THE DIVA QUEEN
An unconventional queen with a fiery temper, Christina of Sweden is undoubtedly one of history’s most enigmatic figures. The last member of the Vasa dynasty to rule Sweden, she was born in the Tre Kronor castle in 1626, the only surviving child of King Gustavus Adolphus and Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg.
A strong and hairy baby with a loud cry, it was mistakenly announced at first that Christina was a boy. When the error was realised a few hours later, nobody was brave enough to tell the king, forcing Christina’s aunt to gather her up and place her in front of Gustavus so he could see the truth for himself. However, it’s often said that Gustavus was not upset that he’d had a daughter, apparently declaring, “She will be clever, for she has deceived us all!”
As king, Gustavus had transformed Sweden into one of the greatest powers in Europe. He was also a major leader during the Thirty Years’ War, a conflict that originally broke out between Catholics and Protestants across the Holy Roman Empire, which ultimately changed the balance of power in Europe. Hailed as the protector of Protestantism, Gustavus was killed at the Battle of Lützen in 1632, leaving Christina as Sweden’s new monarch just one month shy of her sixth birthday.
