Christina, Queen of Sweden
Christina (Swedish: Kristina; 18 December [O.S. 8 December] 1626 – 19 April 1689) was a member of the House of Vasa, and the Queen of Sweden in her own right from 1632 until her abdication in 1654. She succeeded her father Gustavus Adolphus upon his death at the Battle of Lützen in 1632, but began ruling the Swedish Empire when she reached the age of eighteen.
| Christina | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Portrait by Sébastien Bourdon, who exaggerated her eyes. | |||||
| Queen of Sweden | |||||
| Reign | 16 November [O.S. 6 November] 1632 – 16 June [O.S. 6 June] 1654 | ||||
| Coronation | 20 October 1650 | ||||
| Predecessor | Gustav II Adolf | ||||
| Successor | Charles X Gustav | ||||
| Regent | Axel Oxenstierna (1632–1644) | ||||
| Born | 18 December [O.S. 8 December] 1626 Tre Kronor Castle, Stockholm, Sweden | ||||
| Died | 19 April 1689 (aged 62) Rome, Papal States | ||||
| Burial | 22 June 1689 St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City | ||||
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| House | Vasa | ||||
| Father | Gustav II Adolf of Sweden | ||||
| Mother | Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg | ||||
| Religion | Lutheran (1626–1654) Catholic (1654–1689) | ||||
| Signature | |||||
The Swedish queen is remembered as one of the most erudite women of the 17th century. She was fond of books, manuscripts, paintings, and sculptures. With her interest in religion, philosophy, mathematics, and alchemy, she attracted many scientists to Stockholm, wanting the city to become the "Athens of the North". The Peace of Westphalia allowed her to establish an academy or university when and wherever she wanted.
During the Torstenson War in 1644, she initiated the issuance of copper in lumps as sizable as fifteen kilograms to be used as currency. Christina's lavish spending habits pushed the state perilously close to bankruptcy, sparking public unrest due to the resulting financial difficulties. Christina argued for peace to end the Thirty Years' War and received indemnity.
Meanwhile, she caused a scandal when she decided not to marry, and when she converted to Catholicism secretly in Brussels and publicly in Innsbruck. The "Minerva of the North" relinquished the throne to her cousin, and settled in Rome.
Pope Alexander VII described Christina as "a queen without a realm, a Christian without faith, and a woman without shame." Notwithstanding, she played a leading part in the theatrical and musical communities and protected many Baroque artists, composers, and musicians. Christina, who was the guest of five consecutive popes and a symbol of the Counter-Reformation, is one of the few women buried in the Vatican Grottoes.
Her unconventional lifestyle and occasional adoption of masculine attire have been depicted in numerous novels, plays, operas, and films. In many biographies of Christina, her gender and cultural identity are pivotal themes.