Christina Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric

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Christina Queen of Sweden: The Restless Life of a European Eccentric Page 48

by Buckley, Veronica

15 Very bad for them: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino, 15 June 1667, quoted in Arckenholtz (1751–60), Mémoires concernant Christine, Vol. 2, pp. 113–16.

  16 Talk of the town: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 49ff.

  17 Several others were wounded: ‘Report on the Insult Offered by the Populace at the Queen’s Palace’: Extract quoted in Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino, p. 378ff.

  18 Among the Wounded: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, pp. 50–2.

  19 Flattery can disguise any thing: ibid., pp. 52–3.

  20 My own, quite worthily: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino, 3 August 1667, quoted in Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino, p. 381ff.

  Mirages

  1 In this town: Christina’s letter to Azzolino of 17 November 1666, quoted in ibid., p. 265.

  2 This God-forsaken place: Christina’s letter to Azzolino of 5 January 1667, quoted in ibid., p. 292.

  3 Not even going to get that: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino, 4 August 1666, quoted in ibid., p. 189ff.

  4 Less like Man than a German: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino, 20 April 1667, quoted in ibid., p. 338ff.

  5 Regarded as an idiot: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino, 30 March 1667, quoted in ibid., p. 330ff.

  6 The stupid brutes it produces: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino, 28 July 1666, quoted in ibid., p. 183ff.

  7 And live anywhere else: Christina’s letter to Azzolino, 23 June 1666, quoted in ibid., p. 163.

  8 To prolong your own: Christina’s letter to Azzolino, 3 November 1666, quoted in ibid., p. 257.

  9 Their own numerical code: Christina and Azzolino used two codes, the cifra grande and the cifra piccola – the ‘big code’ and the ‘little code’. The ‘big code’ was used for official correspondence, and the ‘little code’ reserved for personal phrases. Both were deciphered at the end of the nineteenth century by the Swedish diplomat Baron Carl de Bildt, who was then serving in Rome. Both codes are given in full in the appendices to Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino. In his preface to this book (pp. xxvff), Baron de Bildt explains how he discovered the key to them. The coded passages from Christina’s letters are quoted in italics.

  10 More ardent than ever: Christina’s letter to Azzolino, 12 January 1667, quoted in Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino, p. 295. The words in italics were coded.

  11 And die your slave: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino of 26 January 1667, quoted in ibid., p. 305. The words in italics were coded.

  12 I don’t like sermons: Letter from Christina in Hamburg to Azzolino of 9 March 1667, quoted in ibid., p. 321.

  13 Sainte-Genevieve-du-Mont: During the Revolution, Descartes’ remains were reburied in the Panthéon. His tomb is now in the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

  14 Those who profess it: Christina’s declaration of 30 August 1667, quoted in Arckenholtz (1751–60), Mémoires concernant Christine, Vol. 4, pp. 19–20 fn.

  15 Worth relaying to Azzolino: The story of the Dutch peasant alchemist is relayed in Christina’s letter to Azzolino of 23 March 1667, quoted in Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino, p. 330.

  16 Need them all one day: Christina’s letter of 16 February 1667 to Azzolino, quoted in ibid., p. 314.

  17 Seeing my ignorance: Christina’s letter of 5 October 1667 to Azzolino, quoted in ibid., p. 392.

  18 When I heard of it: Christina’s letter of 16 March 1667 to Azzolino, quoted in ibid., p. 324.

  19 You would be recognizable: Christina’s first letter of 18 July 1668 to Azzolino, quoted in ibid., p. 456.

  20 Of all your creatures: Quoted in Raymond (1994), Christine de Suède: Apologies, p. 73.

  21 Apart from Karl and myself: Quoted in ibid., p. 80.

  22 Leave it unfinished once more: The existing manuscripts for La Vie de la reine Christine, faite par elle-même, dédiée à Dieu date from 11 June 1681. They are held in the Royal Archives in Stockholm (Azzolinosamlingen K430) and in the manuscript collection of the Bibliothèque Interuniversitaire de Montpellier.

  23 Better than any man: Azzolino’s letter to Marescotti is quoted in Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino, p. 449.

  24 Run its course: The quotations from Christina’s letter to Marescotti are from ibid., p. 447.

  25 Just as happy: Christina’s letter of 1 August 1668 to Azzolino, quoted in ibid., p. 460ff.

  26 The greatest defect of all: Quoted in Raymond (1994), Christine de Suède: Apologies, pp. 135–6.

  27 Died among beasts: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 214.

  28 With your own hand: Christina’s second letter of 18 July 1668, quoted in Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino, pp. 467–8.

  29 Carry out his sentence: Letter from Christina to Cardinal Azzolino, 20 August 1668, quoted in ibid., pp. 467–8.

  Glory Days

  1 He declined the honour: The libretto which Christina herself wrote, together with the Abbé Alessandro Guidi, was Clore e Damone. It does not appear to have survived.

  2 To preserve their Voices: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 190.

  3 He had better watch out!: Christina’s letter to her French agent, paraphrased from Masson (1968), Queen Christina, pp. 360–1.

  4 Built the Theater all himself: From John Evelyn’s Diary, quoted in Hibbert (1985), Rome, p. 179.

  5 And by gesture: The description of Bernini is quoted in ibid., p. 197.

  6 Urns and even columns: Most of Christina’s sculptures are now held in Madrid’s Prado Museum. They were sold by Azzolino’s nephew to the Odescalchi family, and bought from them in the eighteenth century by King Felipe V of Spain, grandson of Louis XIV.

  7 As long as his life: Christina’s letter to Azzolino of 1 August 1668, quoted in Bildt (1899), Christine de Suède et le Cardinal Azzolino, p. 464. Clement IX (Giulio Rospigliosi) was elected Pope in June 1667, and died in December 1669.

  8 Palazzo d’Inghilterra: It is now known as the Palazzo Torlonia.

  9 Give me leave: Paraphrased from Rodén (2000), Church Politics in Seventeenth-Century Rome, pp. 217–18.

  10 His memory is gone: Paraphrased from ibid., p. 226.

  11 Most proper for them: Bowers (1986), ‘The Emergence of Women Composers in Italy’, p. 141.

  12 Worth a thousand realms: Quoted in Masson (1968), Queen Christina, p. 376.

  13 Will be severely chastised: The declaration of 15 August 1686 is quoted in Neumann (1936), The Life of Christina of Sweden, pp. 221–2.

  14 Debauch’d Women of Rome: See Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 155ff.

  15 Any thing of your Holiness: Christina’s letter to Pope Innocent XI is quoted in ibid., pp. 161–2.

  16 Have pass’d me for: ibid., p. 217.

  17 With all my soul: Azzolino’s letter to Christina of December 1679, quoted in Rodén (1986), ‘Drottning Christina och Kardinal Decio Azzolino: Kärleksbrev från det sista decenniet’ (K.415 no. 29), p. 71.

  18 That I was well: Letter from Azzolino to Christina, early 1680, quoted in ibid. (K.415 no. 8), p. 72.

  19 Her constant concern for him: The Cardinal’s letter of ‘infinite thanks’ to Christina is quoted in ibid. (K.415 no. 15), p. 72.

  20 Whatever I want: Quoted in Raymond (1994), Christine de Suède: Apologies, p. 128.

  21 Never have done anything: Les Sentiments, no. 386, quoted in Bildt (1906), Pensées de Christine, p. 239. The reference to Christina’s father is quoted in Raymond (1994), Christine de Suède: Apologies, p. 89.

  22 And annotated, too: See La Rochefoucauld (1999), Maximes: suivies des Réflexions diverses.

/>   23 But nobly, not sordidly: Les Sentiments, nos. 53, 203, 377, 288, and 402, quoted in Bildt (1906), Pensées de Christine, pp. 179, 49, 237, 60, and 245.

  24 Miserable because of it: Les Sentiments, no. 428, quoted in ibid., p. 250.

  25 Philosophy in the world: Les Sentiments, no. 429, quoted in ibid., pp. 250–1.

  26 1,400 pages altogether: For a discussion of Azzolino’s Relatione de’ Pontefici, see Rodén (2000), Church Politics in Seventeenth-Century Rome, Chapter 9.

  27 ‘Concubinage’ with the Queen: Marie-Louise Rodén refers to fragmentary sources from 1679, now held in Riksarkivet (the National Archive) in Stockholm. See ibid., p. 154, note 30.

  28 True from the false: Les Sentiments, nos. 202–3, quoted in Bildt (1906), Pensées de Christine, pp. 202–3.

  Journey’s End

  1 Revealing its rotundity all too well: Paraphrased from François-Maximilian Misson’s description of April 1688, quoted in Masson (1968), Queen Christina, p. 384.

  2 By commissioning his biography: See Baldinucci (1682), Vita di Gian Lorenzo Bernini.

  3 Cannot bring them back: Les Sentiments, nos. 85 and 380, quoted in Bildt (1906), Pensées de Christine, pp. 184 and 237–8.

  4 Whoredom was no Sin: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 184.

  5 The rest is just farce: Ouvrage du Loisir, no. 1084, quoted in Bildt (1906), Pensées de Christine, p. 160.

  6 A faculty of Singing: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 198.

  7 Thither by the Noise: ibid., p. 199.

  8 Pleas’d with the Repartee: ibid., p. 207ff.

  9 To her other ills: Modern medical reviewers suggest that Christina may have suffered from adult onset diabetes.

  10 To kill twenty Hercules: Christina’s letter to Johan Olivecrantz, quoted in Kermina (1995), Christine de Suède, p. 304.

  11 And his Sighs despis’d: See Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 200ff.

  12 And disgrace to Rome: Azzolino’s letter to Cardinal Cibo at the Vatican Secretariat of State, 19 April 1689, quoted in Rodén (1987), ‘The Burial of Queen Christina of Sweden in St Peter’s Church’, Appendix. Azzolino dated the letter 28 April 1689.

  13 Sacrasty of Saint Peter: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 211.

  14 Basilica’s own building fund: Christina’s memorial was commissioned in 1696 by Pope Innocent XII Pignatelli, and was sculpted by Carlo Fontana. The funds to complete it were provided in 1701 by Pope Clement XI Albani.

  15 Greatest Lowliness and Dejection: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 212.

  16 My greatest glory: From Azzolino’s letter to his cousin Francesco, quoted in Rodén (2000), Church Politics in Seventeenth-Century Rome, p. 299.

  17 Treasure would survive him: Christina’s official correspondence remained in the possession of the Azzolino family, together with the Cardinal’s own papers, until 1925, when they were purchased by the Swedish state; they are now held in Riksarkivet (the National Archive) in Stockholm under the title of Azzolino-samlingen (the Azzolino Collection). In 1985, Azzolino’s private papers (L’Archivio Azzolino) were donated to the Biblioteca Comunale in the Italian city of Jesi.

  18 I shall always be inconsolable: Azzolino’s letter of 30 April 1689, to Giovanni Mattia del Monte, quoted in Rodén (2000), Church Politics in Seventeenth-Century Rome, p. 308, note 56.

  19 The Terror of Germany: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 222.

  20 Numbered almost two thousand: Christina’s books and manuscripts were bought by Pope Alexander VIII (Pietro Ottoboni), and in 1690 the manuscripts donated to the Vatican Library, where they are now classified together as Codices reginenses graeci et latini. Christina’s collection of printed books remained in the possession of the Ottoboni family until the mid-eighteenth century, and was then dispersed to individual collectors.

  21 All sorts of Metals: Hollingworth (1927), The History of the Intrigues & Gallantries of Christina, Queen of Sweden, p. 222. Christina’s collection of medallions was bought by Don Livie Odescalchi, nephew of Pope Innocent XI Odescalchi. In 1797, Pope Pius VI Bruschi ceded the collection to France as part of the Treaty of Tolentino. See Bildt (1908), Les médailles romaines de Christine de Suède.

  Index

  The pagination of this electronic edition does not match the edition from which it was created. To locate a specific passage, please use the search feature of your e-book reader.

  Académie Française: Christina visits, 297–8, 339–40

  Adami, Lorenzo, 361–2, 364, 369, 388, 401–2, 404, 406

  Adolf of Pfalz-Zweibrücken (Christina’s cousin), 60, 75, 180, 228

  Albrici, Vincenzo, 158

  alchemy: Christina’s interest in, 132–3, 153, 390–4

  Alexander VII, Pope (formerly Cardinal Fabio Chigi): in negotiations for Peace of Westphalia, 114, 192; and Christina’s interest in Catholicism, 192; elected Pope, 239, 269; supports Spain against France, 240; Christina writes to, 242; and Christina’s journey to Rome, 244–5; receives Christina in Rome, 247–50, 254; qualities and character, 253–4; sends reports from Westphalia peace negotiations, 265; money grants to Christina, 278; and Christina’s religious capriciousness, 312; condemns Christina for execution of Monaldeschi, 327–8; Monaldeschi’s supposed satires on, 333; bans Christina’s return to Rome, 341; seeks peace between France and Spain, 342; reconciled with Christina, 343; funds Christina’s journey to Stockholm, 346; diplomatic relations with France, 349–51; welcomes Christina’s return to Rome (1662), 349; and attack on Créquy, 352; accedes to Louis XIV’s demands, 354; illness, 364, 366; reported death, 369; death, 374

  Alexei, Grand Duke of Muscovy, 122–4

  Alexis, Tsar of Russia, 396

  Alibert, Comte Jacques d’, 407, 434

  Amaranth, Order of, 143

  Amsterdam, 113

  Aniello, Tommaso (Masaniello), 273–4

  Anjou, Philippe, Due d’, 274–6, 304, 327, 335

  Anna, Dowager Electress of Brandenburg, 12, 16, 19

  Anne of Austria, Queen Mother of France, 305, 308–9, 313, 327, 338, 341

  Antwerp, 231–6

  Appelman, Peter, 362

  Aquaviva, Cardinal Claudio, 353

  Augsburg, Peace of (1555), 32

  Augustine, St: Confessions, 395

  Austria: in Thirty Years War, 29

  Azzolino, Cardinal Decio: character and career, 264–6; amorous affairs, 266; relations with Christina, 266–9, 313, 344, 351, 363–4, 386–8, 413, 421, 425–6; leads lo Squadrone Volante, 270–1, 365–6, 386; in plot to annexe Naples, 273, 277; accompanies Christina on departure for France, 279, 308; Lascaris invites to Pesaro, 316; finds Rome house for Christina (Palazzo Riario), 344; and Créquy affair, 351–3; and Christina’s life in Rome, 359; reforms and supervizes Christina’s business affairs, 361; and papal nepotism, 365–6; letters from Christina, 370, 387, 401–2, 412, 439; and Christina’s 1667 visit to Sweden, 373; appointed Vatican Secretary of State, 374–5, 387, 406; and election of Pope Clement IX, 374; Christina sends account of Hamburg riot to, 380–1; and Christina’s ill-health, 383; and Christina’s dislike of Germans, 385; and Christina’s interest in alchemy, 391–3; encourages Christina’s autobiography, 394–5; and Santinelli’s marriage to Duchess of Ceri, 394; and Christina’s ambitions for Polish throne, 396–400; and Christina’s accusations against Del Monte, 402–3; and Christina’s return to Rome (1668), 405; and death of Clement IX, 412; satirized in Il colloquio delle volpi, 413–14; demoted under Clement X, 415–16; ill health, 421–2, 426; made Bishop of Santa Maria in Trastevere, 425; material successes, 425; writes history of papacy, 425; Molinos influences, 429–30; and Christina’s late illness, 433–4; and attack on Angeli
ca Quadrelli, 435; and Christina’s death and funeral, 436–7; death, 439–40; and Christina’s will, 440–1

  Azzolino, Pompeo, 441–2

  Bååt, Seved, 362–3

  Banér, Axel, 63, 76, 81

  Banér, Per, 55

  Barberini family, 257–60, 273

  Barberini, Cardinal Francesco, 278

  Baroni, Leonora, 261

  Beaulieu, Antoine de, 160–1

  Beck, David, 161

  Benfeld (town), 118

  Benhammar (estate), Sweden, 21

  Benserade, Isaac de, 335

  Berlin, 11

  Bernard, Duke of Saxe-Weimar,

  Bernini, Gian Lorenzo, 247–9,

  409–12; death, 428; Salvator

  Mundi (sculpture), 412, 428, 437

  Bernini, Luigi, 248

  Bidal (French banker), 240

  Bielke family, 109

  Bochart, Samuel, 133, 139–40; death, 368–9; Geographia sacra, 140

  Boeckhorst, Jan, 231

  Boguslav XIV, Archduke of Pomerania, 52

  Bohemia: re-Catholicized, 12, 29; defeated at White Mountain (1620), 28, 121; in Thirty Years War, 112; remains under Habsburg Catholic rule, 113–14, 120–1; and Swedish attack on Prague (1648), 119–20

  Bonaventura (castrato singer), 258

  Borri, Giuseppe Francesco, 392–4

  Bourdelot, Pierre: advises Christina to take regular baths, 138, 355; friendship with Christina in Stockholm, 138–41; Meibom punches, 140, 356; encourages Christina’s interest in Catholicism, 186–7; and Christina’s seeking help from France, 199; Magnus De la Gardie quarrels with, 205; leaves Christina’s service, 206; and Christina’s banishment of Magnus De la Gardie, 209; praises Condé to Christina, 235; on Rome, 251; claims influence with Pope, 263; with Christina in Paris, 336; suggests Ôland marble for Louvre, 361; death, 428

 

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