by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden in her own right, succeeded her unmarried brother Karl XII, King of Sweden in 1718 and reigned for two years before abdicating in favor of her husband who reigned as Fredrik I, King of Sweden. Born on January 23, 1688, at Tre Kronor Castle, on the site of the current Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, she was the youngest of the seven children and the youngest of the two daughters of Karl XI, King of Sweden and Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. Her paternal grandparents were Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp. Frederik III, King of Denmark and Norway and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg were her maternal grandparents.

Left to Right: Karl, Ulrika Eleonora and Hedwig Sophia; Credit – Wikipedia

Ulrika Eleonora had six siblings but only her eldest brother and her only sister survived childhood:

• Hedwig Sophia of Sweden (1681 – 1708), married her first cousin Friedrich IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and had one son, Hedwig Sophia and her husband were the paternal grandparents of Peter III, Emperor of All Russia
• Karl XII, King of Sweden (1682 – 1718), unmarried
• Gustav of Sweden (1683 – 1685), died in early childhood
• Ulric of Sweden (1684 – 1685), died in infancy
• Fredrik of Sweden (born and died 1685), died in infancy
• Karl Gustav of Sweden (1686 – 1687)

When Ulrika Eleonora was five years old, her mother died. Four years later, her father died and her fifteen-year-old brother succeeded to the throne as Karl XII, King of Sweden. Ulrika Eleonora and her two surviving siblings Hedwig Sophia and Karl were placed in the care of their paternal grandmother Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp. She was quite formidable, was the Dowager Queen of Sweden for 55 years, and would remain visible in Swedish politics and society until she died in 1715.

Ulrika Eleonora’s brother Karl XII, King of Sweden in his coronation robes; Credit – Wikipedia

Being seven years younger than her sister and six years younger than her brother, Ulrika Eleonora was overshadowed by her elder siblings. As the years went by and her brother Karl XII remained unmarried, Ulrika Eleonora was regarded as a possible future heir to the Swedish throne, and her value in the royal marriage market increased. Suitors for her hand in marriage included Prince Carl of Denmark, son of King Christian V of Denmark, the future King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia, and the future King George II of Great Britain but no marriage materialized.

In 1708, Ulrika Eleonora’s sister Hedwig Sophia died from smallpox, leaving her only child eight-year-old Karl Friedrich as a possible heir to the Swedish throne. At the age of two, Karl Friedrich had become Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp upon the death of his father in battle. Ulrika Eleonora’s brother Karl II, King of Sweden suffered a horrendous defeat in 1709 at the Battle of Poltava during the Great Northern War. The Swedish defeat at the Battle of Poltava marked the downfall of the Swedish Empire and the rise of the Russian Empire. After losing the battle, Karl XII fled south to the Ottoman Empire where he remained for five years.

Ulrika Eleonora with her husband; Credit – Wikipedia

As early as 1710, Prince Friedrich of Hesse-Kassel, the eldest surviving son and heir of Karl I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, requested Ulrika Eleonora’s hand in marriage but their betrothal was not announced until January 23, 1714. The marriage was supported by Ulrika Eleonora’s grandmother Hedwig Eleonora, who expected Ulrika Eleonora to move with her husband to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, thereby increasing the possibility that the young son of the deceased Hedwig Sophia, Karl Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, would become the heir to the Swedish throne. Ulrika Eleonora and Friedrich of Hesse-Kassel were married on March 24, 1715. Friedrich took the Swedish version of his name, Fredrik, and was granted the title Prince of Sweden and the style of His Royal Highness. Instead of moving to the Landgraviate of Hesse-Kassel, the couple remained in Sweden, Their marriage was childless.

In 1718, Karl XII, King of Sweden once again invaded Norway by laying siege to Fredriksten Fortress. On December 11, 1718, while in the trenches close to the perimeter of Fredriksten Fortress, 36-year-old Karl was hit in the head by a projectile that entered the left side of his skull and exited on the right side of his skull, instantly killing him. The invasion was abandoned and Karl’s body was returned to Sweden where he was buried at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm.

Ulrika Eleonora’s coronation in Uppsala Cathedral by Johan Henrik Schildt; Credit – Wikipedia

After Karl XII’s death, his only surviving sibling Ulrika Eleonora claimed the Swedish throne even though her nephew Karl Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp had the better claim by primogeniture. Ulrika Eleonora asserted that she was the closest surviving relative of her brother and was elected Queen of Sweden by the Riksdag, the Swedish legislature. She was crowned at Uppsala Cathedral on March 17, 1719, and made her formal entrance into Stockholm on April 11, 1719.

Fredrik I, King of Sweden in his coronation robes; Credit – Wikipedia

Ulrika Eleonora wanted to reign jointly with her husband Prince Fredrik as William III and Mary II had done in England but the Swedish nobility rejected the notion. Frederik increased his influence on his wife and in state affairs and then reached out to the most powerful men in Sweden who soon considered a change. Ulrika Eleonora wrote a letter to the Riksdag on February 29, 1720, informing its members of her desire to abdicate in favor of her husband on the condition that she should succeed him if he should die before her. The Riksdag confirmed the succession of Ulrika Eleonora’s husband and the condition of her abdication which granted her place as the heir to the Swedish throne until her death. On March 24, 1720, Prince Fredrik acceded to the Swedish throne as Fredrik I, King of Sweden and Ulrika Eleonora became Queen Consort.

Although Ulrika Eleonora was interested in affairs of state, she withdrew from all visible participation in them, occupying herself with reading, charity, and her many friends. In 1730, Frederik’s father died and he became Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel but immediately appointed his younger brother Wilhelm Regent of Hesse-Kassel. Ulrika Eleonora acted as Regent of Sweden on two occasions: during Fredrik’s trip to Hesse-Kassel from July – November 1731 and during his illness from July – September 1738. In 1734, Swedish noblewoman Hedwig Taube became Fredrik’s official mistress. She was given the title Countess of Hessenstein and bore Fredrik four children. Ulrika Eleonora expressed her disapproval to her close confidant Emerentia von Düben who convinced her never to display any public reaction to the affair because it would be beneath the queen’s dignity.

Sarcophagus of Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden and her husband Fredrik I, King of Sweden; Photo © Susan Flantzer

On November 24, 1741, at Wrangel Palace in Riddarholmen, Stockholm, Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora died from smallpox at the age of 53. She was buried at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, Sweden. Her husband Fredrik I, King of Sweden survived her by ten years, dying on March 25, 1751, aged 74, at Wrangel Palace in Riddarholment, Stockholm, Sweden. He was buried with his wife at Riddarholmen Church.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Ulrika Eleonore (Schweden) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Eleonore_(Schweden)> [Accessed 12 September 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Frederick I of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_I_of_Sweden> [Accessed 12 September 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Eleonora,_Queen_of_Sweden> [Accessed 12 September 2021].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2021. Karl XII, King of Sweden. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/karl-xii-king-of-sweden/> [Accessed 12 September 2021].
• Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Ulrika Eleonora – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Eleonora> [Accessed 12 September 2021].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Karl XII, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl XII became King of Sweden at the age of fifteen and reigned for twenty-one years. After losing a decisive battle during the Great Nothern War in which he was wounded and lost one-third of his forces, Karl fled to the Ottoman Empire and remained there for five years. Upon his return to Sweden, he started an offensive military campaign and ultimately lost his life in battle. Karl XII, King of Sweden was the second of the seven children and the eldest and the only surviving son of the five sons of Karl XI, King of Sweden and Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. He was born on June 17, 1682, at Tre Kronor Castle which was on the site of the current Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. His paternal grandparents were Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp. Frederik III, King of Denmark and Norway and Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg were his maternal grandparents.

Karl, on the right, with his sister Hedwig Sophia; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl had six siblings but only his two sisters survived childhood:

• Hedwig Sophia of Sweden (1681 – 1708), married her first cousin Friedrich IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and had one son, Hedwig Sophia and her husband were the paternal grandparents of Peter III, Emperor of All Russia
• Gustav of Sweden (1683 – 1685), died in early childhood
• Ulric of Sweden (1684 – 1685), died in infancy
• Fredrik of Sweden (born and died 1685), died in infancy
• Karl Gustav of Sweden (1686 – 1687), died in infancy
• Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden (1688 – 1741), married Friedrich V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel and had no children, she succeeded her childless brother and two years later abdicated the Swedish throne in favor of her husband who reigned as Fredrik I, King of Sweden

Karl’s mother Ulrika Eleonora was a very visible parent and active in raising her children. His father Karl XI gave orders that Karl was to receive a comprehensive education that would prepare him to be King of Sweden. Karl received instruction in riding, hunting, and fencing from his father. At the age of four, Karl’s mother began his academic instruction. He later received lessons in military science, foreign languages, math, geography, history, literature, and legal matters from specially selected tutors.

The fifteen-year-old Karl XII, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

When Karl was only eleven years old his mother Ulrika Eleonora died. Four years later, on April 6, 1697, his father died and the fifteen-year-old succeeded to the throne as Karl XII, King of Sweden. His paternal grandmother Hedwig Eleonora, who had been the Regent of Sweden for her son Karl XI, who became King of Sweden at the age of four, was also the Regent of Sweden for her grandson Karl XII. However, seven months later, on December 14, 1697, Karl XII proclaimed himself king and refused to continue with a regency. The Swedish Riksdag declared him to be of legal age. Karl XII’s grandmother Hedwig Eleonora was quite formidable and was the Dowager Queen of Sweden for 55 years. She remained visible in Swedish politics and society until her death and her grandson Karl XII had great respect for her. After the regency, Hedwig Eleonora continued with the upbringing of her three surviving grandchildren. Because of this Karl had strong ties to his grandmother and his two sisters.

For almost all of his reign, Karl XII led Sweden in the Great Northern War (1700 – 1721). He acted as the general of the army and achieved significant success for several years. However, a failed campaign in Russia in 1708 – 1709, drastically changed the situation. At the Battle of Poltava in July 1709, Karl XII was wounded and unable to lead the Swedish forces. One-third of the Swedish army was killed and the Swedish supply train was destroyed. The Swedish army was inferior to the larger and more modern army of Peter I (the Great) of Russia.  After losing the battle, Karl XII fled south to the Ottoman Empire with a force of 1,000. The remainder of the Swedish army surrendered and most of them spent the rest of their lives in Russian captivity. The Swedish defeat at the Battle of Poltava marked the downfall of the Swedish Empire and the rise of the Russian Empire.

The injured Karl XII after the Battle of Poltava by Gustaf Cederström; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl XII remained in the Ottoman Empire for five years. The main reason for his long stay in the Ottoman Empire was that Karl hoped to persuade the Turks to open a second front against Russia in southern Europe, easing the military pressure on Sweden. The Turks initially welcomed Karl’s presence but after five years, they wanted him gone. During his five-year stay in the Ottoman Empire, Karl corresponded with his sister Ulrika Eleonora who was now his heir as his elder sister Hedwig Sophia died from smallpox in 1708. Over the years, Karl ruled his kingdom from the Ottoman Empire. Meanwhile, the Swedish Council of State and Riksdag tried to keep Sweden organized and independent. However, in the autumn of 1714, Karl received a letter warning him that unless he returned to Sweden, the Council of State and the Riksdag would independently conclude a peace treaty with Russia, Poland, and Denmark. Karl rushed back to Sweden on horseback making the journey in fifteen days.

When Karl returned home, he found Sweden at war with Russia, Saxony, Hanover, Great Britain, and Denmark. Karl planned to attack Norway which was ruled jointly with Denmark. He hoped that if he cut Denmark’s Norwegian supply lines the Danish forces would be withdrawn from Swedish territory. Karl invaded Norway in 1716, occupied the capital of Christiania (today’s Oslo), and laid siege to the Akershus Fortress but he was unsuccessful and was forced to withdraw.

Bringing Home the Body of King Karl XII of Sweden by Gustaf Cederström; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1718, Karl once again invaded Norway, laying siege to Fredriksten Fortress. On December 11, 1718, while in the trenches close to the perimeter of Fredriksten Fortress, 36-year-old Karl was hit in the head by a projectile that entered the left side of his skull and exited on the right side of his skull, instantly killing him. The invasion was abandoned and Karl’s body was returned to Sweden where he was buried at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm.

Tomb of Karl XII, King of Sweden at Riddarholmen Church; Credit – Wikipedia

The exact circumstances of Karl’s death remain unclear. His body has been exhumed three times, in 1746, 1859, and 1917, in attempts to determine the exact cause of death. Despite multiple investigations of the battlefield, Karl’s skull, and his clothes, it is still uncertain how he was hit or whether the shot came from the enemy or his own forces.

Photo from the 1917 postmortem exam; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl XII never married. He had been encouraged to find a suitable wife to secure the succession but he avoided the subject of sex and marriage. After his death, his only surviving sibling Ulrika Eleonora claimed the throne. Her deceased older sister Hedwig Sophia had a son Karl Friedrich, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp, who had the better claim by primogeniture. However, Ulrika Eleonora asserted that she was the closest surviving relative of her brother and was recognized as his successor by the Riksdag. After a reign of two years, she abdicated in 1720 in favor of her husband Friedrich V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel who reigned as Fredrik I, King of Sweden.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Karl XII. (Schweden) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_XII._(Schweden)> [Accessed 11 September 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Charles XII of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_XII_of_Sweden> [Accessed 11 September 2021].
• Flantzer, S., 2021. Karl XI, King of Sweden. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/karl-xi-king-of-sweden/> [Accessed 11 September 2021].
• Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Karl XII – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_XII> [Accessed 11 September 2021].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Karl XI, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl XI, King of Sweden was the only child of Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp. He was born on December 4, 1655, at Tre Kronor Castle which was on the site of the present Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. His paternal grandparents were Johann Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Princess Katarina of Sweden, daughter of Karl IX, King of Sweden. His maternal grandparents were Friedrich III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and Marie Elisabeth of Saxony.

Before the birth of his son, Karl X Gustav was away on military campaigns and did not meet his son until December 1659. He died at the age of 37 on February 13, 1660, from influenza and pneumonia and his four-year-old son Karl became King of Sweden. Karl XI’s mother Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp served as Regent of Sweden until her son reached his majority.

Five-year-old Karl XI, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

In his will, Karl XI’s father had appointed a tutor for his son. Emund Gripenhielm (link in Swedish), was a professor of history at Uppsala University and held government positions including personal secretary to Karl X Gustav. The young king’s curriculum consisted of Latin, French, German, history, state law, geography, astronomy, and architecture. However, Karl XI did poorly in his studies. He had difficulty reading and writing but was good at memorization. Karl probably had dyslexia, a reading disorder characterized by trouble with reading despite normal intelligence. In 1671, Karl began attending the meetings of the Council of State, and the following year, when he reached his majority, Karl was King of Sweden in his own right.

When Italian philosopher, author, diplomat, and poet Lorenzo Magalotti visited Stockholm in 1674, he described the teenage Karl XI as “virtually afraid of everything, uneasy to talk to foreigners, and not daring to look anyone in the face.” Karl was dependent on his mother and advisors to interact with foreign envoys since he was only fluent in German and was ignorant of the world outside Sweden. Karl’s coronation was held on September 28, 1675. After 1680, Karl’s government spent most of its reign preventing new wars by engaging in foreign affairs, advocating economic stability, and reorganizing the military. The last twenty years of Karl’s reign was the longest period of peace during Sweden’s time as a great power.

Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark, Queen of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

In the peace negotiations between Sweden and Denmark in 1679, a marriage between Karl XI and Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark, daughter of Frederik III, King of Denmark, was on the agenda. Karl had previously been engaged to his cousin Juliana of Hesse-Eschwege. However, on two occasions after the engagement, Juliana became pregnant by two different men, and the engagement was eventually called off. Karl and Ulrika Eleonora were married on May 6, 1680, in Skottorp Castle in Skummeslöv, Halland, Sweden.

Karl XI and Ulrika Eleonora had seven children but only three survived childhood:

• Hedwig Sophia of Sweden (1681 – 1708), married her first cousin Friedrich IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, had one son, paternal grandparents of Peter III, Emperor of All Russia
• Karl XII, King of Sweden (1682 – 1718), unmarried
• Gustav of Sweden (1683 – 1685), died in early childhood
• Ulric of Sweden (1684 – 1685), died in infancy
• Fredrik of Sweden (born and died 1685), died in infancy
• Karl Gustav of Sweden (1686 – 1687)
• Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden (1688 – 1741), married Friedrich of Hesse-Kassel, later both Fredrik I, King of Sweden and Friedrich V, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel, no children Ulrika Eleonora succeeded her childless brother and two years later abdicated the Swedish throne in favor of her husband

Left to Right: Karls XI’s mother Hedwig Eleonora; Karl XI; his son the future Karl XII; his wife Ulrika Eleonora; his daughter Ulrika Eleonora; his son-in-law Friedrich IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp; the mother of Friedrich IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Fredrika Amalia of Denmark, Dowager Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp; and his daughter Hedwig Sofia; Credit – Wikipedia

The marriage of Karl XI and Ulrika Eleonora was considered a success but the couple had very different personalities. Karl was fond of physical activities like hunting and riding while Ulrika enjoyed reading and the fine arts. As Queen of Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora had limited political influence and was overshadowed by her mother-in-law. Even after her son married Ulrika Eleonora, Hedwig Eleonora remained the first lady of the court. Foreign ambassadors always paid their respects to Hedwig Eleonora first, and then Ulrika Eleonora. In 1690, weakened by her seven childbirths, Ulrika Eleonora developed a fatal non-diagnosed illness. She died on July 26, 1693, aged 36, after spending 1692 -1693 in bed, and was buried at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, Sweden. On his deathbed, Karl told his mother that he had not been happy since Ulrika Eleonora’s death.

Karl XI lying in state; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl XI survived his wife by only four years. The year after Ulrika Eleonora’s death, Karl had abdominal pains. During the summer of 1696, the pain became severe and he was given medication that provided only temporary relief. Karl continued to perform his duties but in February 1697, the pain became too severe for him to continue his work. His doctors discovered that he had a large hardening in his abdomen. At that time, there was little the doctors could do other than relieve the pain with medication. Karl XI, King of Sweden died on April 5, 1697, at Tre Kronor Castle in Stockholm, Sweden, aged 41. An autopsy revealed that he had developed cancer that had spread throughout the abdominal cavity. Karl was buried with his wife at Riddarholmen Church.

Tomb of Karl XI at Riddarholmen Church; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Charles XI of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_XI_of_Sweden> [Accessed 31 August 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Eleonora_of_Denmark> [Accessed 31 August 2021].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2021. Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/hedwig-eleonora-of-holstein-gottorp-queen-of-sweden/> [Accessed 31 August 2021].
• Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Karl XI – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_XI> [Accessed 31 August 2021].
• Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Ulrika Eleonora av Danmark – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ulrika_Eleonora_av_Danmark> [Accessed 31 August 2021].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl X Gustav became King of Sweden upon the abdication of his cousin Christina, Queen of Sweden. Born Karl Gustav of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg on November 8, 1622, at Nyköping Castle in Nyköping, Sweden, he was the third of the eight children and the eldest of the three sons of Johann Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Princess Katarina of Sweden. His paternal grandparents were Johann I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken and Magdalene of Jülich-Cleves-Berg. His maternal grandparents were Karl IX, King of Sweden and his first wife Maria of the Palatinate-Simmern. Karl Gustav’s mother Katarina of Sweden was the only surviving child of her parents and the half-sister of Gustavus II Adolphus the Great, King of Sweden.

Karl Gustav had seven siblings:

• Christina Magdalena of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg (1616 – 1662), married Friedrich VI, Margrave of Baden-Durlach, had eight children
• Karl Friedrich of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg (1618 – 1619), died in infancy
• Elisabeth Amalia of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg (1619 – 1628), died in childhood
• Marie Euphrosine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg (1625 – 1687), married the future Swedish Chancellor Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie, had eleven children
• Eleonore Katarina of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg (1626 – 1692); married Landgrave Friedrich of Hessen-Eschwege, had six children
• Adolf Johann I, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken (1629 – 1689), married (1) Elizabeth Beata Brahe, had one son who died in infancy (2) his first wife’s sister Elsa Elizabeth Brahe, had nine children
• Johann Gustav of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg (born and died circa 1630)

Karl Gustav’s parents: Princess Katarina of Sweden and Johann Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg: Credit – Wikipedia

In 1622, King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden asked his half-sister Katarina to move back to Sweden with her husband Johann Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg, and their children. Prince Carl Philip of Sweden, brother of Gustavus Adolphus and half-brother of Katarina, had died in early 1622, leaving no heirs to the Swedish throne except Katarina and her children. At the time, the Thirty Years’ War (1618 – 1648) was raging through the territories of the German monarchies and Gustavus Adolphus wanted to move Katarina and her family to safety in Sweden. They arrived in Sweden in June 1622 and remained permanently in Sweden. Later that year, the birth of Katarina’s son Karl Gustav, a male heir to the throne of Sweden, immediately strengthened her position. Katarina and her husband were granted Stegeborg Castle and Östergötland as their fief and Katarina was styled Countess of Stegeborg.

Gustavus Adolphus’ wife Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg had given birth to a stillborn daughter in 1621, a daughter named Christina in 1623 who lived for only eleven months, and a stillborn son in 1625. Finally, in 1626, she gave birth to a child who survived, a girl named Christina. Gustavus Adolphus ordered the birth to be announced with all the ceremonies usually given to the birth of a male heir. This seems to indicate that Gustavus Adolphus had little hope of having other children. Maria Eleonora’s state of health seems to be the most likely explanation for this. Gustavus Adolphus recognized Christina’s eligibility as a female heir and she became the undisputed heir presumptive. Maria Eleonora showed little affection for her daughter and was not allowed any influence in Christina’s upbringing. Christina was placed in the care of Gustavus Adolphus’ half-sister Katarina under the supervision of Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna. Six years later, at the Battle of Lützen during the Thirty Years’ War, Gustavus Adolphus was killed and six-year-old Christina became Queen of Sweden.

Christina, Queen of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Christina, who was very well educated and was considered one of the most learned women of the 17th century, was raised with Karl Gustav and his siblings. After being educated by tutors, Karl Gustav studied at Uppsala University. From 1638 – 1640, Karl Gustav was on a foreign educational trip, mainly at the court of Louis XIII, King of France. After returning to Sweden, Karl Gustav embedded with the Swedish army fighting in the Thirty Years’ War, studying the art of war under Lennart Torstenson, a Swedish Field Marshal and military engineer. He participated in the Second Battle of Breitenfeld (1642) and the Battle of Jankowitz (1645). Karl Gustav then frequented the Swedish court, as a prospective husband of his cousin Queen Christina. In 1647, Queen Christina appointed Karl Gustav commander of the Swedish troops fighting in the German monarchies and at the same time signaled her intention to marry him.

However, in 1649, 23-year-old Christina informed the council of state of her decision not to marry anyone and that she wanted her cousin Karl Gustav to be her heir. As a child, Christina had been impressed by the Catholic religion and the celibacy of its priests. She read a biography on the unmarried Queen Elizabeth I of England with great interest. Furthermore, Christina was investigating the possibility of converting to Roman Catholicism, and in 1652, she decided to do so, although the conversion would not occur until 1654 after her abdication. After reigning for twenty years and working at least ten hours a day, Christina had what may be interpreted as a nervous breakdown, or perhaps in more modern terms, she was burned out. She was also receiving increasing public criticism for her policies that caused a drain on the Swedish treasury.

In February 1654, Christina informed the Council of State that she intended to abdicate. An abdication ceremony was held on June 6, 1654, at Uppsala Castle. Later that day, Christina’s cousin Karl Gustav of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg was crowned Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden. Within a few days, 28-year-old Christina left Sweden. She eventually made her way to Rome where she lived for the rest of her life.

Karl Gustav’s wife Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp; Credit – Wikipedia

The 32-year-old new King of Sweden was unmarried as he had expected he would marry Christina. He needed to find a bride as soon as possible to provide an heir. The former Queen Christina of Sweden had met Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, daughter of Friedrich III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp and Marie Elisabeth of Saxony, on her way to Rome after her abdication. Concerned that Karl Gustav was unmarried, Christina suggested the match. However, Hedwig Eleonora was already engaged to Gustav Adolph, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, and so Christina recommended Hedwig Eleonora’s elder sister Magdalene Sibylle instead. After seeing portraits of both sisters, Karl Gustav chose Hedwig Eleonora because of her beauty, and her current fiancé was instead married to her sister Magdalena Sibylle.

The wedding of Karl Gustav and Hedwig Eleonora; Credit – Wikipedia

On October 24, 1654, the day after her eighteenth birthday, Hedwig Eleonora married Karl Gustav at the Tre Kronor Castle in Stockholm, Sweden. Three days later, Hedwig Eleonora was crowned Queen of Sweden at the Storkrykan (Great Church) in Stockholm.

Karl Gustav and Hedwig Eleonora had only one child, a son who succeeded his father:

• Karl XI, King of Sweden (1655 – 1697), married Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark, had seven children but only three survived childhood

Triumph of Karl X Gustav over the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, circa 1655; Credit – Wikipedia

Karl Gustav’s short reign concentrated on healing domestic discords from Queen Christina’s reign and rallying Sweden around his new policy of conquest. He achieved great military successes in the Second Northern War against Denmark-Norway and Poland-Lithuania.

On January 4, 1660, the Riksdag of the Estates opened in Gothenburg, Sweden. The Riksdag of the Estates was the assembly of the Four Estates of Sweden which historically were the lines of division in Swedish society. Karl Gustav was in attendance and was accompanied by his wife Hedwig Eleonora, their four-year-old son Karl, and Karl Gustav’s sister Marie Euphrosine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg who had married Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie, then the Lord High Treasurer of Sweden. Within a few weeks, Karl Gustav became ill with influenza which developed into pneumonia.

On February 12, 1660, Karl Gustav became increasingly ill with a high fever and had difficulty breathing. He signed his will appointing a regency of six relatives and close friends for his four-year-old son who would soon be Karl XI, King of Sweden. Karl Gustav said goodbye to his wife, his son, and his closest friends. In the early evening, his condition worsened again and he could not lie down due to his breathing difficulties. He was held up in the arms of Marshal Gabriel Oxenstierna and Count Nils Brahe. At midnight, the doctors announced that death was approaching, and Karl Gustav said goodbye to those present again. Karl IX Gustav, King of Sweden died at the age of 37 in the early morning hours of February 13, 1660. He was buried at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, Sweden. His wife Hedwig Eleonora survived her husband by fifty-five years and her son by eighteen years, dying on November 24, 1715, in Stockholm, Sweden at the age of 79. She was buried with her husband at Riddarholmen Church.

Sarcophagus of Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Works Cited

• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Charles X Gustav of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_X_Gustav_of_Sweden> [Accessed 28 August 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedwig_Eleonora_of_Holstein-Gottorp> [Accessed 28 August 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Catherine of Sweden, Countess Palatine of Kleeburg – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_of_Sweden,_Countess_Palatine_of_Kleeburg> [Accessed 28 August 2021].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2021. Christina, Queen of Sweden. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/christina-queen-of-sweden/> [Accessed 28 August 2021].
• Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Karl X Gustav – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_X_Gustav> [Accessed 28 August 2021].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Christina, Queen of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Considered one of the most learned women of the 17th century, Queen Christina of Sweden is remembered for refusing to marry, abdicating her throne, converting to Roman Catholicism, living the rest of her life in Rome, and being one of only three women to be interred in the crypt at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Christina is one of three women who have been reigning queens of Sweden. The other two are Margarethe (reigned 1389 – 1412) and Ulrika Eleonora (reigned 1718 – 1720). In 1979, the Riksdag, the Swedish legislature, introduced an Act of Succession changing the succession to absolute primogeniture, meaning that the monarch’s eldest child, regardless of gender, is first in the line of succession. Currently, Crown Princess Victoria, the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, is the heir apparent and will likely be the fourth Queen Regnant of Sweden. Her eldest child Princess Estelle will likely be the fifth Queen Regnant.

Christina was born on December 18, 1626, at Tre Kronor Castle, on the site of the current Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden. She was the fourth and the only surviving child of Gustavus II Adolphus the Great, King of Sweden and Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg. Before her birth, Christina’s mother had given birth to a stillborn daughter in 1621, a daughter named Christina in 1623 who lived for only eleven months, and a stillborn son in 1625.

Christina’s parents Gustavus II Adolphus the Great, King of Sweden and Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg; Credit – Wikipedia

When Maria Eleonora became pregnant again in 1626, there was an excited expectation that at last, a male heir would be born. When the baby was born, it was first thought to be a boy because it was”hairy” and screamed “with a strong, hoarse voice” and Gustavus Adolphus had originally been told that the child was a boy. His half-sister Katarina of Sweden, Countess Palatine of Kleeburg then informed him that the child was not a boy but a girl, and then carried the baby to him, afraid of his reaction. Gustav Adolphus said, “She’ll be clever, she has made fools of us all!” and named her Christina after his mother Christina of Holstein-Gottorp. However, Maria Eleonora was in no condition to be told the truth about the baby’s gender, and Gustavus Adolphus waited several days before breaking the news to her. Maria Eleonora had a vicious reaction upon hearing the child was a girl and ordered the baby to be taken away from her. Gustavus Adolphus ordered the birth to be announced with all the ceremonies usually given to the birth of a male heir. This seems to indicate that Gustavus Adolphus had little hope of having other children. Maria Eleonora’s state of health is the most likely explanation for this. Gustavus Adolphus recognized Christina’s eligibility as a female heir and she became the undisputed heir presumptive.

Maria Eleonora showed little affection for her daughter and was not allowed any influence in Christina’s upbringing. Christina was placed in the care of Gustavus Adolphus’ half-sister Katarina of Sweden, Countess Palatine of Kleeburg and Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna. Before Gustavus Adolphus left to lead the Swedish army in the Thirty Years’ War (1618 to 1648), he legally secured his daughter Christina’s right to inherit the throne, in case he never returned and gave orders that Christina should receive an education normally given only to princes. At the Battle of Lützen on November 16, 1632, Gustavus Adolphus was killed and six-year-old Christina became Queen of Sweden.

Christina’s aunt Katarina who played a major role in her life; Credit – Wikipedia

Already suffering from mental issues, Maria Eleonora’s grief was quite painful and her mental issues worsened considerably. She was not included in the regency government during the minority of Christina because the council of the state did not consider her suitable as regent. In 1636, the regency government feared that Maria Eleonora’s mental instability would adversely influence the young Queen Christina. They decided to separate mother and daughter and Maria Eleonora was sent to Gripsholm Castle in Sweden. Christina’s mother later lived in Denmark and her homeland Brandenburg before being allowed to return to Sweden. Christina’s aunt Katarina of Sweden, Countess Palatine of Kleeburg acted more or less as her governess. After Katarina died in 1638, Christina had a series of women who served the dual role of foster mothers and governesses. The council of state gave Christina several foster mothers/governesses at one time to avoid her becoming attached to one person.

Fourteen-year-old Queen Christina; Credit – Wikipedia

As per her father’s wishes, Christina was educated as a prince would have been. Her father had been appointed Johannes Matthiae Gothus, Lutheran theologian and court pastor, later Bishop of Strängnäs, and a professor at Uppsala University, to be her tutor. He taught Christina languages, theology, and philosophy. Christina’s relationship with Gothus was so close that he became like a father to her and she referred to him as father.

Christina was particularly gifted in languages. She was taught Latin, French, German, and Dutch, and on her own, she learned Greek, Italian, and Spanish. When Christina was twelve, Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna began teaching her about state affairs and politics. As a child, Christina received foreign envoys, and when she was fourteen she began receiving briefings on government affairs. In 1643, when Christina was sixteen, she regularly attended the council of state meetings. Upon her eighteenth birthday, the regency was over and Christina became Queen of Sweden in her own right. The council of state officially proclaimed, “Her Majesty is a king, she must be respected as a male”.

Christina (at the table on the right) in discussion with French philosopher René Descartes; Credit – Wikipedia

During her reign, large parts of the Thirty Years’ War were fought. Christina was a skilled politician who accelerated the Peace of Westphalia, ending the Thirty Years’ War. During her reign, Sweden had great achievements, and its prestige was increased. With her interest in religion, philosophy, mathematics, and science, Christina attracted many scholars to Stockholm including French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist René Descartes and French classical scholar Claudius Salmasius.

Christina used the support of the husband of her late aunt Katarina, Johann Kasimir of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg, and his two sons, Christina’s cousins Karl Gustav and Adolf Johann, with whom she was raised, to free herself from the influence of Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna. In 1647 she appointed Karl Gustav commander of the Swedish troops in Germany and at the same time signaled her intention to marry him. As a child, Christina was impressed by the Catholic religion and the celibacy of its priests. She also read a biography on the unmarried Queen Elizabeth I of England with great interest. In 1649, 23-year-old Christiana informed the council of state of her decision not to marry anyone and that she wanted her cousin Karl Gustav to be her heir.

From her autobiography, historians have a view of the development of Christina’s religious philosophy. Even as a child, Christina took a stand against strict Lutheran religious teachings. She wrote that she had never really been Lutheran. During the study of religion with her tutor Johannes Matthiae Gothus, Christina had formed a religion of her own. After her association with Catholics, such as Pierre Chanut, the French ambassador to Sweden, and René Descartes, Christina was more drawn to Roman Catholicism. Starting in 1651, she had long conversations with Antonio Macedo, Jesuit priest, secretary, and interpreter for Portugal’s ambassador to Sweden. In August 1651, Macedo brought a letter from Christina to the Superior General of the Jesuit order in Rome. In reply to the letter, two Jesuit scholars using false names and in disguise, Paolo Casati and Francesco Malines, came to Sweden in the spring of 1652. Christina had more conversations with them on sin, the immortality of the soul, and free will, and then decided to convert to Roman Catholicism. Jesuit Superior General Goshwin Nickel and Cardinal Fabio Chigi, who later became Pope Alexander VII, were informed that Queen Christina of Sweden, born a Lutheran, wanted to convert to Roman Catholicism.

Christina’s wish to convert to Roman Catholicism was not the only reason for her abdication. After reigning for twenty years and working at least ten hours a day, Christina had what may be interpreted as a nervous breakdown, or perhaps in more modern terms, she was burned out. She was also receiving increasing public criticism for her policies that caused a drain on the Swedish treasury. In the previous ten years, Christina had created seventeen new counts, 46 barons, and 428 members of the lower nobility. To provide them with sufficient allowances, she had sold or mortgaged crown property.

Christina’s abdication in 1654, contemporary drawing by Erik Dahlberg; Credit – Wikipedia

In February 1654, Christina informed the council of state that she intended to abdicate. An abdication ceremony was held on June 6, 1654, at Uppsala Castle. Christina wore her regalia, which were then ceremonially removed from her, one by one. The person who was to remove the crown did not move so Christina had to take off the crown herself. Dressed in a simple white dress, she gave her farewell speech and left the throne to her cousin Karl Gustav of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg who was crowned later that day as Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden. Within a few days, 28-year-old Christina left Sweden.

Christina’s cousin and successor Karl X, Gustav, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Christina made her way to the Spanish Netherlands ruled by the Catholic Habsburgs, now in Belgium and the Netherlands. On December 24, 1654, Christina converted to Roman Catholicism in the chapel of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria, brother of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor. This was a private ceremony and Christina’s conversion was not publicized. She converted to Catholicism publicly on November 3, 1655, at the Innsbruck Court Church in Austria. Christina arrived in Rome on December 20, 1655. On Christmas Day in 1655, Christina received the sacrament of confirmation from Pope Alexander VII, the former Cardinal Fabio Chigi, at St. Peter’s Basilica. The pope gave her the confirmation name Alexandra, the feminine version of his papal name. Christina was given use of the Palazzo Farnese and then in 1659, she moved to the Palazzo Corsini which would be her permanent home. Christina played a prominent role in Rome’s cultural life.

In April 1660, Christina was informed that her cousin Karl X Gustav, King of Sweden had died in February. His son and successor Karl XI was only five years old. Christina went to Sweden that summer and announced that she had left the throne to her cousin and his heir, but if Karl XI died, she would take over the throne again. However, as she was a Catholic that was impossible, and the Swedish clergy refused to let her priests celebrate Mass. Her stay in Stockholm was short.

Christina in her later years; Credit – Wikipedia

Christina remained very tolerant towards the beliefs of others. When King Louis XIV of France revoked the Edict of Nantes, abolishing the rights of French Protestant Huguenots, Christina wrote an indignant letter to Cardinal Cesar d’Estrees, the French ambassador to Rome. King Louis XIV did not appreciate her view but Christina was not to be silenced. She made Pope Clement X prohibit the custom of chasing Jews through the streets during the carnival before Lent and she issued a declaration that Roman Jews were under her protection, signed la Regina – the Queen.

Christina’s sarcophagus; Credit – Wikipedia

Christina died, aged 62, on April 19, 1689, at the Palazzo Corsini in Rome after suffering from erysipelas, an acute bacterial infection, and pneumonia. She had asked for a simple burial in the Pantheon in Rome. However, Pope Innocent XI insisted that her body be displayed in the fashion of a pope and then interred in the Papal Crypt at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. While her sarcophagus is in the Papal Crypt, a huge monument is in the basilica.

Monument to Christina in St. Peter’s Basilica; Credit – By Jean-Pol GRANDMONT Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28930634

Christina is one of three women interred in the crypt at St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican. The other two are Matilda of Tuscany, Margravine of Tuscany, Vicereine of Italy, Imperial Vicar (circa 1046 – 1115), one of the most powerful nobles in Italy in the second half of the 11th century, and Maria Clementina Sobieska (1702 – 1735), the wife of James Francis Edward Stuart, son of the deposed James II, King of England and a Jacobite claimant to the British throne, known as the Old Pretender.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

• Kingdom of Sweden Index
• Swedish Orders and Honours
• Swedish Royal Dates
• Swedish Royal Burial Sites
• Swedish Royal Christenings
• Swedish Royal Residences
• Swedish Royal Weddings
• Line of Succession to the Throne of Sweden
• Profiles of the Swedish Royal Family

Works Cited

• Da.wikipedia.org. 2021. Kristina af Sverige – Wikipedia, den frie encyklopædi. [online] Available at: <https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristina_af_Sverige> [Accessed 26 August 2021].
• De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Christina (Schweden) – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_(Schweden)> [Accessed 26 August 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Christina, Queen of Sweden – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina,_Queen_of_Sweden> [Accessed 26 August 2021].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2021. Gustavus II Adolphus the Great, King of Sweden. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/king-gustavus-ii-adolphus-the-great-of-sweden/> [Accessed 26 August 2021].
• Flantzer, Susan, 2021. Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, Queen of Sweden. [online] Unofficial Royalty. Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/maria-eleonora-of-brandenburg-queen-of-sweden/> [Accessed 26 August 2021].
• Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Drottning Kristina – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drottning_Kristina> [Accessed 26 August 2021].

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2021

Gustavus Adolphus the Great, King of Sweden; Credit – Wikipedia

Also known as Gustav II Adolf, King of Sweden, he was officially given the name Gustavus Adolphus the Great by the Riksdag of the Estates, the legislature, in 1634, two years after his death in battle. Gustavus Adolphus is considered one of the greatest military commanders in history and made Sweden a great power that would result in it becoming one of Europe’s largest and leading nations during the early modern period. Born on December 9, 1594, at Tre Kronor Castle which stood on the site of the present Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden, he was the eldest of the four children and the elder of the two sons of the future Karl IX, King of Sweden and his second wife Christina of Holstein-Gottorp.

Gustavus Adolphus had three younger siblings:

• Maria Elisabet of Sweden (1596 – 1618), married her paternal first cousin Prince Johan of Sweden, Duke of Östergötland, no children
• Kristina of Sweden (1598 – 1599), died in infancy
• Karl Philip of Sweden (1601 – 1622), married morganatically Elizabet Ribbing, had one posthumous daughter

Gustavus Adolphus had six half-siblings from his father’s first marriage to Maria of Palatinate-Simmern but only one survived childhood:

• Margareta Elisabeth of Sweden (1580 – 1585), died in childhood
• Elisabeth Sabina of Sweden (1582 – 1585), died in childhood
• Ludwig of Sweden (born and died 1583), died in infancy
• Katharina of Sweden (1584 – 1638), married Count Palatine Johann Kasimir of Palatinate-Zweibrücken-Kleeburg, had eight children including Carl X Gustav, King of Sweden
• Gustav of Sweden (born and 1587), died in infancy
• Maria Sweden (1588 – 1589), died in infancy

Karl IX, King of Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus’ father; Credit – Wikipedia

Gustavus Adolphus’ father Karl was Regent of Sweden from 1599–1604 and King of Sweden from 1604 – 1611. He had the good sense to prepare his son for his future role. Gustavus Adolphus received a thorough humanistic and political education from Johannes Bureus, the Swedish royal librarian, and Johan Skytte, later the Chancellor of Uppsala University. From the age of eight, Gustavus Adolphus was allowed to attend the meetings of the Council of State and from the age of twelve, he performed public duties such as receiving foreign envoys. When Gustavus Adolphus was fifteen years old, he gave his first speech from the throne. He had military training with an experienced professional soldier Jakob De la Gardie. Gustavus Adolphus spoke only German with his mother and Swedish with his father and was fluent in both languages. He was taught all subjects in Latin but he also learned French, Dutch, and ancient Greek.

Gustavus Adolphus’ early education and training proved useful as he became King of Sweden at the age of sixteen, when his father Karl IX, King of Sweden died on October 30, 1611. At that time Sweden was a poor country with a weak army at war with Denmark, Poland, and Russia. With the help of the stateman Axel Oxenstierna, considered one of the most influential people in Swedish history, Gustavus Adolphus reshaped Sweden’s government and transformed the Swedish army into Europe’s most modern, well-trained, and feared army. Under Gustavus Adolphus’ leadership, peace was made with Denmark and Poland, and Russia was defeated on the battlefield.

Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, Gustavus Adolphus’ wife; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1616, the 22-year-old Gustavus Adolphus started looking for a Protestant bride. He had received positive reports about the beauty and intelligence of 17-year-old Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, the daughter of Johann Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, and Anna of Prussia. After prolonged back-and-forth negotiations with Maria Eleonora’s family, complete with many changes of opinions, it was agreed that Maria Eleonora and Gustavus Adolphus would marry. On October 7, 1620, Maria Eleonora left Brandenburg for Sweden with her mother Anna and her sister Katrina. Gustavus Adolphus and Maria Eleonora were married in Stockholm on November 25, 1620. During the first years of the marriage, Maria Eleonora’s mother Anna and sister Katarina remained in Sweden. They did not return to Brandenburg until August 1624.

Although Gustavus Adolphus was successful in many endeavors, he was not successful in providing a male heir:

• Stillborn daughter, born July 24, 1621
• Christina (1623 – 1624), died in infancy
• Stillborn son, born May 1625
• Christina, Queen of Sweden (1626 – 1689), unmarried, succeeded her father, abdicated, subsequently converted to Roman Catholicism, and moved to Rome

Gustavus Adolphus’ daughter the future Queen Christina as a child; Credit – Wikipedia

When Gustav Adolphus’s fourth child was born, he was told that the child was a boy. His half-sister Katarina informed him that the child was not a boy but a girl, and then carried the baby to him, afraid of his reaction. Gustav Adolphus said, “She’ll be clever, she has made fools of us all!” and decided her name would be Christina after his mother. He ordered the birth to be announced with all the ceremonies usually given to the birth of a male heir. This seems to indicate that Gustavus Adolphus had little hope of having other children. Maria Eleonora’s state of health seems to be the most likely explanation for this. Gustavus Adolphus’ legitimate younger brothers had all died. The one legitimate female left, his half-sister Katarina was excluded from the succession when she married a non-Lutheran. Gustavus Adolphus recognized Christina’s eligibility as a female heir and she became the undisputed heir presumptive.

The Thirty Years’ War was a conflict fought mostly within the Holy Roman Empire, mainly in present-day Germany, from 1618 to 1648. Although it started as a religious war (Protestant nations against Catholic nations), it developed into a territorial war. Before Gustavus Adolphus left to lead the Swedish army in the Thirty Years’ War, he secured his daughter Christina’s right to inherit the throne, in case he never returned and gave orders that Christina should receive an education normally given to only boys.

Gustavus Adolphus at the Battle of Breitenfeld by Johann Walter; Credit – Wikipedia

Gustavus Adolphus won a decisive victory at the First Battle of Breitenfeld in September 1631. He then marched across Germany, establishing his winter quarters near the Rhine, where he planned for the invasion of the rest of the Holy Roman Empire. He had hopes of conquering the Holy Roman Empire and ascending its throne. However, it was not to be. The Battle of Lützen occurred on November 16, 1632, between a Holy Roman Empire force under Albrecht von Wallenstein and a combined Swedish-German army led by Gustavus Adolphus. Generally viewed as a narrow Swedish victory, both sides suffered heavy casualties and it is now chiefly remembered for the death of Gustavus Adolphus.

Death of King Gustav II Adolf of Sweden at the Battle of Lützen by Carl Wahlbom; Credit – Wikipedia

Gustavus Adolphus was leading the cavalry charge when he was separated in a mix of gun smoke and fog. A bullet hit his left arm below the elbow. At the same time, his horse was hit by a bullet to the neck and became difficult to control. In the fog and smoke, Gustavus Adolphus mistakenly rode behind enemy lines. There he was shot in the back, stabbed, and fell from his horse. Lying on the ground, 37-year-old Gustavus Adolphus received a final, fatal shot to his temple. When the shooting stopped and the smoke cleared, Gustavus Adolphus’ horse was spotted between the two lines but he was not on it and was nowhere to be seen. After a search, his body was found and secretly evacuated from the battlefield in a Swedish artillery wagon.

Embarkation of the body of Gustavus Adolphus at the port of Wolgast in 1633 by Carl Gustaf Hellqvist; Credit – Wikipedia

Gustavus Adolphus’ body was taken to Weissenfels, in the Electorate of Saxony, now in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, where it was embalmed and dressed in a beautiful gold and silver woven uniform, then brought to Wolgast, in the Duchy of Pomerania, now in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. His body remained in Wolgast until the summer of 1633 when it was taken by ship to Sweden. Once in Sweden, Gustavus Adolphus’ body was taken to Nyköping Castle in Nyköping, Sweden, and remained there until it was time to take it to Stockholm for the funeral.

Gustavus Adolphus’ wife caused the delay of his burial. Already suffering from mental issues, Maria Eleonora’s grief was quite painful and her mental issues worsened considerably. She ordered that her husband’s heart be brought to her to keep him always near. She also refused to have her husband buried, spending whole days next to the body. Finally, eighteen months after the death of Gustavus Adolphus, the funeral and burial were held on June 22, 1634, at Riddarholmen Church in Stockholm, Sweden.

Gustavus Adolphus’ sarcophagus at Riddarholmen Church; Credit – By Frankie Fouganthin – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=16785914

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Kingdom of Sweden Resources at Unofficial Royalty

• Kingdom of Sweden Index
• Swedish Orders and Honours
• Swedish Royal Dates
• Swedish Royal Burial Sites
• Swedish Royal Christenings
• Swedish Royal FAQs
• Swedish Royal Residences
• Swedish Royal Weddings
• Line of Succession to the Throne of Sweden
• Profiles of the Swedish Royal Family

Works Cited

• De.wikipedia.org. 2021. Gustav II. Adolf – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_II._Adolf> [Accessed 19 August 2021].
• En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Gustavus Adolphus – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustavus_Adolphus> [Accessed 19 August 2021].
• Flantzer, Susan. Karl IX, King of Sweden. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/karl-ix-king-of-sweden/> [Accessed 19 August 2021].
• Sv.wikipedia.org. 2021. Gustav II Adolf – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_II_Adolf> [Accessed 19 August 2021].