Corrado Ricci on Kristina's life in Italy, part 2

Sources:

Cristina di Svezia in Italia, article written by Corrado Ricci for Nuova antologia di scienze, lettere ed arti, volume 41 (125), pages 25 to 29, published by the Direction of Nuova antologia, 1892; original at the Bavarian State Library

https://books.google.com/books?id=wr6lJEO7mjkC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=regina+cristina+di+svezia&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Roma, visioni e figure: con 29 illustrazioni, pages 137 to 142, by Corrado Ricci, 1925; original at Cornell University

https://books.google.com/books?id=j31oPsGNy5IC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=regina+cristina+di+svezia&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The article:

I preparativi in Roma erano proceduti con sollecitudine, essendosi lo stesso pontefice adoperato perchè tutto procedesse con attività ed ordine. Compiuta era la carrozza adorna di pitture e di statue dorate, secondo il disegno del Bernini.

Che importava se le spese crescevano e l'erario si esauriva e la peste tornava a serpeggiare? Cristina entrò in Roma per Porta Portese la sera del 20 dicembre, e, seguita da una lunga fiaccolata, andò nel quartiere d'Innocenzo VIII, alla Torre dei Venti. Infinita era la gente accorsa per assistere a quel modo veramente nuovo d'entrare in incognito!

Un agente di Savoia scriveva a Torino che dopo la visita al papa, Cristina si sarebbe ritirata al palazzo Farnese «dove sarà spesata con tutta la famiglia dalla Camera Apostolica per lo spazio di tre mesi che dice volersi trattenere in questa città, se però non le assegnerà a tale effetto, per detto tempo, mille scudi il giorno, come più comunemente si crede oltre il donativo fattole dalla S. S. di una carrozza (quella disegnata dal Bernini) con sei bellissimi corsieri, di una lettiga e di una sedia di velluto turchino, coperta di trine d'argento, con tutti i finimenti compagni».

Finalmente si presentò al papa, al quale dopo tre inchini, baciò il piede e le mani. Egli la sollevò garbatamente e la fece sedere in una sedia reale di velluto cremisi. Tutto ciò, ripetiamo, sempre in incognito, chè l'ingresso solenne in Roma, il trionfo, lo spettacolo coreografico fu solo il 26.

Mentre, di buon mattino, la cavalcata cominciava a mettersi in ordine alla villa Giulia, una pioggia dirotta cadde su Roma. Si pensava già a rimettere la festa quando un bel raggio di sole illuminò la città, e il cielo a poco a poco si schiarì. In breve le strade furono piene d'una folla curiosa, fitta, rumorosa. Cristina non si fece aspettare. «Elle parut comme une Impératrice victorieuse et une conquerante, marchant en triomphe d'une manière glorieuse et superbe.» Il Claretta raccoglie che «aveva una sottana ed un giustacuore di colore sul bigio ricamato d'oro. Una mantelletta nera le copriva gli omeri, forse per celare il difetto di una spalla. Aveva in testa un cappello a larghe falde attorniato da un cordone d'oro». L'inviato di Savoia dice che Cristina cavalcò su sella da donna, mentre l'Arckenholtz trovò ch'era vestita da Amazzone con piume diffuse al cappello e montava su cavallo bianco come un uomo.

Questo il Lilliecorna [sic], al seguito della regina in Fiandra e in Italia, conferma nel suo rapporto a Carlo Gustavo, aggiungendo che le dame romane «étoient surprises de voir la Reine assise à cheval comme un cavalier, portant des culottes chamarées» e si persuasero solo quando seppero ch'ella avea cuore ed abitudini d'eroina, e che sparava cannoni senza batter palpebra. Del resto, quello di cavalcare maschilmente era l'uso costante di Cristina e ne fanno fede gli scritti dei signori di Limiers e di Meiern, il quale ultimo aggiunse anzi che non c'era ragione a maravigliarsi perchè, a' suoi tempi, anche le dame inglesi facevano lo stesso. E la regina per giunta, in molte altre cose metteva tratti virili, e nemmeno facea grande stima delle donne. A Roma, infatti, non dimostrò loro troppo buona accoglienza; le trattò freddamente rispondendo appena al saluto, e passando.

Eppure Girolamo Graziani, già noto per aver pubblicato da un lustro La conquista di Granata, induceva la sua Musa a falsare, in un ritratto di Cristina, i caratteri fisici e morali, lodandola per bellissima e per femminilmente delicata e sentimentale. Alberto Bally, che la vide a Parigi, dettò: «Est fort petite, un peu boiteuse, mal faite de corps, et de visage fort brun... Elle marche à grands pas, s'arrête peu et a la voix fort grosse.» Pareva un maschio, e sapeva di parerlo, e lo diceva. Quando le dame francesi le furono intorno con certa sollecitudine per baciarla, esclamò: «Quelle fureur ont ces Dames à me baiser? Est-ce à cause que je ressemble à un homme?» — Nullameno la carne bruna, anzi fosca di lei, coperta d'una lieve ma fitta lanugine, il profilo risoluto, aspro quasi, di quel volto singolare, dalle sopracciglia troppo arcuate, dal naso troppo lungo, alla bocca larga e al mento sottile ed arguto; in fine, la sua voce baritonale e certe angolosità e durezze di gesto non distoglievano il letterato adulatore dallo scrivere:

«Nevi di Svezia in paragon cedeste

de la mano e del seno al bel candore,

e in paragon de l'aureo crin perdeste

miniere d'India il prezioso onore.

Voi porpore a' suoi labbri e voi men belle

ai suoi begli occhi impallidite, o stelle.»

Superbo quell'aureo crine! Una parrucca gialla sopra il capo spelato ch'ella faceva radere grottescamente! — Vere ciurmerie poetiche compensate in qualche guisa dal celebre e tardo epigramma:

«À sa jupe courte et légère

à son pourpoint, à son collet,

au chapeau chargé d'un plumet,

au ruban ponceau, qui pendoit

et par devant et par derrière,

à sa mine galante et fière

d'Amazone et Avanturière:

à ce né de Consul Romain;

à cette fierté d'héroine,

à ce grand œil tendre et hautain:

soudain je reconnus Christine.

Christine des arts le maintien,

Christine qui céda pour rien

et son roïaume et votre Eglise:

qui connut tout et crut rien;

que le saint Père canonise,

que damnent les Luthérien,

que la gloire immortalise!»

Discesa presso la gradinata di San Pietro salì alla funzione.

L'indomani il papa la trattenne a desinare, in un tavolino poco distante dal suo e un po' più basso, servita da don Antonio della Cueva, dal marchese Bentivoglio e dal conte Francesco Santinelli. Calata nel pomeriggio a visitare le reliquie di San Pietro, passò sul tardi fra le torcie, dalla Torre dei Venti al palazzo Farnese, dove si mostrò ammirata dell'appartamento che le era destinato.

Il papa aveva fatto provvedere a tutto. La cantina era fornita di vini prelibati, e la dispensa, di prosciutti, di cera, di zucchero e cose simili. Ma con lei entrò il disordine, chè alcuni de' suoi servi rubarono sino dei mobili e tagliaron pezzi d'arazzo e fregi e levarono rami dal tetto.

Cristina vi ricevette presto la visita del papa e di molti cardinali con cerimoniale che sarebbe troppo lungo descrivere. Ella certamente si teneva in contegno per quanto poteva, ma la sua natura bizzarra ad ora ad ora prorompeva in atti che, se non indispettivano, imbarazzavano però Sua Santità. Com'era doloroso per lui dover rinunciare alla speranza, nutrita da principio, ch'ella avrebbe vissuta una vita di riserbo, quasi monacale, e sarebbe stata esempio di sobrietà e di virtù in quella Roma dove purtroppo i religiosi erano i primi a fomentare e a nutrire gli scandali!

Non tardava infatti Cristina, scrivendo alla contessa di Sparre, a far un ben triste ritratto della città eterna: «O bella contessa, ci sono statue, obelischi, palazzi sontuosi; ma non ci sono uomini!» [sic]

In una visita a Castel Sant'Angelo lasciò un fondo ai trombettieri perchè suonassero sinfonie all'aurora di ogni dì. Era un uso comune in altre città e da lei forse ammirato in Bologna, come anche era un uso del tempo quello di visitare monasteri ed ospedali. Assai più di queste bazzecole, doveva dunque seccare al nuovo pontefice veder come la nuova cattolica s'abbandonasse spietatamente ai divertimenti del carnevale, che per ciò appunto fu detto il carnevale della regina, e, durante il quale, si corsero undici pallii e si fecero infinite feste da ballo.

Ma l'atto di cui allora più si parlò, fu l'istituzione della sua Accademia Reale, che poi divenne l'Arcadia, nel palazzo Riario, dove più di due secoli e mezzo prima avea subito Caterina Sforza.

All'antica principessa austera, risoluta, dal forte senno politico, subentrava ora la donna del seicento, bizzarra, incostante, solo in una cosa paragonabile all'altra, nel coraggio. — La nuova Accademia surse per tutta iniziativa di Cristina, la quale diede subito norme sane come quelle di bandire la satira personale e i panegirici a lei. Anche dovevano entrarvi uomini ragguardevoli soltanto; ma ella stessa v'introdusse i Santinelli spadroneggianti oramai — in ispecie Francesco — nella sua corte. Essi però sapevano ballare e vestivano elegantemente, due cose che molta parte della nobiltà, anche oggi, apprezza più dell'ingegno.

English translation (my own):

The preparations in Rome had proceeded with solicitude, with the Pontiff himself ensuring that everything progressed efficiently and in an orderly manner. The carriage, adorned with paintings and gilded statues, had been completed according to Bernini's design.

What did it matter if expenses were rising, the treasury was depleted, and the plague was spreading again? Kristina entered Rome through Porta Portese on the evening of December 20, and, followed by a long torchlight procession, went to the district of Innocent VIII, to the Tower of the Winds. An immense crowd had gathered to witness this truly novel way of entering incognito!

An agent from Savoy wrote to Turin that after her visit to the Pope, Kristina would retire to the Palazzo Farnese, "where she and her entire family will be provided for by the Apostolic Chamber for the three months she intends to stay in this city, unless, however, she is assigned a sum of one thousand scudi a day for that period, as is more commonly believed, in addition to the gift given to her by His Holiness of a carriage (the one designed by Bernini) with six beautiful horses, a litter, and a chair of deep blue velvet, covered with silver lace, with all the matching furnishings."

Finally, she presented herself to the Pope, to whom, after three bows, she kissed his foot and hands. He graciously lifted her up and had her sit in a royal chair of crimson velvet. All this, we repeat, was done incognito, since the solemn entry into Rome, the triumph, and the choreographed spectacle only took place on the 26th.

While, early in the morning, the cavalcade was beginning to assemble at Villa Giulia, a torrential rain fell on Rome. They were already considering postponing the festivities when a beautiful ray of sunshine illuminated the city, and the sky gradually cleared. Soon the streets were filled with a curious, dense, and noisy crowd. Kristina did not keep them waiting. "Elle parut comme une Impératrice victorieuse et une conquerante, marchant en triomphe d'une manière glorieuse et superbe." ["She appeared like a victorious Empress and a conqueress, marching in triumph in a glorious and superb manner."] Claretta notes that "she wore a skirt and a bodice of a greyish colour embroidered with gold. A black cape covered her shoulders, perhaps to conceal a defect in one shoulder. On her head she wore a wide-brimmed hat surrounded by a gold cord." The envoy from Savoy says that Kristina rode on a woman's saddle, while Arckenholtz found that she was dressed like an Amazon, with feathers on her hat, and rode a white horse like a man.

This is confirmed by Lilliecrona, who accompanied the Queen to Flanders and Italy in her suite, in his report to Karl Gustav, adding that the Roman ladies "étoient surprises de voir la Reine assise à cheval comme un cavalier, portant des culottes chamarées" ["were surprised to see the Queen sitting on horseback like a cavalier, wearing richly brocaded breeches"], and were only persuaded when they learned that she had the heart and habits of a heroine, and that she fired cannons without batting an eyelid. Moreover, riding in a masculine style was Kristina's constant practice, as evidenced by the writings of Messieurs Limiers and Meiern, the latter of whom added that there was no reason to be surprised because, in his time, even English ladies did the same. And the Queen, furthermore, displayed virile traits in many other things and did not even hold women in high esteem. In Rome, in fact, she did not show them much good reception; she treated them coldly, barely responding to their greetings, and passing them by.

Yet Girolamo Graziani, already known for having published La conquista di Granata five years earlier, induced his Muse to distort, in a portrait of Kristina, her physical and moral characteristics, praising her as beautiful and femininely delicate and sentimental. Albert Bailly, who saw her in Paris, wrote: "Est fort petite, un peu boiteuse, mal faite de corps, et de visage fort brun... Elle marche à grands pas, s'arrête peu et a la voix fort grosse." ["She is very short, slightly lame, poorly built in her body, and has a very brown face... She walks with long strides, rarely stops, and has a very deep voice."]

She looked like a man, and she knew she looked like one, and she said so. When the French ladies surrounded her with a certain eagerness to kiss her, she exclaimed: "Quelle fureur ont ces Dames à me baiser? Est-ce à cause que je ressemble à un homme?" ["What fury these ladies have to kiss me! Is it because I look like a man?"] —

Nevertheless, her dark, even swarthy complexion, covered with a light but thick down, the resolute, almost harsh profile of that singular face, with its overly arched eyebrows, overly long nose, wide mouth and thin, sharp chin; finally, her baritone voice and certain angularities and harshness of gesture did not deter the flattering literatus from writing:

"Nevi di Svezia in paragon cedeste

de la mano e del seno al bel candore,

e in paragon de l'aureo crin perdeste

miniere d'India il prezioso onore.

Voi porpore a' suoi labbri e voi men belle

ai suoi begli occhi impallidite, o stelle."

["Snows of Sweden, you yield in comparison

to the beautiful whiteness of her hand and breast,

and in comparison to her golden hair,

mines of India, you lose your precious honour.

You purples, pale before her lips, and you,

less beautiful stars, grow dim before her lovely eyes."]

That golden hair was superb! A yellow wig on her bald head, which she had grotesquely shaved! — True poetic trickery, compensated in some way by the famous and belated epigram:

"À sa jupe courte et légère

à son pourpoint, à son collet,

au chapeau chargé d'un plumet,

au ruban ponceau, qui pendoit

et par devant et par derrière,

à sa mine galante et fière

d'Amazone et Avanturière:

à ce né de Consul Romain;

à cette fierté d'héroine,

à ce grand œil tendre et hautain:

soudain je reconnus Christine.

Christine des arts le maintien,

Christine qui céda pour rien

et son roïaume et votre Eglise:

qui connut tout et crut rien;

que le saint Père canonise,

que damnent les Luthérien,

que la gloire immortalise!"

["By her short, light skirt,

by her pourpoint, by her collar,

by the hat adorned with a feather,

by the poppy-red ribbon that hung

both in front and behind,

by her gallant and proud bearing

of an Amazon and Adventuress;

by that face of a Roman Consul;

by that heroic pride,

by that large, tender, and haughty eye;

suddenly I recognised Kristina.

Kristina, the embodiment of the arts,

Kristina, who gave away for nothing

both her kingdom and your Church:

who knew everything and believed nothing;

whom the Holy Father canonises,

whom the Lutherans condemn,

whom glory immortalises!"]

She descended the steps of St. Peter's and proceeded to the function.

The next day, the Pope invited her to dine at a little table not far from his own and slightly lower, served by Don Antonio de la Cueva, the Marquis Bentivoglio, and Count Francesco Santinelli. In the afternoon, she went to visit the relics of Saint Peter, and later, by torchlight, she went from the Tower of the Winds to the Palazzo Farnese, where she showed her admiration for the apartment that had been destined for her.

The Pope had made sure everything was provided for. The cellar was stocked with fine wines, and the pantry with prosciutto hams, wax, sugar, and similar provisions. But with her arrival came disorder, as some of her servants stole even furniture, cut pieces from tapestries and friezes, and removed beams from the roof.

Kristina soon received a visit from the Pope and many cardinals, with a ceremonial that would be too long to describe. She certainly contained herself as best she could, but her bizarre nature occasionally burst forth in actions that, if not offended, at least embarrassed His Holiness. How painful it was for him to have to abandon the hope, which he had initially cherished, that she would live a life of restraint, almost monastic, and would be an example of sobriety and virtue in that Rome where, unfortunately, the religious were the first to foment and encourage scandals!

Indeed, Kristina did not hesitate to paint a very sad portrait of the Eternal City when writing to the Countess Sparre: "Oh, beautiful Countess, there are statues, obelisks, magnificent palazzi; but there are no men!" [sic]

During a visit to Castel Sant'Angelo, she left a sum of money for the trumpeters to play symphonies at dawn every day. This was a common custom in other cities and perhaps one she admired in Bologna, just as it was also customary at the time to visit monasteries and hospitals. Much more than these trifles, however, what must have annoyed the new Pope was seeing how the new Catholic convert ruthlessly indulged in the revelries of Carnevale, which for this very reason was called the Queen's Carnevale, and during which eleven horse races were held and countless balls took place.

But the act that was most talked about at the time was the establishment of her Royal Academy, which later became the Arcadia, in the Palazzo Riario, where Caterina Sforza had resided more than two and a half centuries earlier.

The austere, resolute, and politically astute princess of old was now replaced by the woman of the seventeenth century, bizarre and inconstant, comparable to the former only in her courage. — The new Academy arose entirely through Kristina's initiative, and she immediately established sound rules, such as banning personal satire and panegyrics addressed to herself. Only distinguished men were to be admitted; but she herself introduced the Santinelli brothers, who by then held sway in her court — especially Francesco. However, they knew how to dance and dressed elegantly, two things that a large part of the nobility, even today, values more than intelligence.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Corrado Ricci, painted by Ettore Tito in 1913.

Note: Palazzo Riario is the old name for the Palazzo Corsini alla Lungara.

Corrado Ricci on Kristina's life in Italy, part 1

Sources:

Cristina di Svezia in Italia, article written by Corrado Ricci for Nuova antologia di scienze, lettere ed arti, volume 41 (125), pages 22 to 25, published by the Direction of Nuova antologia, 1892; original at the Bavarian State Library

https://books.google.com/books?id=wr6lJEO7mjkC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=regina+cristina+di+svezia&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Roma, visioni e figure: con 29 illustrazioni, pages 133 to 137, by Corrado Ricci, 1925; original at Cornell University

https://books.google.com/books?id=j31oPsGNy5IC&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&dq=regina+cristina+di+svezia&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The article:

CRISTINA DI SVEZIA IN ITALIA

—

La pelle bianchissima, l'occhio azzuro e grande, la barba d'un color biondo chiaro, quasi cinereo, procurarono a Gustavo Adolfo re di Svezia, ultimo dei Vasa, il sopranomme di Gigante di neve. Eppure l'unica figlia, che ebbe da Maria Eleonora di Brandeburgo, nacque e crebbe con la pelle fosca e pelosa, con voce dura e grossa, quasi di maschio. Così tutti gli storici ci descrivono Cristina salita al trono di Svezia nel 1632, di poco più che sei anni. E ci fanno fede ch'era d'una bizzarria che talora rasentava la ferocia. La madre un giorno, rimproverandola, le disse che certe cose non le avrebbe fatte se fosse vissuto il padre. La giovinetta rispose crudelmente: «In tal caso ha fatto bene a morire!» — Ma come poteva Maria Eleonora accusarla di stramberie, s'ella medesima le era maestra? Non paga di chiudere le finestre al giorno e rischiarare appena con languidi ceri la sua camera tutta parata di nero, non paga di curvarsi in preghiera innanzi una teca in cui era riposto il cuore di suo marito (come già il cuore d'Arrigo d'Inghiltera che si venerava in sul Tamigi), non paga d'abbandonarsi a clamorose disperazioni, obbligava anche la figlia ad assistere alle sue follie macabre. Cristina per sei lunghi anni n'ebbe lo spirito conturbato. Di poi s'affaticò nello studio delle lingue, delle scienze e delle diverse letterature, giungendo a un grado di coltura rarissimo nelle donne d'ogni tempo, unico a' suoi giorni.

Era così spendereccia che non si arrischiò una volta di convocare il Consiglio, temendo che la notizia de' suoi debiti lo scandalizzasse. D'altra parte avea profondamente, sinceramente a noia le cure dello Stato, agitata dal desiderio di godere tutte le comodità e i diletti di una condizione libera e indipendente. Sopportò più che potè; poi una mattina del giugno 1654 depose scettro e corona.

All'abdicazione tenne dietro l'abiura del luteranismo, atto magnificato, gonfiato anzi dai cattolici apostolici romani come un avvenimento mondiale. Sull'abiura si fecero diverse ipotesi; chi la disse per conversione schietta, come Gregorio Leto; chi per capriccio di femmina; chi per dispetto; chi per disillusione sofferta non avendo ottenuto l'amore del conte Magnus de la Gardie; chi pel desiderio di procurarsi l'affetto dei principi italiani decisa com'era di stabilirsi in Italia; chi per la fede sicura che grandi, festose accoglienze l'avrebbero accolta; chi per altre ragioni ancora. Ma perchè cercare la vera causa della conversione in uno solo dei supposti fatti? Tutti insieme dovettero contribuire alla decisione di Cristina, come le acque di molti ruscelli concorrono a una fiumana.

I gesuiti le si misero subito attorno, e la cosa fu fatta. Partita dalla sua patria, or con veste di donna, or con veste di uomo, or con un misto dell'una e dell'altra, giunge a Bruxelles, dove, una delle ultime notti del 1654, abiura nelle mani di Gian Battista Gomez, domenicano e suo confidente.

Nell'aspettazione, molte città italiane e in ispecie Roma si preparavano a farle entusiastiche accoglienze, mentr'ella faceva spedire a Roma le sue magnifiche collezioni di libri, di monete e di gioie. Si diceva che nessuna biblioteca privata potesse eguagliare la sua: che enorme era il numero e il valore della sua raccolta numismatica e delle pietre preziose: che, infine, tra i suoi quadri si trovavano opere di Raffaello e del Correggio.

L'otto aprile 1655 diveniva papa, col nome di Alessandro VII, Fabio Chigi. Quale avvenimento più fausto della conversione di Cristina poteva iniziare il suo pontificato? Si preparò ad accoglierla con tutto lo splendore degno d'una regina che per Roma abbandonava la patria, la religione degli avi e il trono. Nel settembre i preparativi erano cominciati, e già si costruivano carrozze e si adornavano appartamenti.

Ma nemmeno durante le prime feste Cristina seppe nascondere l'indole sua. Il residente di Toscana in Roma avvertiva subito: «Ella è piena di ottima volontà, un poco vana e gran servigio poteva fare alla cristianità restando in casa sua regina.»

Cristina stessa confessava senza scrupoli: «Mes occupations sont de bien manger et de bien dormir, étudier un peu, causer, rire et voir les comédies françaises, italiennes et espagnoles, et passer le temps agréablement.»

Pratica sempre, la Signoria Veneta non credette opportuno sciupar tempo e denari in un vano ricevimento. Fece perciò deviare la regina, dicendole che le condizioni sanitarie del paese erano pessime e costituivano un pericolo per lei e pel suo seguito. Le mandò qualche bel pesce in regalo, mentre passava da Dolo, e le fece fare tanti complimenti ed auguri di viaggio.

Cristina capisce, dissimula, ringrazia e prosegue. Passato il Po, a Cento visita il Guercino; poi si prepara alle solennità bolognesi.

Bologna era infatti la prima grande città dello Stato pontifico in cui la regina entrava. Le accoglienze furono quindi splendide e cordiali, e le cronache abbondano di particolari e si dilungano in enfatiche descrizioni. Ma più delle parole giovano, questa volta, alcune miniature conservate nell'archivio di Stato di quella città: la prima delle quali rappresenta appunto l'ingresso di Cristina in Bologna. Apre il corteo una schiera di moschettieri, cui tengono dietro gli alabardieri con, in cima all'aste, vaghe banderuole rosse filettate d'oro. I corazzieri con le armature coperte in parte da una sopravveste scarlatta, sono seguìti da diversi militi che reggono lunghissime spade. Ed ecco la carrozza di Cristina, tutta, fuori e dentro, coperta di stoffa rossa, ricamata in oro, come il trono che sta in mezzo. La tirano tre coppie di cavalli bianchi. Vicino si addensano trombettieri, mazzieri, gentiluomini a cavallo e tamburini. In fondo sorge il Palazzo Pubblico, alle cui finestre, adorne di tappeti rossi e turchini, s'affolla un pubblico numeroso. Più in là vediamo una scenetta del cerimoniale allora seguìto. La carrozza reale è ferma. Cristina n'è discesa e sta inginocchiata sopra un cuscino innanzi all'arcivescovo che le fa baciare una croce. L'arcivescovo è sotto un baldacchino bianco sorretto da otto cavalieri dal mantello nero guernito d'armellino. Dietro assistono i canonici, mentre intorno gli alabardieri trattengono la folle che tenta irrompere d'ogni lato.

Le cronache aggiungono altre manifestezioni di gioia, come spari d'artiglieri, fuochi d'artifizio, funzioni in duomo e in San Petronio, un ballo nella sala d'Ercole, una visita al Santuario di San Luca ed ai musei d'Ulisse Aldrovandi, un pranzo con dame in maschera ed una giostra riprodotta anche questa dai miniatori ufficiali. Al ballo, Cristina portava la parrucca bionda riccia, spalmata di manteca e cosparsa di cipria, un fazzoletto al collo di punto genovese con nastro arancio, come il giubbetto giambellotto guernito d'oro e d'argento. Uguale ricchezza di guarnizione copriva quasi interamente la sottana bigia.

Passiamo oltre; il viaggio in Romagna e nelle Marche non è meno solenne. A Cattolica conosce i Santinelli, di cui dovremo riparlare; poi, per Fano ad Ancona, recasi al santuario di Loreto. Appena, da lontano, ne scorge la cupola, discende dalla carrozza e s'inginocchia devotamente. Giunta all'immagine della Madonna fa dono d'una corona e d'uno scettro tempestati di gemme, e finalmente piega alla volta di Roma.

English translation (my own):

KRISTINA OF SWEDEN IN ITALY

—

His very white skin, his large blue eyes, his light blond, almost ashen beard, earned Gustav Adolf, King of Sweden, the last of the Vasas, the nickname the Snow Giant. Yet his only daughter, whom he had with Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, was born and grew up with dark, hairy skin and a harsh, thick voice, almost that of a man. This is how all historians describe Kristina, who ascended to the throne of Sweden in 1632, at just over six years old.

And they attest to the fact that she was so eccentric that at times she bordered on ferocity. Her mother, one day, scolding her, told her that she would not have done certain things if her father had lived. The young girl cruelly replied: "In that case, he did well to die!" — But how could Maria Eleonora accuse her of being eccentric if she herself was her teacher?

Not content with closing the windows during the day and barely lighting up her room, all hung in black, with languid candles; not content with bending in prayer before a shrine in which her husband's heart was placed (like the heart of Henry of England, which was venerated on the Thames); not content with abandoning herself to clamorous despair, she also forced her daughter to witness her macabre follies. For six long years, Kristina's spirit was disturbed by it. Afterwards she toiled in the study of languages, sciences and various literatures, reaching a level of culture very rare in women of all times, unique in her day.

She was so extravagant that she never dared to convene the Council, fearing that the news of her debts would scandalise them. On the other hand, she was deeply and sincerely weary of the cares of State, driven by the desire to enjoy all the comforts and pleasures of a free and independent condition. She endured as long as she could; then, one morning in June 1654, she abdicated her scepter and crown.

The abdication was followed by the abjuration of Lutheranism, an act magnified, even inflated, by the Roman Catholic Church as a world-changing event. Several hypotheses were put forward regarding the abjuration; some attributed it to a genuine conversion, like Gregorio Leti; others to a woman's whim; others to spite; others to disillusionment after failing to win the love of Count Magnus de la Gardie; others to the desire to gain the affection of the Italian princes, as she was determined to settle in Italy; others to the firm belief that she would be received with great and festive welcomes; and still others to other reasons. But why seek the true cause of the conversion in only one of these supposed facts? All of them together must have contributed to Kristina's decision, just as the waters of many streams contribute to a river.

The Jesuits immediately rallied around her, and the matter was settled. Leaving her fatherland, sometimes dressed as a woman, sometimes as a man, sometimes in a mixture of both, she arrived in Brussels, where, on one of the last nights of 1654, she abjured in the hands of Juan Bautista Güemes, a Dominican and her confidant.

In anticipation of her arrival, many Italian cities, and Rome in particular, were preparing to give her an enthusiastic welcome, while she had her magnificent collections of books, coins and jewels shipped to Rome. It was said that no private library could equal hers; that the number and value of her numismatic collection and precious stones were enormous; and that, finally, among her paintings were works by Raphael and Correggio.

On April 8, 1655, Fabio Chigi became pope, taking the name Alexander VII. What more auspicious event than Kristina's conversion could mark the beginning of his pontificate? He prepared to welcome her with all the splendour befitting a queen who, for the sake of Rome, was abandoning her fatherland, the religion of her forefathers, and her throne. Preparations began in September, and carriages were already being built and apartments decorated.

But even during the first celebrations, Kristina could not hide her true nature. The resident of Tuscany in Rome immediately observed: "She is full of the best will, a little vain, and could have rendered great service to Christianity by remaining queen in her own house."

Kristina herself confessed without scruples: "Mes occupations sont de bien manger et de bien dormir, étudier un peu, causer, rire et voir les comédies françaises, italiennes et espagnoles, et passer le temps agréablement." ["My occupations are to eat and sleep well, study a little, chat, laugh, see French, Italian and Spanish comedies, and pass the time agreeably."]

As was always their custom, the Venetian Government did not deem it appropriate to waste time and money on a pointless reception. They therefore diverted the Queen, telling her that the sanitary conditions in the land were terrible and posed a danger to her and her suite. They sent her some fine fish as a gift as she passed through Dolo, and offered her many compliments and good wishes for her journey.

Kristina understands, dissimulates, expresses her gratitude, and moves on. After crossing the Po River, she visits Guercino in Cento; then she prepares for the festivities in Bologna.

Bologna was, in fact, the first large city of the Pontifical States that the Queen entered. The receptions were therefore splendid and cordial, and the chronicles abound with particulars and lengthy, emphatic descriptions. But more than words, this time, some miniatures preserved in the State Archive of that city are more revealing: the first of which depicts Kristina's entry into Bologna. The procession is led by a troop of musketeers, followed by halberdiers with small red banners edged in gold at the top of their pikes. The cuirassiers, with their armor partly covered by a scarlet surcoat, are followed by several soldiers carrying very long swords. And here is Kristina's carriage, entirely covered, inside and out, with red fabric embroidered in gold, like the throne in the middle. It is pulled by three pairs of white horses. Nearby, trumpeters, mace-bearers, gentlemen on horseback, and drummers are gathered. In the background stands the Palazzo Pubblico, at whose windows, adorned with red and blue carpets, a large crowd is gathered. Further on, we see a scene of the ceremony that was then followed. The royal carriage is stopped. Kristina has dismounted and is kneeling on a cushion before the Archbishop, who is having her kiss a Cross. The Archbishop is under a white canopy supported by eight cavaliers with black cloaks trimmed with ermine. Behind them the canons are present, while around them the halberdiers restrain the crowd trying to break through from all sides.

The chronicles add other manifestations of joy, such as artillery salutes, fireworks, services in the cathedral and in San Petronio, a ball in the Hall of Hercules, a visit to the Sanctuary of San Luca and the museums of Ulisse Aldrovandi, a dinner with masked ladies, and a joust, also depicted by the official miniaturists. At the ball, Kristina wore a curly blonde wig, smeared with pomade and sprinkled with powder of Cyprus, a handkerchief around her neck made of Genoa point with an orange ribbon, like the camlet doublet trimmed with gold and silver. Similar richness of ornamentation almost entirely covered her grey skirt.

Let us move on; the journey to Romagna and the Marche region was no less solemn. In Cattolica, she met the Santinellis, of whom we will speak again later; then, via Fano and Ancona, she travelled to the sanctuary of Loreto. As soon as she spotted the cupola from afar, she alighted from her carriage and knelt devoutly. Upon reaching the image of the Madonna, she presented a crown and a scepter studded with jewels and finally set off for Rome.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Corrado Ricci, painted by Ettore Tito in 1913.

Notes: The anecdote of Kristina telling Maria Eleonora that it was better that Gustav Adolf was dead did not happen during her childhood, but during her young adulthood in late May 1654, just days before her abdication and departure from Sweden.

powder of Cyprus = face powder.

giambellotto (ciambellotto) = cammellotto.

camlet = a fine fabric made from wool (originally camel wool, but later goat wool) and silk.

Kristina's letter to Count Gustaf Otto Stenbock, in favour of Arve Davisson, dated May 2/12 (Old Style), 1661

Source:

Riksarkivet, page 251 in K 89; Utgångna och ingångna skrivelser; Drottning Kristina d. y. (Christina Alexandra); Svenska drottningars arkivaliesamlingar i riksarkivet; Kungliga arkiv

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/nad?postid=Arkis+6fd2562f-1eb6-4fa4-90be-b830f4d5eb53&s=Balder

The letter (copy):

Christina Alexandra.

Wälborne Her Grefwe RikzRådh FeldtMarschallk och General Gouverneur. Såsom Jagh numehra är resolverat Min Reesa vthRikes oförtöfwat igen att angå, till hwilken ända Jagh brefwisaren Min HoffJunkare och Capiteen Arfwe davisson för vth har nödigen funnit att afsenda, Så har Jagh genom Honom isÿnnerheet af Her Grefwen wänl. welat begära, deth Han icke allenast behagadhe vthi Sitt General Gouvernemente dhen anstellningh giöra, att Jagh tillika medh Mitt föllie för Contant betahlningh måtte medh nödhwändigh fordoonskap blifwa försedd, vthan och till Min tienst och öfwerförsell åth Pommeren vthi Mallmöö någon bequem Fahrkost för migh betingat, förmedelst hwilken Jagh i så måtto wederbörligen kunde migh accommoderat spörria: Jagh wardher intet vhr acht låthandes, all dhen wänskap som af Her Grefwen migh hervnder Contesteres, att sökia wedergiöra, och dher Jagh isÿnnerheet vthi dhenna Min seenare begäran eij skulle bequembligen tillhanda gåås kunne, så behagadhe Her Grefwen låtha befordra Honom Davisson öfwer åth Seelandh, att Han dhersammastedhes må kunna sökia effterkomma, hwadh Han i dhenna måtto af migh i befallningh och Commission hafwer. Befallandes Jagh i deth öfrige Her Grefwen dhen allreHögstes trogne beskÿdd, till all Sielfbegärligh wälgångh. Datum Norköping den 2. Maij 1661 ⸓

Christina Alexandra

J: Stropp

With modernised spelling:

Kristina Alexandra.

Välborne herr greve, riksråd, fältmarskalk och generalguvernör,

Såsom Jag numera är resolverad Min resa utrikes oförtövat igen att angå, till vilken ända Jag brevvisaren Min hovjunkare och kapten Arve Davisson förut har nödigen funnit att avsända, så har Jag genom honom i synnerhet av herr greven vänligen velat begära det han icke allenast behagade uti sitt generalguvernement den anställning göra att Jag tillika med Mitt följe för kontantbetalning måtte med nödvändig fordenskap bliva försedd, utan ock till Min tjänst och överförsel åt Pommern uti Malmö någon bekväm farkost för Mig betingat, förmedelst vilken Jag i så måtto vederbörligen kunde Mig ackommoderad spörja.

Jag varder inte ur akt låtandes all den vänskap som av herr greven Mig härunder kontesteras att söka vedergöra, och där Jag i synnerhet uti denna Min senare begäran ej skulle bekvämligen tillhandagås kunde, så behagade herr greven låta befordra honom Davisson över åt Seeland, att han därsammastädes må kunna söka efterkomma vad han i denna måtto av Mig i befallning och kommission haver; befallandes Jag i det övriga herr greven den Allrahögstes trogna beskydd, till all självbegärlig välgång. Datum Norrköping, den 2 maj 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

French translation (my own):

Christine Alexandra.

Bien né Monsieur le comte, conseiller, feldmaréchal et gouverneur général,

Étant désormais résolue à reprendre sans délai mon voyage à l'étranger, et ayant à cette fin trouvé nécessaire d'envoyer au porteur de cette lettre, mon junker de cour et capitaine, Arve Davisson, j'ai, par son intermédiaire en particulier, aimablement prié Monsieur le comte de bien vouloir non seulement prendre les dispositions nécessaires au sein de son gouvernement général pour que je reçoive, ainsi que ma suite, un paiement comptant et le transport nécessaire, mais aussi que, pour mon service et mon transfert en Poméranie, un vaisseau confortable me soit mis à disposition à Malmö, me permettant d'être convenablement accommodée à cet égard.

Je ne manquerai pas de m'efforcer de témoigner ma reconnaissance à Monsieur le comte pour toute l'amitié qu'il m'a témoignée ci-dessous. Si cette ma dernière requête ne pouvait être aisément acceptée, je souhaiterais que Monsieur le comte fasse transférer Davisson en Sélande, afin qu'il puisse accomplir avec autorité la mission que je lui ai confiée en cette affaire; pour le reste, je recommande Monseigneur le comte à la protection du Très-Haut et à toute prospérité désirable. Faite à Norrköping, le 2 mai 1661.

Christine Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

English translation (my own):

Kristina Alexandra.

Well-Born Lord Count, Councilman, Field Marshal and Governor General,

As I am now resolved to resume my journey abroad without delay, to which end I have previously found it necessary to send the bearer of this letter, my court junker and captain Arve Davisson, I have, through him in particular, kindly requested of my Lord Count that he not only be pleased to make the arrangement in his general government that I, along with my suite, be provided with ready payment and the necessary transportation, but also that, for my service and transfer to Pomerania, some comfortable vessel be provided for me in Malmö, by means of which I could be duly accommodated in that respect.

I will not fail to try to repay all the friendship that my Lord Count has shown me hereunder, and if I could not comfortably be supported in this my latter request, I would that it please my Lord Count to have Davisson transferred to Zealand, so that he may be able to carry out what he has received from me in this matter in command and commission; for the rest I commend my Lord Count to the faithful protection of the Most High and to all desirable prosperity. Given at Norrköping, May 2, 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Gustaf Otto Stenbock.

Kristina's travel pass for Arve Davisson, dated May 2/12 (Old Style), 1661

Source:

Riksarkivet, page 251 in K 89; Utgångna och ingångna skrivelser; Drottning Kristina d. y. (Christina Alexandra); Svenska drottningars arkivaliesamlingar i riksarkivet; Kungliga arkiv

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/nad?postid=Arkis+6fd2562f-1eb6-4fa4-90be-b830f4d5eb53&s=Balder

The travel pass (copy):

Christina Alexandra.

Giöre witterligen, Hurulunda Wij nödigen funnit Hafwe, Paßwisaren Wår HofJunkare och Capiten Oß Elskeligh Edle och Wälb. Arfwe Davisson nedher åth Mallmöö att afsendha, dhersammastedhes dhe anstellningar att hielpa befordra, som så till Wår effterkombst, som öfwerförsell åth Tÿsklandh behöfwas kunne; Och derförre är hermedh Wår Gunstige och Nådige begäran, till alle dhem som Han i dhenna Sin Reesa kan hända förre komma, deth dhe Honom iämpte Hans Tiänare och Pagagie, fri och omolesterat passera låtha, och Honom såledhes all befordringh bewise, i deth som till Hans Reesas fortsättiande och Wår Honom vpdragne Nådige willias fullgiörande kan lända och erstrekia. Till ÿttermehra wisso, hafwe Wij detta egenhändigen vnderskrifwit, och medh Wårt Kongl. Secret bekräfftat. Datum Norköping den 2. Maij 1661 ⸓

Christina Alexandra.

J: Stropp

With modernised spelling:

Kristina Alexandra.

Göre veterligen hurulunda Vi nödigen funnit have passvisaren Vår hovjunkare och kapten, Oss älsklig, ädle och välbördige Arve Davisson, neder åt Malmö att avsända, därsammastädes de anställningar att hjälpa befordra som så till Vår efterkomst som överförsel åt Tyskland behövas kunna, och därföre är härmed Vår gunstiga och nådiga begäran till alla dem som han i denna sin resa kanhända förekomma det de honom jämte hans tjänare och bagage fri och omolesterad passera låte och honom således all befordring bevise, i det som till hans resas fortsättande och Vår honom uppdragna nådiga viljas fullgörande kan lända och ersträcka. Till yttermera visso have Vi detta egenhändigen underskrivit och med Vårt Kungliga Sekret bekräftat. Datum Norrköping, den 2 maj 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

French translation (my own):

Christine Alexandra.

Nous faisons savoir qu'il Nous a été nécessaire d'envoyer le porteur du présent passeport, Notre junker de cour et capitaine, Notre très cher, noble et haut né Arve Davisson, à Malmö afin de contribuer à l'obtention des postes qui pourraient s'avérer nécessaires à Notre départ d'Allemagne et à Notre passage vers cette dernière. En conséquence, Nous prions favorablement et gracieusement tous ceux qu'il rencontrera durant ce voyage de bien vouloir le laisser passer, lui, ses serviteurs et ses bagages, sans encombre, et de lui accorder toute l'assistance possible pour la poursuite de son voyage et l'accomplissement de la volonté gracieuse que Nous lui avons confiée. En foi de quoi, Nous avons signé les présentes acte de Notre main et l'avons confirmé par Notre Sceau Royal. Faite à Norrköping, le 2 mai 1661.

Christine Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

English translation (my own):

Kristina Alexandra.

We make known how We have found it necessary to send the bearer of this passport, Our court junker and captain, Our well-beloved, noble and well-born Arve Davisson, down to Malmö so as to help promote those positions there that may be needed both for Our departure from as well as for Our crossing into Germany, and it is therefore Our favourable and gracious request to all those whom he may encounter on this journey that they let him, along with his servants and baggage, pass free and unmolested and that they thus provide him with all the furtherance that can be granted and extended to the continuation of his journey and for the fulfillment of Our gracious will which is entrusted to him. For further assurance We have signed this with Our own hand and have confirmed it with Our Royal Seal. Given at Norrköping, May 2, 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

Above: Kristina.

Kristina's order for Jacob Schatzwinkel, concerning some portraits, dated April 30/May 10 (Old Style), 1661

Source:

Riksarkivet, page 250 in K 89; Utgångna och ingångna skrivelser; Drottning Kristina d. y. (Christina Alexandra); Svenska drottningars arkivaliesamlingar i riksarkivet; Kungliga arkiv

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/nad?postid=Arkis+6fd2562f-1eb6-4fa4-90be-b830f4d5eb53&s=Balder

The order (copy):

Christina Alexandra.

Deth är Wår Nådige willie och befallningh, deth Wår Cammererare Wälbetrodde Jacob Schatzwinckell in Continenti lefwerere och i wäl förwarade Kister eller Foder tillsteller brefwisaren Michell Bartsch dhe Schillerien, som SilfwerCrona widh Wår afresa ifrån Stokhollm Honom her tillstella låthit, åth Hollandh att afsenda, såsom och, att Han lefwererer Honom så mÿkit Peningar, som Han till Sin och samma Saakers hitförsell behöfwer. Datum Norköpingh den 30. Aprillis A:o 1661 ⸓

Christina Alexandra

J: Stropp

With modernised spelling:

Kristina Alexandra.

Det är Vår nådiga vilje och befallning det Vår kammarerare välbetrodde Jacob Schatzwinkel incontinenti leverere och i välförvarade kistor eller foder tillställer brevvisaren Mikael Bartsch de skillerien som Silfvercrona vid Vår avresa ifrån Stockholm honom här tillställa låtit åt Holland att avsända, såsom ock att han levererer honom så mycket penningar som han till sin och samma sakers hitförsel behöver. Datum Norrköping, den 30 aprilis anno 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

French translation (my own):

Christine Alexandra.

C'est Notre gracieuse volonté et commandement, par la présente, que Notre chambellan, le très digne de confiance Jacques Schatzwinkel, remette incontinent, dans des coffres ou des doublures en bon état, au porteur de cette lettre, Michael Bartsch, le tableau que Silfvercrona, lors de Notre départ de Stockholm, lui a fait envoyer en Hollande, ainsi que la somme d'argent nécessaire et les mêmes objets à rapporter ici. Fait à Norrköping, le 30 avril 1661.

Christine Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

English translation (my own):

Kristina Alexandra.

It is Our gracious will and command that Our chamberlain, the well-trusted Jacob Schatzwinkel, immediately and in well-preserved chests or lining deliver to the bearer of this letter, Mikael Bartsch, the painting which Silfvercrona, upon Our departure from Stockholm, has had him send to Holland, as well as that he deliver to him as much money as he needs for him and the same things to be brought here. Given at Norrköping, April 30, 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

Above: Kristina.

Kristina's letter to Johan Leijoncrona (Holm), concerning some portraits, dated April 30/May 10 (Old Style), 1661

Source:

Riksarkivet, page 250 in K 89; Utgångna och ingångna skrivelser; Drottning Kristina d. y. (Christina Alexandra); Svenska drottningars arkivaliesamlingar i riksarkivet; Kungliga arkiv

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/nad?postid=Arkis+6fd2562f-1eb6-4fa4-90be-b830f4d5eb53&s=Balder

The letter (copy):

Christina Alexandra.

Aldenstundh Wälb: Johan LeijonCrona, Wij hafwe afsendt brefwisaren Michell bartsch att hitbringa deth Achtkantige Schilderi, som Grefwe Todt Oß måndhe Skänka, och widh Wår afreesa vthi Wår Cammare på Slottet är liggiandes blefwen; Alltderförre är Wår Nådige willie, att J samma Schilleri wälförwaradh Honom Bartsch tillstellen, aldenstundh Policarpus derom nogh effterrättelse att gifwa weet, såsom dhen widh Wår afferdh her låtit inventera dhe Saker som J Wåre gemaker effterlembnadhe äre. Och Jagh befaller Eder Gudh. Datum Norköping den 30. Aprill 1661 ⸓

Christina Alexandra.

J: Stropp

With modernised spelling:

Kristina Alexandra.

Alldenstund, välbördige Johan Leijoncrona, Vi have avsänt brevvisaren Mikael Bartsch att hitbringa det aktkantiga skilderi som greve Tott Oss månde skänka och vid Vår avresa uti Vår kammare på slottet är liggandes bleven, alltdärföre är Vår nådiga vilje att I samma skilleri välförvarad honom Bartsch tillställen, alldenstund Polycarpus därom nog efterrättelse att giva vet, såsom den vid Vår avfärd här låtit inventera de saker som i Våra gemaker efterlämnade äro; och Jag befaller Eder Gud. Datum Norrköping, den 30 april 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

French translation (my own):

Christine Alexandra.

Parce que, bien né Jean Leyoncrona, Nous avons dépêché le porteur de cette lettre, Michael Bartsch, afin d'apporter ici le tableau octogonal que le comte Tott a bien voulu Nous offrir et qui se trouvait dans Notre chambre au château lors de Notre départ, Nous vous prions donc de bien vouloir le conserver et de le remettre à Bartsch, car Polycarpe est en mesure d'en donner la description, ayant fait dresser l'inventaire des biens laissés dans Nos appartements à Notre départ; et je vous recommande à Dieu. Faite à Norrköping, le 30 avril 1661.

Christine Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

English translation (my own):

Kristina Alexandra.

Whereas, well-born Johan Leijoncrona, We have sent the bearer of this letter, Mikael Bartsch, to bring here the octagonal painting which it pleased Count Tott to give Us and which was lying in Our chamber at the castle when We left, it is therefore Our gracious will that you keep the same painting well-preserved and present it to Bartsch, for Polycarpus knows enough to give an account of it, as he had an inventory made of the things left behind in Our rooms when We left from here; and I commend you to God. Given at Norrköping, April 30, 1661.

Kristina Alexandra.

J. Stropp.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Claes Tott.

Above: Johan Leijoncrona (Holm).

Letter of thanksgiving for the peace between Sweden and Denmark, dated August 24/September 3 (Old Style), 1645

Sources:

Riksarkivet, images 356 to 359/pages 353 to 356 in Juli-September 1645; Riksregistraturet

https://sok.riksarkivet.se/nad/?postid=Arkis+8cb4d115-9b89-11d5-a701-0002440207bb&s=Balder

Grundläggningen af det Svenska väldet i hertogdömena Bremen och Verden, by Edvard Alexander Zetterquist, 1891; original at the University of Zürich Library (Universitätsbibliothek Zürich)

https://books.google.com/books?id=LZaJlKiHC3MC&newbks=0&dq=Grundl%C3%A4ggningen+af+det+Svenska+v%C3%A4ldet+i+hertogd%C3%B6mena+Bremen+och+Verden&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Danmarks Adels Aarbog, volume 30, pages 130 to 131, by Hans Rudolf Hiort-Lorenzen and Anders Thiset, 1913; original at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; digitised July 21, 2025

https://books.google.com/books?id=sf38UAnqnIYC&newbks=0&dq=Frederik+von+Buchwald+1645&source=gbs_navlinks_s

The 1,000th post of 2025 to this blog!

The letter:

Tacksäijelse om Freden emellan Swerige och Dannemarck.

Wij Hafwe stoor orsaak att offra Gudh Wåre Läppars Offer, och Honom en innerligh och ödmiuk tacksäijelse Hembära, först och främst derföre, att Han Vthj deße förledne fahrlige tijder Hafwer så nådeligen VppeHållit sin beträngde Försambling, enKannerligen styrckt och bewarat Wårt Käre Fäderneßlandh så och Regementet, Och ibland så många fahrlige stemplingar och fiendtlige föreHafwanden Hållit in till denne dagh Wårt wäsende oprätt och giordt H. K. M:tz alles Wår Nådigste Drottningz Krigz actioner lyckosamme emoth all menniskligh förHoppning, så att Wij och månge andre, icke Vthan stoor förundran Hans Guddomelige Nådewärck emoth Oß j margeHanda måtto erKänna och beKänna måtte: Särdeles och j synnerheet Hafwe Wij Hwar medh andra att sij der af Gudz dens Högstes Vnderlige och gode skickelse, att ehuruwäl Hans Guddomlige rättwijst [sic] Hafwer för Wåre synder skull j nästförledne åhr Hemsökt och beswärat Oß och Wårt Käre Fäderneßlandh medh ett nytt Krijgh emoth Konungen j Danmarck: Så Hafwer lijkwäl den Nådefulle Gudh all ting så skickat och lagat, att H. K. M:tz och Rijksens Wapn, som H. K. M:tt är nödtwungen att taga j Handen och till Rijkzens förswar föra emoth bem:te fiende, äre icke mindre j medlertijdh, emoth margeHanda Hans fattade rådslagh, Oß att ruinera, och fördärfwa, än som för detta (: deß Gudj lof :) thet ena åhret effter det andra, Tysklandz, emoth Wåre och alle andre beträngde Evangeliskes Hätske fiender och förföliare, skedt är, medh lyckelige Successer och åthskillige store och Vndersamme Segerwinningar både till Landz och till watn, merckeligen wälsignade, och der igenom fiendens fahrlige rådslagh och listige föreHafwande, emoth H. K. M:tt, och Wårt Käre Fäderneßlandh till inthet wordne, effter som der om är månge resor, tillförende, särdeles Vthj det näst förledne och j begynnelsen på innewarande åhr, blifwit af detta rummet, denne loflige Gudz Församblingh förKunnat; Och Wij altså offta Hafft Högh orsaak, jempte Wåre dagelige böner att göra Gudj derföre Solenne tacksäijelser Vthj Hans Försambling. Nu Hafwer åter Gudh ytterligare fullfölgt sin mildheet och nåde j så måtto, att oansedt H. K. M:tz Feldtmarskalk H:r Linnar Torstenßon Hafwer Vthj förledne Höst (: sedan Han Hade igenom Gudz milde bijståndh och sin försichtige Conduicte bracht näst Hela Holstein, Jüthlandh och Wensyßel Vnder H. K. M:tz och Sweriges Cronos devotion :) fattadt, som en Klok Capitein thet rådh; att gå medh störste delen af sin Vnderhafwande armee Vthur be:te Holstein och Juthlandh, och der igenom draga der Vth effter sigh den store Keijsarske armee /: medh Hwilkens general Gallas j nästförledne Sommar der inbruten war, att göra merebe:te Wår fiende Konungen j Dannemarck bijståndh och Hielp emoth Oß :) lembnandes allenast Vthj dee Qwarteren jempte Guarnisonerne någre få troupper, Hwilket fuller j förstone gaf det anseende, som skulle H. K. M:tz wärck och Krijgzdesseigner på den orten råka igenom Hans opbrott Vthj någon Confusion, efftersom Wåre fiender dee Danske då achtade tijden och någorledes finge nåderum, att draga all sin macht Vthur Schåne, Zeland och Fÿen öfwer åth Holstein och Juthlandh, effter som Han och widh sådant tillfälle sigh bemächtigade der sammestädes någre få och ringa Platzer, tenterandes alle medell och der till brukandes icke allenast all sin egen macht, Vthan och Erchiebiscopens af Bremens adsistens och tillHielp, att winna igen Hwadh som af Wälbe:te Feldtmarskalken medh Swärdzägg inKrächtat war på den sijdan: Dochlijkwäl Hafwer thet Honom inthet lyckatz Vthan dee få troupper, som H. K. M:t der då Hade Vnder Öffwersten Helmet Wrangels Commende Hafwe giordt fienden tappar [sic] motwärn och afbräck, icke Vthan Hans merckelige förlust på folck och maintineret mästadeels och dee förnämbste occuperade platzer och Befästningar, och är detta der på folgt, att sedan H. K. M:tz General Leuten: Könnigzmarck /: hwilken på någon tijdh Hafwer warit j action begripin, att och fullfölia på sin sijda den Gallaske armeen, och Feldtmarskalken adsistera den samme totaliter att ruinera :/ war j nästförledne Februarij Månadt gången medh någre H. K. M:tz Regementer neder tilbaka in j Erchiebiskops Stifftet Bremen, Hafwer Han j förstone igenom Gudz bijståndh och wälsignelse, lyckeligen bemächtigat sigh medh bewäpnat arm thet Oldeland och Keijdingelandh, och effter deß eröfrande är Han sedan den 13. Februarij opbruten der ifrån medh Hele sin VnderHafwande force för Stade, som är HufwudStaden j samme Stifft, och en platz af stoor importans, och andre dagen der effter den dels medh accord, deels medh macht intagit Hwarest och Borgerskapet dersammestädes Hafwe straxt för plundringen erlagt till Soldatesquens VnderHållande Tiugutusende Rijkzdaler, och intagit OttaHundrade Man till Guarnison; Och Hafwe de fyra-Hundrade Man af Erchiebispens folck, som tillförende der innelågh, lefwererat alle Fanor ifrån sigh och sedan stält sigh Vnder H. K. M:tz Soldatesqua. Och är j denne Staden till fånga tagit månge af Erchiebispens förnämbste tienare, såsom och eröfrat Hans Cantzlij och Archivum. Jtem en stoor Hoop af Hans LijfHästar, sampt Caretter, jämwäl och tijo halfwa Cartover, tiugu andre metallstycken, tuHundrade Centenärar Kruth, och myckit annat byte. Den 18. Februarij är Königzmark gången medh H. K. M:tz folck för Staden Boch[s]tehude, belägen twå mijler der ifrån; Hwilken faste orth Hafwer och så medh Hwars och ens förundran gifwit sigh på nåde och onåde, och deß Guarnizon, som war 300 man, godwilligt stält sigh Vnder. Sedan är Han gången för Staden Bremerförde Erchiebispens egen Residentz, och så wäl Slottet, som sielfwe Staden /: efftersom åthskillige inKompne tijdender för wiße der om förmäla :) sigh bemächtigat, der medh Ertzstifftet är mäst Vnder H. K. M:tt[z] wåldh och devotion bracht, förvthan denne lyckelige Success, så Hafwer och Öffwersten Helmet Wrangel på denne sijdan om Elfwen j Holstein, ruinerat Ellofwa Compagnies Danske Ryttare, Hwar af en stoor deel är blifwit på platzen och restan till fånga tagit; Sedan Hafwer Han och intagit ifrån fienden twå starcke Skantzer b:de KrogSkantzen och Steenborger skantzen, derj nederHuggit Ett Hundrade och femtijo Man och fångat fyraHundrade femtijo gamble Knechter af Öfwersten Buchwaldz Regemente, som wore skickade bem:te Skantzen till entsatt sampt en stoor Deel Officerer; der effter opbränt och ruinerat Heela Landet in till Stadzporten för Glückstadh och Krempe, satt Dittmarsken Vnder Contribution, och jagat dee Danske Vthur Hela Landet, och Hafwer så starckt förfolgt General Majoren Alefeldt, att Han medh den lilla resten af sitt Cavallerij sigh j Sunnerborg och Alsen Salvera måste, Hafwer intagit det fasta Slottet Haßlo j Glückstader Ma[r]schen på nåde och onåde, och der beKommit EttHundrade gemene Knechter, sampt be:te General Majorens Alefeldz Lijffana, en Öffwerste Wachtmestare, twå Leutenampter och fyra Metallstycken. Och är j Glückstadh en sådan skräck och Confusion, att alle deras mobilier flötties till Hamburg; Jgenom hwilket alt, fienden på den sijdan är nu åter skildh ifrån den störste och förnämste delen af Danmarkz Cronas Landh. Man Kan och icke Vnderlåta Här medh någre få ordh att ihugKomma, thet H. K. M:t Hafwer j deße dagar fått tijdender och Vnderrättelse ifrån Tysklandh och andre ortter, att en Hufwudslachtning skall wara j Bohmen den 24. Februarij, emellan Feldtmarskalken H:r Torstenßon och dee Keijserske, och dee Wåre erHållit platzen och en Härligh victoria, Hwar om H. K. Mt. dageligen förwänter någon mehra wißheet och particulariteter; Och derföre framdeles will låta göra Gudh en offentligh tacksäijelse. Nu emedan Gudh alzmächtigh Hafwer af sin grundlösa godheet och barmhertigheet ëmoth Oß och Wårt Käre Fäderneßlandh, så mildeligen täcktz j begynnelsen wid H. K. M:tz antagne actual Regering, wälsigna H. K. M:tz armeer och Wapn, och der igenom giordt fienden detta Krijgh så myckit beswärligare och gifwit H. K. M:t Hopp, att Kunna igenom Gudz Krafftige bijståndh, icke allenast förswara Wårt Käre Fäderneßlandh och deß Jnbyggiare H. K. M:tz trogne Vndersåthere, Vthan och så myckit förr, Komma medh Wåre illwiliande grannar dee Danske till en stadigh, trygg, säker och Rijksens Vndersåtere nyttigh och Hälsosam fredh, på Hwilken nu medh all flijt och ÿfwer, af H:s K. M:tz Commissarier som nu nedre på grentzen stadde äre, arbetas; Så är thet alles Wår Högsta skyldigheet emoth Gudh, att Hembära Honom för denne miraculöse nådh och lyckelige Successer, innerligh loff och ödmiuk tacksäijelse medh Gudeligh bön och san åKallar [sic], att Hans Guddomelige Allmacht wille nu ytterligare fullfölia medh denne sin stora Nådh emoth H. K. M:t och Fäderneßlandet, förläna Continuerlige Successer Vthj H. K. M:tz Krijgz actioner, och dirigera all H. K. M:tz loflige Consilia till en önskeligh effect, förwirra fiendens illistige Rådslagh, beskära och förläna, att deße tu blodige Krijger, som Wij och Wårt Käre Fäderneßlandh nu swäfwa Vthj och länge swäfwat Hafwe, måtte Vthslå i sinom tijdh till önskeligh fredh, sitt Helige Nampn till ewigh ähra, sin Helge Försambling till förmerelse och styrckio, sampt H. K. M:tt och Wårt Käre Fäderneßlandh till wälfärd, roo och säkerheet.

Cantetur,

»Wår Gudh är Oß en wäldigh borgh« etc. etc.

With modernised spelling:

Tacksägelse om freden emellan Sverige och Danmark.

Vi have stor orsak att offra Gud våra läppars offer och honom en innerlig och ödmjuk tacksägelse hembära, först och främst därföre att han uti dessa förlidna farliga tider haver så nådeligen uppehållit sin beträngda församling, enkannerligen styrkt och bevarat vårt kära Fädernesland, så ock regementet, och ibland så många farliga stämplingar och fientliga förehavanden hållit intill denna dag vårt väsende upprätt och gjort Hennes Kungliga Majestäts allas vår nådigste Drottnings krigsaktioner lyckosamma emot all mänsklig förhoppning, så att vi och många andra icke utan stor förundran hans gudomliga nådeverk emot oss i margahanda måtto erkänna och bekänna måtte.

Särdeles och i synnerhet have vi var med andra att se därav Guds dens Högstes underliga och goda skickelse att ehuruväl hans gudomliga rättvisa haver för våra synders skull i nästförlidna år hemsökt och besvärat oss och vårt kära Fädernesland med ett nytt krig emot konungen i Danmark.

Så haver likväl den nådefulle Gud allting så skickat och lagat att Hennes Kungliga Majestäts och Riksens vapen, som Hennes Kungliga Majestät är nödtvungen att taga i handen och till Riksens försvar föra emot bemälde fiende, äro icke mindre emellertid emot margahanda hans fattade rådslag oss att ruinera och fördärva än som förr detta (dess Gudi lov) det ena året efter det andra Tysklands emot våra och alla andra beträngda evangeliskas hätska fiender och förföljare skett är med lyckliga successer och åtskilliga stora och undersamma segervinningar både till lands och till vatten märkligen välsignade och därigenom fiendens farliga rådslag och listiga förehavande emot Hennes Kungliga Majestät och vårt kära Fädernesland till intet vordna, eftersom därom är många resor tillförne, särdeles uti det nästförlidna och i begynnelsen på innevarande år, blivit av detta rummet denna lovliga Guds församling förkunnat; och vi alltså ofta haft hög orsak jämte våra dagliga böner att göra Gudi därföre solenna tacksägelser uti hans församling.

Nu haver åter Gud ytterligare fullföljt sin mildhet och nåde i så måtto att oansett Hennes Kungliga Majestäts fältmarskalk herr Lennart Torstensson haver uti förlidna höst (sedan han hade igenom Guds milda bistånd och sin försiktiga konduit bragt näst hela Holstein, Jutland och Vendsyssel under Hennes Kungliga Majestäts och Sveriges Kronas devotion) fattat, som en klok kapten det rått, att gå med största delen av sin underhavande armé utur bemälda Holstein och Jutland och därigenom draga därut efter sig den stora kejserska armé (med vilkens general Gallas i nästförlidna sommar där inbruten var att göra merbemälde vår fiende konungen i Danmark bistånd och hjälp emot oss), lämnandes allenast uti de kvarteren jämte garnisonerna några få trupper, vilket fuller i förstone gav det anseende som skulle Hennes Kungliga Majestäts verk och krigsdessänger på den orten råka igenom hans uppbrott uti någon konfusion, eftersom våra fiender de danska då aktade tiden och någorledes fingo nåderum att draga all sin makt utur Skåne, Själland och Fyn över åt Holstein och Jutland, eftersom han ock vid sådant tillfälle sig bemäktigade därsammastädes några få och ringa platser, tenterandes alla medel och därtill brukandes icke allenast all sin egen makt, utan ock ärkebiskopens av Bremens assistens och tillhjälp att vinna igen vad som av välbemälde fältmarskalken med svärdsegg inkräktat var på den sidan.

Dock likväl haver det honom inte lyckats utan de få trupper som Hennes Kungliga Majestät där då hade under översten Helmut Wrangels kommende hava gjort fienden tappa motvärn och avbräck icke utan hans märkliga förlust på folk och maintenerat mestadels ock de förnämsta ockuperade platser och befästningar, och är detta därpå följt att sedan Hennes Kungliga Majestäts generallöjtnant Königsmarck (vilken på någon tid haver varit i aktion begripen att ock fullfölja på sin sida den gallaska armén och fältmarskalken assistera densamma totaliter att ruinera) var i nästförlidna februari månad gången med några Hennes Kungliga Majestäts regementer neder tillbaka in i ärkebiskopsstiftet Bremen, haver han i förstone igenom Guds bistånd och välsignelse lyckligen bemäktigat sig med beväpnat arm det Olde Land och Kehdinger Land, och efter dess erövrande är han sedan den 13 februari uppbruten därifrån med hela sin underhavande force för Stade, som är huvudstaden i samma stift och en plats av stor importans, och andra dagen därefter den dels med ackord, dels med makt intagit, varest ock borgerskapet därsammastädes hava straxt för plundringen erlagt till soldateskans underhållande tjugotusende riksdaler och intagit åttahundrade man till garnison; och hava de fyrahundrade man av ärkebispens folk som tillförne där innelåg, levererat alla fanor ifrån sig och sedan ställt sig under Hennes Kungliga Majestäts soldateska.

Och är i denna staden tillfångataget många av ärkebispens förnämsta tjänare, såsom ock eröfrat hans kansli och archivum; item en stor hop av hans livhästar samt karetter, jämväl ock tio halva kartover, tjugo andra metallstycken, tuhundrade centner krut och mycket annat byte.

Den 18 februari är Königsmarck gången med Hennes Kungliga Majestäts folk för staden Buxtehude, belägen två miler därifrån, vilken fasta ort haver också med vars och ens förundran givit sig på nåde och onåde, och dess garnison, som var 300 man, godvilligt ställt sig under.

Sedan är han gången för staden Bremervörde, ärkebispens egen residens, och såväl slottet som själva staden (eftersom åtskilliga inkomna tidender förvisso därom förmäla) sig bemäktigat, därmed erzstiftet är mest under Hennes Kungliga Majestät[s] våld och devotion bragt förutan denna lyckliga success. Så haver ock översten Helmut Wrangel på denna sidan om Elven i Holstein, ruinerat ellova compagnies danska ryttare, varav en stor del är blivit på platsen och resten tillfångataget.

Sedan haver han ock intagit ifrån fienden två starka skanser, benämnda Krogskansen och Stenborgerskansen, däri nederhuggit etthundrade och femtio man och fångat fyrahundrade femtio gamla knekter av översten Buchwalds regemente, som voro skickade bemälda skansen till entsatt, samt en stor del officerar; därefter uppbränt och ruinerat hela landet intill stadsporten för Glückstadt och Krempe, satt Dithmarschen under kontribution och jagat de danska utur hela landet och haver så starkt förföljt generalmajoren Ahlefeldt att han med den lilla resten av sitt kavalleri sig i Sönderborg och Alsen salvera måste; haver intagit det fasta slottet Hasloh i Glückstadter Marschen på nåde och onåde och där bekommit etthundrade gemena knekter samt bemälde generalmajorens Ahlefeldts livfana, en överstevaktmästare, två löjtnanter och fyra metallstycken. Och är i Glückstadt en sådan skräck och konfusion att alla deras mobilier flyttas till Hamburg, igenom vilket allt fienden på den sidan är nu åter skiljd ifrån den största och förnämsta delen av Danmarks Kronas land.

Man kan ock icke underlåta här med några få ord att ihågkomma det Hennes Kungliga Majestät haver i dessa dagar fått tidender och underrättelse ifrån Tyskland och andra orter att en huvudslaktning skall vara i Böhmen den 24 februari emellan fältmarskalken herr Torstensson och de kejserska, och de våra erhållit platsen och en härlig viktoria, varom Hennes Kungliga Majestät dagligen förvänter någon mera visshet och partikulariteter och därföre framdeles vill låta göra Gud en offentlig tacksägelse.

Nu emedan Gud Allsmäktig haver av sin grundlösa godhet och barmhärtighet emot oss och vårt kära Fädernesland så mildeligen täckts i begynnelsen vid Hennes Kungliga Majestäts antagna aktuell regering välsigna Hennes Kungliga Majestäts arméer och vapen och därigenom gjort fienden detta krig så mycket besvärligare och givit Hennes Kungliga Majestät hopp att kunna igenom Guds kraftiga bistånd icke allenast försvara vårt kära Fädernesland och dess inbyggare, Hennes Kungliga Majestäts trogna undersåtare, utan ock så mycket före komma med våra illviljande grannar de danska till en stadig, trygg, säker och Riksens undersåtare nyttig och hälsosam fred, på vilken nu med all flit och iver av Hennes Kungliga Majestäts kommissarier som nu nedre på gränsen stadde äro arbetas.

Så är det allas vår högsta skyldighet emot Gud att hembära honom för denna mirakulösa nåd och lyckliga successer innerlig lov och ödmjuk tacksägelse med gudlig bön och sann åkallan att Hans Gudomliga Allmakt ville nu ytterligare fullfölja med denna sin stora nåd emot Hennes Kungliga Majestät och Fäderneslandet, förläna kontinuerliga successer uti Hennes Kungliga Majestäts krigsaktioner och dirigera all Hennes Kungliga Majestäts lovliga consilia till en önsklig effekt, förvirra fiendens illistiga rådslag, beskära och förläna att dessa tu blodiga kriger som vi och vårt kära Fädernesland nu sväva uti och länge svävat have måtte utslå i sinom tid till önsklig fred; sitt heliga namn till evig ära, sin helga församling till förmerelse och styrko, samt Hennes Kungliga Majestät och vårt kära Fädernesland till välfärd, ro och säkerhet.

Cantetur: »Vår Gud är oss en väldig borg«, etc., etc.

French translation (my own):

Remerciement pour la paix entre la Suède et le Danemark.

Nous avons d'excellentes raisons d'offrir à Dieu nos remerciements et de lui exprimer notre profond et humble remerciement, avant tout pour la grâce qu'il a si gracieusement soutenue son assemblée assiégée, en ces temps périlleux, et plus particulièrement fortifié et préservé notre chère Patrie ainsi que son gouvernement. Malgré tant de complots dangereux et d'actes hostiles, il a maintenu notre existence jusqu'à ce jour et a permis à Sa Majesté Royale, notre très gracieuse Reine, de triompher dans la guerre, contre toute espérance humaine. C'est pourquoi, avec tant d'autres, nous avons dû, non sans une grande stupéfaction, reconnaître et confesser ses grâces divines manifestées à notre égard de multiples manières.

Nous avons particulièrement et surtout vu, avec d'autres, la remarquable et bienveillante disposition de Dieu le Très-Haut qui, à cause de nos péchés, a hanté et troublé notre chère Patrie et nous-mêmes au cours de l'année écoulée, par une nouvelle guerre contre le roi du Danemark.

Néanmoins, Dieu, dans sa grâce, a tout arrangé de telle sorte que les armes de Sa Majesté Royale et du Royaume, que Sa Majesté Royale est contrainte de prendre en main et d'utiliser pour la défense du Royaume contre l'ennemi, ne sont pas moins efficaces, d'une année sur l'autre, contre les nombreux plans qu'il a conçus pour nous ruiner et nous corrompre (Dieu soit loué). Les campagnes menées par l'Allemagne contre nos ennemis et persécuteurs, ainsi que ceux de tous les autres évangéliques assiégés, ont été remarquablement couronnées de succès et de nombreuses victoires éclatantes, tant sur terre que sur mer. De ce fait, les plans dangereux et les manœuvres sournoises de l'ennemi contre Sa Majesté Royale et notre chère Patrie ont été réduits à néant, car à maintes reprises, et particulièrement au cours de l'année écoulée et au début de l'année en cours, cela a été prêché par la louable congrégation de Dieu. Et nous avons souvent eu de bonnes raisons, en plus de nos prières quotidiennes, de rendre grâce solennellement à Dieu dans sa congrégation.

Or, une fois encore, Dieu a manifesté sa bonté et sa grâce à tel point que le feldmaréchal de Sa Majesté Royale, le sieur Lennart Torstensson, l'automne dernier (après avoir, grâce à l'aide de Dieu et à sa conduite prudente, placé la quasi-totalité du Holstein, du Jutland et du Vendsyssel sous la dévotion de Sa Majesté Royale et de la Couronne de Suède), décida, suivant le conseil d'un capitaine avisé, de retirer la plus grande partie de son armée du Holstein et du Jutland, entraînant ainsi avec lui la puissante armée impériale (dont le général Gallas s'était infiltré dans la région l'été précédent afin de prêter main-forte à notre ennemi, le roi du Danemark). Il ne laissa sur place que quelques troupes, ainsi que les garnisons, ce qui donna d'abord l'impression que son départ perturberait les opérations et les plans de guerre de Sa Majesté Royale, car nos ennemis les Danois, conscients du temps qui passait, disposaient de la marge de manœuvre nécessaire pour replier toutes leurs forces de Scanie, de Sélande et de Fionie vers le Holstein et le Jutland, car ils profitèrent également de cette occasion pour s'emparer de quelques petits territoires, usant de tous les moyens et utilisant non seulement toute sa propre force, mais aussi l'aide et le soutien de l'archevêque de Brême afin de reconquérir ce que ledit feldmaréchal avait conquis de ce côté par le tranchant de son épée.

Cependant, il n'aurait pas réussi sans les quelques troupes que Sa Majesté Royale avait là à ce moment-là sous le commandement du colonel Helmut Wrangel, qui firent perdre à l'ennemi ses défenses et le forcèrent à battre en retraite, non sans pertes considérables, et conservèrent pour la plupart les places fortes et les fortifications les plus importantes. Il s'ensuivit que, puisque le lieutenant-général de Sa Majesté Royale, Königsmarck (qui avait pendant un certain temps combattu à ses côtés pour poursuivre l'armée de Gallas et avait aidé le maréchal à la détruire complètement), était retourné en février dernier avec certains régiments de Sa Majesté Royale dans l'archevêché de Brême, il s'empara tout d'abord, avec l'aide et la bénédiction de Dieu, parvint à conquérir par la force armée Altes Land et Kehdinger Land, et après cette conquête, il partit de là le 13 février avec toutes ses forces pour Stade, capitale du même évêché et lieu d'une grande importance. Le lendemain, la ville fut prise en partie d'un commun accord et en partie par la force, après quoi la bourgeoisie locale avait, juste avant le pillage, payé vingt mille riksdalers pour l'entretien des soldats et avait amené huit cents hommes à la garnison; et les quatre cents hommes du peuple de l'archevêque qui y étaient auparavant stationnés rendirent tous leurs étendards et se placèrent ensuite sous l'autorité des soldats de Sa Majesté Royale.

Et dans cette ville, de nombreux serviteurs parmi les plus distingués de l'archevêque furent faits prisonniers, ainsi que sa chancellerie et ses archives; un grand nombre de ses chevaux et voitures personnels, ainsi que dix canons et demi, vingt autres pièces de métal, deux cents quintaux de poudre à canon et beaucoup d'autres butins.

Le 18 février, Königsmarck se rendit avec les hommes de Sa Majesté Royale à la ville de Buxtehude, située à deux milles de là, dont la place fortifiée avait également, à la surprise générale, capitulé par grâce et par disgrâce, et sa garnison, qui comptait 300 hommes, s'était soumise volontairement.

Il se rendit ensuite à Bremervörde, résidence de l'archevêque, et prit possession du château et de la ville (comme le rapportent plusieurs sources). L'archevêché se trouva ainsi en grande partie placé sous l'autorité et la dévotion de Sa Majesté, outre ce succès retentissant. De même, le colonel Helmut Wrangel, sur cette rive de l'Elbe, dans le Holstein, ruina onze compagnies de cavalerie danoise, dont une grande partie fut laissée sur place et le reste faite prisonnière.

Il s'empara ensuite de deux forteresses ennemies, Krog et Stenbourg, où il massacra cent cinquante hommes et captura quatre cent cinquante mercenaires du régiment du colonel Buchwald, envoyés en renfort, ainsi qu'un grand nombre d'officiers. Il incendia et ravagea la région jusqu'aux portes de Glückstadt et de Krempe, mit Dithmarse sous son joug et chassa les Danois du territoire. Il poursuivit le major-général Ahlefeldt avec une telle intensité que ce dernier dut se réfugier à Sonderbourg et Als avec le peu de cavalerie qui restait pour survivre. Il prit le château fortifié de Hasloh, dans les marches de Glückstadt, par la force et la brutalité, et y captura cent mercenaires, l'étendard personnel du général-major Ahlefeldt, un maître sentinelle, deux lieutenants et quatre pièces de métal. A Glückstadt, la terreur et la confusion sont telles que tous leurs biens mobiliers ont été transférés à Hambourg, ce qui a pour effet de séparer à nouveau l'ennemi de ce côté de la partie la plus vaste et la plus importante du territoire de la Couronne du Danemark.

Il convient de mentionner ici, en quelques mots, que Sa Majesté Royale a reçu ces derniers jours des nouvelles et des informations d'Allemagne et d'ailleurs selon lesquelles une bataille majeure a eu lieu en Bohême le 24 février entre le sieur feldmaréchal Torstensson et les Impériaux, et que nos hommes ont gagné la bataille et une glorieuse victoire, à propos de laquelle Sa Majesté Royale attend chaque jour davantage de précisions et de détails et souhaite donc qu'une action de grâce publique soit rendue à Dieu.

Or, puisqu'il a plu à Dieu Tout-Puissant, par son insondable bonté et sa miséricorde envers nous et notre chère Patrie, bénir, depuis le début de l'accession au gouvernement de Sa Majesté Royale, ses armées et ses armes, rendant ainsi cette guerre bien plus difficile pour l'ennemi et donnant à Sa Majesté Royale l'espérance que, grâce à la puissante aide de Dieu, elle pourra non seulement défendre notre chère Patrie et ses habitants, ses féaux sujets, mais aussi progresser vers une paix stable, sûre, durable et salutaire pour les sujets du Royaume, paix à laquelle travaillent actuellement avec diligence et zèle les commissaires de Sa Majesté Royale, stationnés à la frontière.

Il est donc de notre devoir le plus sacré envers Dieu de lui adresser, pour cette grâce miraculeuse et ces heureux succès, des louanges sincères et des remerciements humbles, accompagnées de prières divines et d'invocations sincères, afin que Sa Divine Omnipotence continue d'accorder Sa grâce à Sa Majesté Royale et à la Patrie, qu'elle assure des succès constants dans les guerres de Sa Majesté Royale et qu'elle guide tous ses louables conseils vers un effet bénéfique, qu'elle déjoue les ruses de l'ennemi, qu'elle fasse en sorte que ces deux guerres sanglantes dans lesquelles nous et notre chère Patrie sommes plongés depuis si longtemps prennent fin en temps voulu pour une paix désirable; pour la gloire éternelle de son saint nom, pour la croissance et la force de sa sainte assemblée, et pour le bien-être, la tranquillité et la sécurité de Sa Majesté Royale et de notre chère Patrie.

A chanter: «C'est un rempart que notre Dieu», etc., etc.

English translation (my own):

Thanksgiving for the peace between Sweden and Denmark.

We have great reason to offer God the offer from our lips and to render Him heartfelt and humble thanksgiving, first and foremost for that, in these past dangerous times, He has so graciously sustained His beleaguered congregation, especially strengthened and preserved our dear Fatherland, as well as the government, and amidst so many dangerous conspiracies and hostile activities has kept our existence upright to this day and made the war actions of Her Royal Majesty, our most gracious Queen, successful against all human hope, so that we and many others, not without great wonder, have had to acknowledge and confess His divine works of grace towards us in many ways.

We have particularly and especially seen, along with others, the remarkable and good disposition of God the Most High that, for the sake of our sins, His divine justice has in the past year haunted and troubled us and our dear Fatherland with a new war against the King of Denmark.

Nevertheless, the gracious God has so arranged everything so that Her Royal Majesty's and the Realm's weapons, which Her Royal Majesty is forced to take in hand and bring to the defense of the Realm against the enemy, are no less, however, against the many plans he has made to ruin and corrupt us than as before this (God be praised) one year after the other Germany's campaigns against our and all other beleaguered Evangelicals' hateful enemies and persecutors have been remarkably blessed with happy successes and numerous great and wonderful victories both on land and at sea, and thereby the enemy's dangerous plans and cunning undertakings against Her Royal Majesty and our dear Fatherland have come to nothing, since many times, especially in this past year and at the beginning of the present year, this has been preached by this God's laudable congregation; and we have often had great reason, in addition to our daily prayers, to offer God solemn thanksgiving in His congregation.

Now again God has further perfected His goodness and grace to such an extent that Her Royal Majesty's Field Marshal, Lord Lennart Torstensson, in the past autumn (after he had, through God's good assistance and his own prudent conduct, brought almost all of Holstein, Jutland and Vendsyssel under the devotion of Her Royal Majesty and the Crown of Sweden) decided, as a wise captain had advised, to go with the greater part of his existing army out of the said Holstein and Jutland and thereby draw out after him the great Imperial army (with whose general Gallas he had broken in there last summer in order to render more assistance and help to our enemy the King of Denmark), leaving only a few troops in those quarters along with the garrisons, which at first gave the impression that Her Royal Majesty's work and war designs in that place would encounter some confusion through his departure, since our enemies the Danes then were attentive of the time and had some room to draw all their power out of Skåne, Zealand and Funen and over to Holstein and Jutland, since they also at such an opportunity seized control of a few small places there, trying all means and using not only all his own power, but also the assistance and help of the Archbishop of Bremen in order to win back what had been encroached on that side by the said Field Marshal with the edge of his sword.

However, he would not have succeeded were it not for the few troops that Her Royal Majesty had there at that time under Colonel Helmut Wrangel's command, who made the enemy lose his defenses and retreat, not without remarkable loss of people, and maintained mostly the most important occupied places and fortifications, and this followed that since Her Royal Majesty's Lieutenant General Königsmarck (who for some time was in action to also pursue Gallas' army on his side and assisted the Field Marshal to completely ruin it) went this past February with some of Her Royal Majesty's regiments down back into the Archbishopric of Bremen, he first of all, through God's help and blessing, happily seized by armed force Altes Land and Kehdinger Land, and after conquering it he set out from there since February 13 with his entire force for Stade, which is the capital of the same bishopric and a place of great importance; and the next day it was taken partly by agreement and partly by force, whereupon the burgherdom there had, immediately before the plundering, paid twenty thousand riksdalers for the soldiery's maintenance and had taken eight hundred men to the garrison; and the four hundred men of the Archbishop's people who were previously stationed there surrendered all their standards and then placed themselves under Her Royal Majesty's soldiery.

And in this city many of the Archbishop's most distinguished servants were taken prisoner, as were his chancellery and archive; a large number of his personal horses and carriages, as well as ten and a half kartouwen, twenty other pieces of metal, two hundred hundredweights of gunpowder, and much other loot.

On February 18, Königsmarck went with Her Royal Majesty's people to the town of Buxtehude, located two miles away, the which fortified place had also, to everyone's surprise, surrendered on grace and disgrace, and its garrison, which numbered 300 men, voluntarily submitted itself.

Then he went to the city of Bremervörde, the Archbishop's own residence, and took possession of both the castle and the city itself (as several received reports certainly mention). The archbishopric is thereby mostly brought under Her Royal Majesty's dominion and devotion, in addition to this happy success. So also did Colonel Helmut Wrangel, on this side of the Elbe in Holstein, ruin eleven companies of Danish cavalry, of which a large part was left on the spot and the rest were taken prisoner.

Then he also took from the enemy two strong forts, called Fort Krog and Fort Stenborg, in which he cut down one hundred and fifty men and captured four hundred and fifty old mercenaries of Colonel Buchwald's regiment, who were sent to guard the fort as auxiliaries, as well as a large number of officers; then he burned and ruined the entire country up to the city gate of Glückstadt and Krempe, put Dithmarschen under contribution, and chased the Danes out of the entire land and pursued Major General Ahlefeldt so strongly that he had to go to Sønderborg and Als with the small remnant of his cavalry in order to save himself. He took the fortified castle of Hasloh in the Glückstadter Marschen by grace and disgrace, and there he obtained one hundred common mercenaries as well as the said Major General Ahlefeldt's personal standard, a superior master sentinel, two lieutenants and four pieces of metal. And in Glückstadt there is such terror and confusion that all their movable goods have been moved to Hamburg, whereby all the enemy on that side is now again separated from the largest and most important part of the land of the Crown of Denmark.

One cannot fail to mention here with a few words to remember that Her Royal Majesty has in these days received news and information from Germany and other places that a major battle took place in Bohemia on February 24 between Field Marshal Lord Torstensson and the Imperials, and our men have obtained the place and a glorious victory, about which Her Royal Majesty daily expects some more certainty and particulars and therefore wants to have a public thanksgiving made to God.

Now, since it has graciously pleased God Almighty has, by His unfathomable goodness and mercy towards us and our dear Fatherland, from the beginning since Her Royal Majesty assumed the current government, to bless Her Royal Majesty's armies and weapons, and has thereby made this war so much more difficult for the enemy and given Her Royal Majesty hope that, through God's powerful assistance, she will be able not only to defend our dear Fatherland and its inhabitants, Her Royal Majesty's faithful subjects, but also to come so much further with our ill-willing neighbours the Danes to a stable, safe, secure and beneficial and salutary peace for the subjects of the Realm, which is now being worked on with all diligence and zeal by Her Royal Majesty's commissioners, who are now stationed down at the border.

So it is our highest duty to God to render Him, for this miraculous grace and happy successes, heartfelt praise and humble thanksgiving with divine prayer and true invocation that His Divine Omnipotence now want to further continue with this His great grace towards Her Royal Majesty and the Fatherland, to grant continuous successes in Her Royal Majesty's war actions and to direct all of Her Royal Majesty's laudable counsels to a desirable effect, to confuse the enemy's wily counsels, to grant that these two bloody wars which we and our dear Fatherland are now floating in and have long been floating may be ended in due time for desirable peace; for the eternal glory of His holy Name, for the increase and strength of His holy congregation, and for the welfare, tranquility and security of Her Royal Majesty and of our dear Fatherland.

To be sung: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God", etc., etc.

Above: Kristina.

Above: Lennart Torstensson.

Above: Hans Christoff von Königsmarck.

Notes: the Archbishop of Bremen = Prince Frederik of Denmark, future King Frederik III (1609-1670).

Olde Land (Olland) is the Low German name for Altes Land, an area of reclaimed marshland straddling parts of Lower Saxony and Hamburg. The High German name is a mistranslation, as "Olland" does not mean "Old Land", but it really means "Wooded Land" (Holtland) and stems from the same etymology that the term Holland originated from. The mistranslation has even carried over into Low German itself, as most speakers of those dialects today refer to Altes Land in their language as "dat Ole Land" ("the Old Land").

Kehdinger Land (Kehdingen) is the name of a landscape in the north German district of Stade on the Lower Elbe.

A kartouwe is a siege gun used in European warfare during the 16th and 17th centuries.

Elven is a rendering of the Low German name for the river Elbe.

Major General Ahlefeldt = Claus von Ahlefeldt (1614-1674), a member of the Ahlefeldt noble family of Holstein, who married Elisabeth Sofie Christiansdatter Gyldenløve (1633-1654), King Christian IV of Denmark-Norway's (1577-1648) daughter with Vibeke Kruse (born circa 1609, died 1648). Ahlefeldt rose to become a field marshal in Danish-Norwegian service.

Colonel Buchwald = Friedrich von Buchwald (1605-1676), of Bülk, Knoop (Knop), Seekamp, Holtenau (Holtenå; in Eckernförde) and Nedergaard (in Langeland).

Sönderborg is the Low German name for the Danish city of Sønderborg. Its name in High German is Sonderburg, and its name in South Jutlandic or South Jutish is Synneborre or Synnebo.

Alsen is the German name for the Danish island of Als.

Hasloh (Haselau) = Haseldörp (Haseldorf).