Read part 1 here.
Kristina of Holstein-Gottorp’s husband, king Karl IX died on October the 30th, 1611. Kristina then became the first Vasa queen to see her child inherit the throne, and the only one who took place in the council during his minority.
The time as his guardian however was short. Sweden was at war with Russia, Denmark and Poland – whose king Sigismund still saw himself as the true king of Sweden.
Kristina must have realized that Sweden needed a unifying figure, someone who could save the country from disaster. She convened a parliament in which she successfully argued that her son Gustav Adolf would come of age at the age of 17. He ascended the throne on December 26, barely two months after his father’s death.
This however did not mean that Kristina faded into the background. She continued to have a big influence over politics, and over her children. Her youngest son Karl Filip was still underage, and she was appointed guardian over his duchy which consisted of Södermanland, Närke and Värmland.
There, she ruled after her own devices, since the dukedom was almost like a state within the state. But Kristina often clashed with her son, Gustav II Adolf, about the autonomy of the duchy. He wanted to centralize power, while she wanted as much freedom as possible.
Karl Filip was Kristina’s favourite son. When he was considered to be elected king over Russia, she delayed the process for so long, that when the prince eventually left for his new kingdom, the Romanov dynasty had taken power. Karl Filip had to be content with his duchy – which Kristina continued to rule.
She also continued to rule her children. Gustav Adolf had fallen in love with a noble lady at court – Ebba Brahe. He wanted to marry her, but Kristina refused to agree since she wanted an alliance with some German principality. She also considered it more trouble than it was worth to marry into the Swedish nobility, and maybe she didn’t think Ebba was quite good enough for her son.
So Gustav Adolf gave up. Ebba was sent from court, and the search began for a proper bride to the king. Again, Kristina held the reins – she had found a perfect candidate – Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg.
Kristina also forced the marriage between her daughter Maria Elisabet (above) and duke Johan of Östergötland, who was youngest son to Johan III, and thus Maria Elisabet’s cousin.
The church strongly opposed the marriage between the cousins, but Kristina didn’t care and the wedding went ahead. The marriage turned out to be a very unhappy one. Maria Elisabet suffered from mental illness, and possibly epilepsy, and died 1618, only 22 years old.
Kristina’s favourite son also died young. Karl Filip participated in the battles with Russia, and died in January 1622, 20 years old. He had in secret married Elisabet Ribbing and they had a daughter together, also named Elisabet. Karl Filip’s death ended the conflict between Kristina and the king about the duchy, which reverted back to the crown.
Kristina, then almost 50, retired to Nyköpings castle where she raised her granddaughter Elisabet.
On December 8, 1625, Kristina passed away, 52 years old. She was buried in Strängnäs cathedral, next to her husband.
Kristina has often been vilified throughout history. She has been described as a stern and grim woman who ruled her duchy and her children with an iron fist. She has been mocked for her scantiness, but the fact is that her frugality made her duchy bloom. She could lend large sums of money to the crown, and left a fortune behind.
Most of all, she has been remembered for standing in the way of Gustav II Adolf’s happiness by forbidding him to marry his true love. I find that somewhat unfair though, since royal marriages at the time was not for love, but for alliances.
Sources:
Lindqvist, Herman. Historien om alla Sveriges drottningar. (2006)
Tegenborg, Falkdalen, Karin. Svenska drottningar – i blickfånget från Vasatiden till idag. (2020)