venice said that, since the Pope and the Republic had not yet recognised the King, they could not deal with those who took the quality of his ministers. ...

Queen Kristina of Sweden, who had admitted and recognised these ministers, and who had them attend her coronation, took it into her head the day before her abdication to have it said to the resident of Portugal that she did not know of any other king of Portugal than Philip VI, the King of Spain. But it was only a caprice, whereas the court of Rome had a particular reason which prevented it from recognising him. ...


Above: Kristina.


Above: King João IV of Portugal, Duke of Braganza.


Above: Abraham de Wicquefort.

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Peder Juel's letter to Peder Charisius, dated June 24/July 4 (Old Style), 1654

Source:

Bidrag til Dronning Christinas, det svenske Hofs og Corfitz Ulfeldts Historie, i Aarene 1651-1655, af Peder Juul's utrykte Breve til Charisius, article by Christian Molbech in Historisk tidsskrift, volume 5, pages 382 to 383, published by Den Danske Historiske Forening, 1844


The letter:

Den 24. Jun. "Jeg skikker Hannem Copie af Kongen af Sverrigs Brev til Kongen af Portugal, hvori ham notificeres Kongens Regimentes Begyndelse. Mig tykkes, at det var ikke af Veien at communicere det til den spanske ministre, som sig udi Holland befinder, at alle deraf kan see, hvorledes man her holder sine Ord; eftersom Dronning Christina for kort Tid siden haver declareret bemeldte Konge af Portugal for en Rebel, og denne Konge derimod giør ham saa store Caresser. — Den Bremiske Krig, som Dronningen havde begyndt uden Rigens Raads Communication, giør nærværende Regiering meget perplex; eftersom man frygter, at den romerske Keiser, som haver ladet derom udgaae saa haarde Skrivelser til Kønigsmark og Stænderne udi Stiftet, skal søge Leilighed derved at drive de Svenske ganske ud, baade af det Stift og om muligt af ganske Tydskland, om de ikke seer sig fore; hvorfor man haver resolveret, at skikke een af Rigens Raad, Grev Gust. Otto Stenbuch did med 5000 Mand, hvilke gaae til Calmar og convoyeres ad Weseren med nogle af de Skibe, som vare destinerede at overføre Dronningen. Man vil holde endnu 5000 Mand i Beredskab, at skikke did inden Vinter."

"Dronningen skrev Kongen til 26 Mile herfra, af en Herremands Gaard, at hun der havde faaet Anfald af en Feber, og dersom den tog Overhaand, saa vilde hun til Øland, sig der at lade curere; men dersom det bedredes, vilde hun tage Landveien giennem Danmark. — Jeg troer dette er hendes intention, for at developere sig paa Grændsen fra de 4 Rigens Raad og anden Comitat, som Kongen haver hende medgivet; og troer jeg, at Hr. C. Ulfeldt kommer hid igien; han haver laant Kongen 20,000 Rdlr. før han reiste med Dronningen."

With modernised spelling:

Den 24. juni. "Jeg skikker hannem kopi af kongen af Sveriges brev til kongen af Portugal, hvori ham notificeres kongens regimentes begyndelse. Mig tykkes, at det var ikke af vejen at kommunicere det til den spanske minister, som sig udi Holland befinder, at alle deraf kan se, hvorledes man her holder sine ord; eftersom dronning Kristina for kort tid siden haver deklareret bemeldte konge af Portugal for en rebel, og denne konge derimod gør ham så store karesser. —

Den bremiske krig, som dronningen havde begyndt uden Rigens Råds kommunikation, gør nærværende regering meget perpleks; eftersom man frygter, at den romerske kejser, som haver ladet derom udgå så hårde skrivelser til Königsmarck og Stænderne udi stiftet, skal søge lejlighed derved at drive de svenske ganske ud, både af det stift og om muligt af ganske Tyskland, om de ikke ser sig fore; hvorfor man haver resolveret, at skikke én af Rigens Råd, grev Gustaf Otto Stenbock, did med 5,000 mand, hvilke gå til Kalmar og konvojeres ad Weseren med nogle af de skibe, som vare destinerede at overføre dronningen. Man vil holde endnu 5,000 mand i beredskab, at skikke did inden vinter."

"Dronningen skrev kongen til 26 mile herfra, af en herremands gård, at hun der havde fået anfald af en feber, og dersom den tog overhånd, så ville hun til Øland, sig der at lade kurere; men dersom det bedredes, ville hun tage landvejen gennem Danmark. — Jeg tror dette er hendes intention, for at developere sig på grænsen fra de 4 Rigens råd og anden komitat, som kongen haver hende medgivet; og tror jeg, at hr. Corfitz Ulfeldt kommer hid igen; han haver lånt kongen 20,000 rigsdaler før han rejste med dronningen."

English translation (my own):

June 14. "I am sending him a copy of the King of Sweden's letter to the King of Portugal, in which he is notified of the commencement of the King's reign. I think it would not be out of the way to communicate it to the Spanish minister, who is outside Holland, that all can see from it how one keeps one's word here, as a short time ago Queen Kristina declared the King of Portugal as a rebel, and this king, on the other hand, caresses him so much. —

The war in Bremen, which the Queen had begun without the communication of the Council of the Realm, makes the present government very perplexed, as it is feared that the Roman Emperor, who has sent such harsh letters to Königsmarck and the estates outside the bishopric, will thereby seek an opportunity to drive the Swedes completely out, both from that bishopric and, if possible, from the whole of Germany, if they do not look well to themselves; wherefore it has been resolved to send one of the Council of the Realm, Count Gustaf Otto Stenbock, there with 5,000 men, who will go to Kalmar and be convoyed along the Weser with some of the ships which were destined to transfer the Queen. Another 5,000 men will be kept in readiness, to be sent there before winter."

"The Queen wrote to the King 26 miles from here, from a gentleman's estate, that she had had an attack of a fever there, and if it got the better of her, she wanted to go to Öland, to have a cure there; but if it improved, she would go overland through Denmark. — I think this is her intention, in order to develop herself on the border of the 4 councilmen of the Realm and the other entourage which the King has granted her; and I think that Lord Corfitz Ulfeldt will come here again; he has lent the King 20,000 riksdalers before he left with the Queen."


Above: Kristina.


Above: Karl Gustav.


Above: King João IV of Portugal, Duke of Braganza.


Above: Corfitz Ulfeldt.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Kristina's letter to Erik Linde (von der Linde) for the Portuguese ambassador António de Silva e Souza, refusing to recognise João II, Duke of Braganza, as King João IV of Portugal, dated May 12/22 (Old Style), 1654

Sources:

Mémoires de ce qui s'est passé en Suède, volume 3, pages 372 to 373, by Pierre Hector Chanut, published by Pierre Linage de Vauciennes, 1675
Histoire de France depuis l'établissement de la monarchie françoise dans les Gaules, volume 16, page 213, by Gabriel Daniel, 1756
Leben der Weltberühmten Königin Christina von Schweden nach denen geheimesten intrigven und merckwürdigsten umständen mit möglichstem fleiße entworffen, pages 42 to 43, by Christian Stieff, 1705
"... The action she took against the resident of Portugal put it firmly in the mind of the Senate that the Queen, before retiring, had the intention of disturbing the whole state, and the story of this action should surprise the reader no less than it surprised the whole kingdom. She sent for the introductor of the ambassadors, told him that she wanted to send him to the countryside, without telling him the place, and that he should go to the castle at eleven o'clock in the evening with his horses to receive her orders. When he had gone there, the Queen asked him if he was ready to leave and, him having told him yes, she gave him a paper on which she had written for the introducer Linde, which he would not open until he was in the presence of the resident of Portugal. She told him to go quickly to Stockholm and not to speak to anyone or even stop until he arrived at this resident's house, and that he would open this paper in his presence and read it to him without leaving it to him, but he could well leave him a copy that he would make for him with his own hand..."

The letter:

d'Upsal le 12. May 1654.
J'ay ordonné à Linde de faire sçavoir de ma part au Resident du pretendu Roy de Portugal, que son Employ en cette Cour est inutile, depuis que j'ay resolu de ne plus reconnoistre pour Roy de Portugal le Duc de Bragance, puisque c'est une qualité qui n'appartient qu'à Philippe IV. Roy d'Espagne, & à ses successeurs, & que je considereray tousiours ledit Duc, comme un indigne Vsurpateur de ce Royaume, j'ay voulu advertir son Resident de cette resolution, afin qu'il ait le loisir de se preparer pour son depart d'un lieu, où il ne sera plus receu dans la qualité qu'il pretend, qu'il sçache que le Prince mon successeur le traitera de mesme que moy, & que je le laisseray si bien informé de mes intentions, qu'il agira tousiours avec le Duc de Bragance selon cette declaration; au reste, ledit Resident estant venu sur la foy publique jouira d'une protection inviolable jusques à son depart: C'est la résolution de,
CHRISTINE.

With modernised spelling:

D'Upsal, le 12 mai 1654.
J'ai ordonné à Linde de faire savoir de ma part au résident du prétendu roi de Portugal que son emploi en cette Cour est inutile, depuis que j'ai résolu de ne plus reconnaître pour roi de Portugal le duc de Bragance, puisque c'est une qualité qui n'appartient qu'à Philippe IV, roi d'Espagne, et à ses successeurs, et que je considérerai toujours ledit duc comme un indigne usurpateur de ce royaume.

J'ai voulu avertir son résident de cette résolution, afin qu'il ait le loisir de se préparer pour son départ d'un lieu, où il ne sera plus reçu dans la qualité qu'il prétend, qu'il sache que le prince mon successeur le traitera de même que moi, et que je le laisserai si bien informé de mes intentions qu'il agira toujours avec le duc de Bragance selon cette déclaration. Au reste, ledit résident, étant venu sur la foi publique, jouira d'une protection inviolable jusqu'à son départ. C'est la résolution de
Christine.

Daniel's transcript of the letter:

D'Upsal le 12 Mai 1654.
J'ai ordonné à Linde de faire savoir de ma part au résident du prétendu roi de Portugal, que son emploi en cette cour étoit inutile, depuis que j'ai résolu de ne plus reconnoître pour roi de Portugal le duc de Bragance, puisque c'est une qualité qui n'appartient qu'à Philippe III [sic] & à ses successeurs, & que je considererai toujours ledit duc comme un indigne usurpateur de ce royaume. J'ai voulu avertir son résident de cette résolution, afin qu'il ait le loisir de se préparer pour son départ d'un lieu où il ne sera plus reçû dans la qualité qu'il prétend. Qu'il sache que le prince, mon successeur, le traitera de même que moi, & que je le laisserai si bien informé de mon intention, qu'il agira toujours avec le duc de Bragance, selon cette déclaration. Au reste ledit résident étant venu sur la foi publique, jouira d'une protection inviolable jusqu'à son départ. C'est la résolution de CHRISTINE.

German translation (by Stieff):

Jch habe Linden anbefohlen / dem Residenten des vermeynten Königes in Portugall zu bedeuten / daß er an diesem hofe ferner nichts zu verrichten habe / nachdem ich einmahl fest entschlossen bin / den Hertzog von Braganza nicht weiter vor einen König in Portugall zu erkennen / als welche qualität eintzig und allein König Philipp IV in Spanien und seinen nachfolgern zukömmt / und werde ich in zukunfft besagten Hertzog vor nichts anders / als einen unwürdigen gewaltthätigen besitzer besagten Königreichs achten. Jnzwischen habe ich bemeldtem Residenten von dieser meiner gefaßten resolution nachricht ertheilen wollen / damit er zeit haben möge / sich zu der abreise von diesem orte / da man ihm die qualität / die er verlanget / nicht mehr zugestehen wird / gefaßt zu machen; gestalt er wissen soll / daß der Printz / mein Nachfolger / ihn nicht anders / als von mir jetzo geschicht / tractiren werde / sondern ich werde selbigem von meiner meynung so gründliche vorstellung thun / daß er sich gegen den Hertzog von Braganza jederzeit nach der jetztbeschehenen erklärung verhalten wird. Jm übrigen aber weil besagter Resident sub fide publica gekommen / so soll er auch biß zu seiner abreise alle sicherheit und schutz zu geniessen haben.
Christina.

With modernised spelling:

Ich habe Linden anbefohlen, dem Residenten des vermeinten Königes in Portugal zu bedeuten, dass er an diesem Hofe ferner nichts zu verrichten habe, nachdem ich einmal fest entschlossen bin, den Herzog von Braganza nicht weiter vor einen König in Portugal zu erkennen, als welche Qualität einzig und allein König Philip IV. in Spanien und seinen Nachfolgern zukommt; und werde ich in Zukunft besagten Herzog vor nichts anders, als einen unwürdigen, gewalttätigen Besitzer besagten Königreichs achten.

Inzwischen habe ich bemähltem Residenten von dieser meiner gefassten Resolution Nachricht erteilen wollen, damit er Zeit haben möge, sich zu der Abreise von diesem Orte, da man ihm die Qualität, die er verlanget, nicht mehr zugestehen wird, gefasst zu machen. Gestalt er wissen soll, dass der Prinz, mein Nachfolger, ihn nicht anders, als von mir jetzo geschicht, traktieren werde, sondern ich werde selbigem von meiner Meinung so gründliche Vorstellung tun, dass er sich gegen den Herzog von Braganza jederzeit nach der jetztbeschehenen Erklärung verhalten wird. Im übrigen aber weil besagter Resident sub fide publica gekommen, so soll er auch bis zu seiner Abreise alle Sicherheit und Schutz zu genießen haben.
Christina.

Swedish translation (my own):

Från Uppsala, den 12 maj 1654.
Jag har beordrat Linde att informera residenten i den pretenderade konungen av Portugal att hans anställning vid detta hov är värdelös, ty jag har beslutat att inte längre erkänna hertigen av Braganza som konung av Portugal, eftersom det är en egenskap som bara tillhör till Filip IV, Spaniens konung, och hans efterträdare, och att jag alltid kommer att anse nämnde hertigen som en ovärdig usurperare av detta rike.

Jag har velat varna hans resident för denna resolution så att han har tid att förbereda sig för sin avresa från en plats där han inte längre kommer att tas emot i den egenskap han hävdar, så att han vet att prinsen, min efterträdare, kommer att traktera honom detsamma som mig, och att jag kommer att lämna honom så väl underrättad om mina avsikter att han alltid kommer att handla med hertigen av Braganza, i enlighet med denna förklaring. I övrigt skall nämnde residenten, efter att ha kommit på allmän tro, åtnjuta okränkbart skydd fram till sin avresa. Den här är resolutionen av
Kristina.

English translation (my own):

From Uppsala, May 12, 1654.
I have ordered Linde to inform the resident of the so-called King of Portugal that his employ in this court is useless, since I have resolved to no longer recognise the Duke of Braganza as King of Portugal, since it is a quality which only belongs to Philip IV, King of Spain, and his successors, and that I will always consider the said Duke as an unworthy usurper of this kingdom.

I have wanted to warn his resident of this resolution so that he has the leisure to prepare for his departure from a place where he will no longer be received in the capacity he claims, so that he knows that the prince, my successor, will treat him the same as me, and that I will leave him so well-informed of my intentions that he will always act with the Duke of Braganza, in accordance with this declaration. For the rest, the said resident, having come on public faith, will enjoy inviolable protection until his departure. This is the resolution of
Kristina.


Above: Kristina.


Above: King João IV of Portugal, Duke of Braganza.

Note: The original of this letter is believed to be lost.