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throughout Protestant Europe。 Gustavus Adolphus was dead！ The
〃Lion of the North〃 had fallen on the bloody and victorious field
of Lutzen； and only a very small girl of six stood as the
representative of Sweden's royalty。
The States of Swedenthat is； the representatives of the
different sections and peoples of the kingdomgathered in haste
within the Riddarhaus； or Hall of Assembly； in Stockholm。 There
was much anxious controversy over the situation。 The nation was
in desperate strait； and some were for one thing and some were
for another。 There was even talk of making the government a
republic； like the state of Venice； and the supporters of the
king of Poland； cousin to the dead King Gustavus； openly
advocated his claim to the throne。
But the Grand Chancellor； Axel Oxenstiern； one of Sweden's
greatest statesmen； acted promptly。
〃Let there be no talk between us；〃 he said； 〃of Venetian
republics or of Polish kings。 We have but one kingthe daughter
of the immortal Gustavus！〃
Then up spoke one of the leading representatives of the peasant
class； Lars Larsson； the deputy from the western fiords。
〃Who is this daughter of Gustavus？〃 he demanded。 〃How do we know
this is no trick of yours； Axel Oxenstiern？ How do we know that
King Gustavus has a daughter？ We have never seen her。〃
〃You shall see her at once；〃 replied the Chancellor； and leaving
the Hall for an instant； he returned speedily； leading a little
girl by the hand。 With a sudden movement he lifted her to the
seat of the high silver throne that could only be occupied by the
kings of Sweden。
〃Swedes； behold your king！〃
Lars Larsson； the deputy； pressed close to the throne on which
the small figure perched silent； yet with a defiant little look
upon her face。
〃She hath the face of the Grand Gustavus；〃 he said。 〃Look；
brothers； the nose； the eyes； the very brows are his。〃
〃Aye；〃 said Oxenstiern； 〃and she is a soldier's daughter。 I
myself did see her； when scarce three years old； clap her tiny
hands and laugh aloud when the guns of Calmar fortress thundered
a salute。 'She must learn to bear it；' said Gustavus our king；
'she is a soldier's daughter。' 〃
〃Hail； Christina！〃 shouted the assembly； won by the proud bearing
of the little girl and by her likeness to her valiant father。 〃We
will have her and only her for our queen！〃
〃Better yet； brothers；〃 cried Lars Larsson； now her most loyal
supporter； 〃she sits upon the throne of the kings； let her be
proclaimed King of Sweden。〃
And so it was done。 And with their wavering loyalty kindled into
a sudden flame； the States of Sweden 〃gave a mighty shout〃 and
cried as one man； 〃Hail； Christina； King of Sweden！〃
There was strong objection in Sweden to the rule of a woman； and
the education of this little girl was rather that of a prince
than of a princess。 She was taught to ride and to shoot； to hunt
and to fence； to undertake all of a boy's exercises； and to
endure all a boy's privations。 She could bring down a hare； at
the first shot； from the back of a galloping horse； she could
outride the most expert huntsman in her train。
So she grew from childhood into girlhood； and at thirteen was as
bold and fearless； as wilful and self…possessed as any young
fellow of twenty…one。 But besides all this she was a wonderful
scholar； indeed； she would be accounted remarkable even in these
days of bright girl…graduates。 At thirteen she was a thorough
Greek scholar； she was learned in mathematics and astronomy； the
classics； history； and philosophy； and she acquired of her own
accord German； Italian； Spanish； and French。
Altogether； this girl Queen of the North was as strange a
compound of scholar and hoyden； pride and carelessness； ambition
and indifference； culture and rudeness； as ever； before her time
or since； were combined in the nature of a girl of thirteen。 And
it is thus that our story finds her。
One raw October morning in the year 1639； there was stir and
excitement at the palace in Stockholm。 A courier had arrived
bearing important dispatches to the Council of Regents which
governed Sweden during the minority of the Queen； and there was
no one to officially meet him。
Closely following the lackey who received him； the courier strode
into the council…room of the palace。 But the council…room was
vacant。
It was not a very elegant apartment； this council…room of the
palace of the kings of Sweden。 Although a royal apartment； its
appearance was ample proof that the art of decoration was as yet
unknown in Sweden。 The room was untidy and disordered； the
council…table was strewn with the ungathered litter of the last
day's council； and even the remains of a coarse lunch mingled
with all this clutter。 The uncomfortable…looking chairs all were
out of place； and above the table was a sort of temporary canopy
to prevent the dust and spiders' webs upon the ceiling from
dropping upon the councillors。
The courier gave a sneering look upon this evidence that the
refinement and culture which marked at least the palaces and
castles of other European countries were as yet little considered
in Sweden。 Then； important and impatient； he turned to the
attendant。 〃Well；〃 he said； 〃and is there none here to receive my
dispatches？ They call forhouf！ so！ what manners are these？〃
What manners indeed！ The courier might well ask this。 For； plump
against him； as he spoke； dashed； first a girl and then a boy who
had darted from somewhere into the council…chamber。 Too absorbed
in their own concerns to notice who； if any one； was in the room；
they had run against and very nearly upset the astonished bearer
of dispatches。 Still more astonished was he； when the girl； using
his body as a barrier against her pursuer； danced and dodged
around him to avoid being caught by her pursuera fine…looking
young lad of about her own ageKarl Gustav； her cousin。 The
scandalized bearer of dispatches to the Swedish Council of
Regents shook himself free from the girl's strong grasp and
seizing her by the shoulder； demanded； sternly：
〃How now； young mistress！ Is this seemly conduct toward a
stranger and an imperial courier？〃
The girl now for the first time noticed the presence of a
stranger。 Too excited in her mad dash into the room to
distinguish him from one of the palace servants； she only learned
the truth by the courier's harsh words。 A sudden change came over
her。 She drew herself up haughtily and said to the attendant：
〃And who is this officious stranger； Klas？
The tone and manner of the question again surprised the courier；
and he looked at the speaker； amazed。 What he saw was an
attractive young girl of thirteen； short of stature； with bright
hazel eyes； a vivacious face； now almost stern in its expression
of pride and haughtiness。 A man's fur cap rested upon the mass of
tangled light…brown hair which； tied imperfectly with a simple
knot of ribbon； fell down upon her neck。 Her short dress of plain
gray stuff hung loosely about a rather trim figure； and a black
scarf； carelessly tied； encircled her neck。 In short； he saw a
rather pretty； carelessly dressed； healthy； and just now very
haughty…looking young girl； who seemed more like a boy in speech
and manners；and one who needed to be disciplined and curbed。
Again the question came： 〃Who is this man； and what seeks he
here； Klas？ I ask。〃
〃 'T is a courier with dispatches for the council； Madam；〃
replied the man。
〃Give me the dispatches；〃 said the girl； 〃I will attend to them。〃
〃You； indeed！〃 The courier laughed grimly。 〃The dispatches from
the Emperor of Germany are for no hairbrained maid to handle。
These are to be delivered to the Council of Regents alone。〃
〃I will have naught of councils or regents； Sir Courier； save
when it pleases me；〃 said the girl； tapping the floor with an
angry foot。 〃Give me the dispatches； I say；I am the King of
Sweden！〃
〃Youa girlking？〃 was all that the astonished courier could
stammer out。 Then； as the real facts dawned upon him； he knelt at
the feet of the young queen and presented his dispatches。
〃Withdraw； sir！〃 said Christina； taking the papers from his hand
with but the scant courtesy of a nod； 〃we will read these and
return a suitable answer to your master。〃
The courier withdrew； still dazed at this strange turn of
affairs； and Christina； leaning carelessly against the
council…table； opened the dispatches。
Suddenly she burst into a merry but scarcely lady…like laugh。
〃Ha； ha； ha！ this is too rare a joke； Karl；〃 she cried。 〃Lord
Chancellor； Mathias； Torstenson！〃 she exclaimed； as these members
of her council entered the apartment； 〃what think you？ Here come
dispatches from the Emperor of Germany begging that you； my
council； shall consider the wisdom of wedding me to his son and
thereby closing the war！ His son； indeed！ Ferdinand the Craven！〃