Christina of Sweden
When Gustavus Adolphus met an untimely end on a German battlefield, his seven year old daughter, Christina, ascended to the Swedish throne. An early adopter of the Enlightenment, she established a reputation as one of the most learned women of her age. In time, she would find that her unapologetically independent nature did not lend itself well to the task of ruling, and her secret conversion to Catholicism, refusal to marry, and subsequent abdication have cemented her legacy as one of the most fascinating monarchs of early modern Europe.
This is the story of Christina of Sweden.
Cover Image: Drottning Kristina, Painting by Sébastien Bourdon
Episodes (listed in reverse order)
Queen Christina of Sweden, surrounded by his court, painting by Louis Michel Dumesnil the Younger.
Bibliography
Buckley, Veronica. Christina Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric. Harper Perennial, 2008.
Goldsmith, Margaret. Christina of Sweden: a Psychological Biography. Caxton House, 1939.
Stolpe, Sven. Christina of Sweden. Macmillan, 1966.
Woodhead, Henry. Memoirs of Christina, Queen of Sweden. Vols. 1 & 2, Forgotten Books, 2018.
Christina discovers that, despite her newfound faith, she was ill-suited to life in Rome. Ever the restless individual, she continues struggling to find her place in the world until her last moment.