QUEEN CHRISTINA OF SWEDEN SOLDANI-BENZI, Massimiliano: Sweden, ca.1680, Bronze
(cast), 61 mm Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) was the daughter of
Gustavus Adolphus II and Marie-Eleonore of Brandenburg. Her father was killed
at Lutzen (1632) when she was only six years old. (see
Dadler Medals). She became
queen at the age of 18 but reigned only until 1854. Intellectually sharp and
skilled in politics, one of her greatest achievements was in the agreement
of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which ended the Thirty Years' War. Her
reign was cut short because of the increasing discontent with her arbitrary
and wasteful ways and by her desire to become a Catholic; she was forced to
abdicate after only ten years, because Catholicism was banned in her own
country. Pope Alexander VIII invited her to Rome, where Christina arrived to
great fanfare in December 1655. She still behaved as a queen, involving
herself in attempts to gain a new kingdom. LINK to painting Christina, Queen of Sweden by David Beck (from Finnish National Gallery) LINK to Biography of Queen Christina (from Tracy Marks) |
|