Christina of sweden autobiography

At the same time, she had to constantly define and assert this role in relation to the nodes of power within the city. She was both a political and cultural force within the city and continued to uphold a presence and visibility on a pan-European level. The seventeenth century in Europe may be characterized as a time of great change and upheaval, of paradigms shifting through an ongoing discussion and reformulation of old truths, and of the malleability of social boundaries.

Christina partook in many of these developments, directly or obliquely through her wide set of acquaintances, and yet she managed to stand out in relief against this dynamic background. Invariably an active, highly visible, and much discussed and debated persona both inside and outside Rome, Christina died in Rome at the age of 62, after more than thirty-three years in the city.

From Kandare, Camilla. Christina was educated as a royal male would have been. The theologian Johannes Matthiae Gothus became her tutor; he gave her lessons in religion, philosophy, Greek and Latin. Chancellor Oxenstierna taught her politics and discussed Tacitus with her. Oxenstierna proudly wrote of the year-old girl that "she is not at all like a female" and had "a bright intelligence.

Inat the age of 18, Christina was declared an adult, although the coronation was postponed because of the Torstenson War. She was visited by a group of Dutch diplomats, including Johan de Wittto find a solution for the Sound Dues. Under Christina's rule, Sweden, virtually controlling the Baltic Seahad unrestricted access to the North Sea and was no longer encircled by Denmark—Norway.

Chancellor Oxenstierna soon discovered that her political views differed from his own. Christina, however, wanted peace at any cost and sent her own delegate, Johan Adler Salvius. The Peace of Westphalia was signed in Octobereffectively ending the European wars of religion. Sweden received an indemnity of five million thalersused primarily to pay its troops.

Shortly before the conclusion of the peace settlement, she admitted Salvius into the council, against Oxenstierna's wishes. Salvius was no aristocrat, but Christina wanted the opposition to the aristocracy present. Inwith the help of her uncle, John CasimirChristina tried to reduce the influence of Oxenstierna when she declared her cousin Charles Gustav as her heir presumptive.

The following year, Christina resisted demands from the christina of sweden autobiography estates clergy, burghers, and peasants in the Riksdag of the Estates for the reduction of the number of noble landholdings that were tax-exempt. She never implemented such a policy. Christina has been described as the " Minerva of the North" due to her strong support of arts and academics.

That same year she founded Ordinari Post Tijdender "Regular Mail Times"the oldest currently published newspaper in the world. InJohann Freinsheim was appointed as her librarian. Thus, Christina acquired a number of valuable illustrated works and rare manuscripts for her library. Inpaintings, marble and bronze statues, 33, coins and medallions, pieces of crystal, scientific instruments, manuscripts, and books including the Sanctae Crucis laudibus by Rabanus Maurus were transported to Stockholm.

Her ambitions naturally demanded a wide-ranging correspondence. Not infrequently, she sat and wrote far into the night while the servants came and went with new wax candles. The " Semiramis from the North" corresponded with Pierre Gassendiher favorite author. Blaise Pascal offered her a copy of his pascaline. She had a firm grasp of classical history and philosophy.

Christina was interested in theatre, especially the plays of Pierre Corneille ; she was herself an amateur actress. Upon showing the queen some of the letters, Christina became interested in beginning a correspondence with Descartes. She invited him to Sweden, but Descartes was reluctant until she asked him to organize a scientific academy. Christina sent a ship to pick up the philosopher and 2, books.

He resided with Chanut and finished his Passions of the Soul. It is highly unlikely Descartes wrote a "Ballet de la Naissance de la Paix," performed on her christina of sweden autobiography. With Christina's strict christina of sweden autobiography, he was invited to the cold and draughty castle at am daily to discuss philosophy and religion.

Soon, it became clear they did not like each other; she disapproved of his mechanical view, and he did not appreciate her interest in Ancient Greek. He died ten days later, early in the morning of 11 Februaryand according to Chanut, the cause of his death was pneumonia. By the age of nine, Christina was already impressed by the Catholic religion and the merits of celibacy.

But Christina understood that she was expected to provide an heir to the Swedish throne. Her first cousin Charles was infatuated with her, and they became secretly engaged before he left in to serve in the Swedish army in Germany for three years. Christina revealed in her autobiography that she felt "an insurmountable distaste for marriage" and "for all the things that females talked about and did.

In fact, her permanent bed-head became her trademark look in paintings. However, such emotional letters were relatively common at that time, and Christina would use the same style when writing to women she had never met but whose writings she admired. Christina's coronation took place on 22 October Christina went to the castle of Jacobsdalwhere she boarded a coronation carriage draped in black velvet embroidered in gold and pulled by three white horses.

The procession to Storkyrkan was so long that when the first carriages arrived, the last ones had not yet left Jacobsdal a distance of roughly All four estates were invited to dine at the castle. Fountains at the marketplace splashed out wine for three days, a whole roast ox was served, and illuminations sparkled, followed by a themed parade The Illustrious Splendors of Felicity on 24 October.

Her tutor, Johannes Matthiae, influenced by John Dury and Comeniuswho since had been working on a new Swedish school system, represented a gentler attitude than most Lutherans. Inhe suggested a new church order, but it was voted down as this was interpreted as Crypto-Calvinism. Queen Christina defended him against the advice of Chancellor Oxenstierna, but three years later, the proposal had to be withdrawn.

Inthe clergy wanted to introduce the Book of Concord Swedish : Konkordieboken — a book defining correct Lutheranism versus heresy, making some aspects of free theological thinking impossible. Matthiae was strongly opposed to this and was again backed by Christina. The Book of Concord was not introduced. Inafter reigning for almost twenty years, working at least ten hours a day, Christina had a nervous breakdown or burn out.

For an hour, she seemed to be dead. She suffered from high blood pressure and complained about bad eyesight and her crooked back. She had already seen many court physicians. Unlike most doctors of that time, he held no faith in blood-letting ; instead, he ordered sufficient sleep, warm baths, and healthy meals, in contrast to Christina's hitherto ascetic way of life.

She was only twenty-five; and advising that she should take more pleasure in life, Bourdelot asked her to stop studying and working so hard [ 70 ] and to remove the books from her apartments. For years, Christina knew by heart all the poems from the Ars Amatoria and was keen on the works by Martial [ 71 ] and Petronius. The physician showed her the 16 erotic sonnets of Pietro Aretinowhich he kept secretly in his luggage.

By subtle means, Bourdelot undermined her principles. Having been Stoicshe now became an Epicurean. She had more conversations with them, being interested in Catholic views on sin, the immortality of the soulrationality, and free will. The two scholars revealed her plans to Cardinal Fabio Chigi. On 26 FebruaryChristina announced that she had decided not to marry and instead wanted her first cousin Charles Gustav to be heir to the throne.

While the nobility objected to this, the three other estates — clergy, burghers, and peasants — accepted it. She agreed to stay on the condition the councils never again asked her to marry. InChristina lost much of her popularity after the beheading of Arnold Johan Messeniustogether with his year-old son, who had accused her of serious misbehavior and of being a " Jezebel ".

Inshe founded the Amaranten order. Antonio Pimentel was appointed as its first knight; all members had to promise not to marry again. In Februaryshe plainly told the Council of her plans to abdicate. Oxenstierna told her she would regret her decision within a few months. In May, the Riksdag discussed her proposals. She had asked forrikstalers a year but received dominions instead.

Her plan to convert [ 82 ] was not the only reason for her abdication, as there was increasing discontent with her arbitrary and wasteful ways. Within ten years, she and Oxenstierna had created 17 counts46 baronsand lesser nobles. These donations took place with such haste that they were not always registered, and on some occasions, the same piece of land was given away twice.

Christina abdicated her throne on 6 June in favor of Charles Gustav. Per Brahewho was supposed to remove the crown, did not move, so she had to take the crown off herself. Dressed in a simple white taffeta dress, she gave her farewell speech with a faltering voice, thanked everyone, and left the throne to Charles X Gustav, who was dressed in black.

Per Brahe felt that she "stood there as pretty as an angel. Christina left the country within a few days. In the summer ofChristina left Sweden in men's clothing with the help of Bernardino de Rebolledo and rode as Count Dohna through Denmark. Relations between the two countries were still so tense that a former Swedish queen could not have traveled safely in Denmark.

Christina had already packed and shipped abroad valuable books, paintings, statues, and tapestries from her Stockholm castle, leaving its treasures severely depleted. She sent letters recommending two of the Duke's daughters to Charles. Based on this recommendation, he married Hedwig Eleonora. In August, she arrived in the Southern Netherlands and settled down in Antwerp.

For four months Christina was lodged in the mansion of a Jewish merchant. In the afternoons, she went for a ride, and each evening, parties were held; there was always a play to watch or music to listen to. Christina quickly ran out of money and had to sell some of her tapestries, silverware, and jewelry. When her financial situation did not improve, the archduke invited her to his Brussels palace on Coudenberg.

In addition, Sweden was preparing for war against Pomeraniawhich meant that her income from there was considerably reduced. The pope and Philip IV of Spain could not support her openly either, as she was not publicly a Catholic yet. Christina succeeded in arranging a major loan, leaving books and statues to settle her debts. In September, she left for Italy with her entourage of persons and horses.

The pope's messenger, the librarian Lucas Holsteniushimself a convert, waited for her in Innsbruck. To celebrate her official conversion, L'Argiaan opera by Antonio Cestiwas performed. Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austriaalready in financial trouble, is said to have been almost ruined by her visit. Her departure was on 8 November.

Christina of sweden autobiography

The southbound journey through Italy was planned in detail by the Vatican and included brilliant triumphs in Ferrara, Bologna, Faenza and Rimini. In PesaroChristina became acquainted with the handsome brothers Santinelliwho so impressed her with their poetry and adeptness of dancing that she took them into service, as well as a certain Gian Rinaldo Monaldeschi.

The official entry into Rome took place on 20 December, in a sedan chair designed by Bernini [ 95 ] through Porta Flaminiawhich today is known as Porta del Popolo. It was then that she received from the pope her second name of Alexandra, the feminine form of his own. For several months, she was the only preoccupation of the Pope and his court.

The nobles vied for her attention and treated her to a never-ending round of fireworks, joustsmock duels, acrobatics, and christinas of sweden autobiography. At the Palazzo Barberiniwhere she was welcomed on 28 February by a few hundred privileged spectators, she watched an amazing carousel in the courtyard. Christina finally settled down in the Palazzo Farnesewhich belonged to the Duke of Parma.

Every Wednesday she held the palace open to visitors from the higher classes who kept themselves busy with poetry and intellectual discussions. Christina opened an academy in the palace on 24 Januarycalled Academy of Arcadiawhere the participants enjoyed music, theater, and literature. The poet Reyer Anslo was presented to her. Twenty-nine-year-old Christina gave occasion to much gossip when socializing freely with men her own age.

One of them was Cardinal Decio Azzolinowho had been a secretary to the ambassador in Spain, and responsible for the Vatican's correspondence with European courts. Christina and Azzolino were so close that the pope asked him to shorten his visits to her palace, but they remained lifelong friends. In a letter on 26 January [ ] to Azzolino Christina writes in French that she would never offend God or give Azzolino reason to take offense, but this "does not prevent me from loving you until death, and since piety relieves you from being my lover, then I relieve you from being my servant, for I shall live and die as your slave.

The French politician Mazarinan Italian himself, had attempted to liberate Naples from Spanish rule, against which the locals had fought before the Neapolitan Republic was created. A second expedition in had failed and the Duke of Guise gave up. Christina's goal was to become a mediator between France and Spain in their contest to control Naples.

Her plan detailed that she would lead French troops to take Naples and rule until bequeathing the crown to France after her death. In early August, she traveled to Paris, accompanied by the Duke of Guise. Mazarin gave her no official sponsorship but gave instructions that she be celebrated and entertained in every town on her way north.

Christina fl. Christifideles Laici. Christie-Murray, David Hugh Arthur. Christie, Susan c. Christie, Samuel Hunter. Christie, R. Gregory —. Christie, Perry. Christie, Linford. Christie, Linforcl —. Christie, Julie —. Christie, Julie. Christina Stigsdottir fl. Christina the Astonishing c. Christine de Pisan and The Goodman of Paris. Christine de Pizan.

Christine de Pizan c. She received an excellent education and amazed her tutors with her knowledge and abilities in governing the state. She also possessed an exceptional talent for languages, mastering Greek, Latin, German, Dutch, Danish, French, and Italian, in addition to her native Swedish. Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna proudly wrote about the year-old queen, stating that she was unlike any girl he had ever known, referring to her intelligence.

At the age of 18, Christina was declared an adult and became the full-fledged ruler of Sweden. Unfortunately, her reign was short-lived. While Sweden's international and military position seemed brilliant, and her authority unquestionable, the internal crisis of the impoverished country was unavoidable due to Christina's passion for luxury and her tendency to surround herself with favorites, granting them titles and lands.

On one hand, Stockholm attracted scholars, artists, poets, and masterpieces of world art from all corners of Europe. On the other hand, excessive taxes burdened all social classes except the nobility. Christina lost her former popularity, but her abdication in and departure from the country came as a shock to her subjects.