Abby Connolly
Some of Christina’s nobles were very frustrated with her love life, as evidence has suggested she had romantic relationships with women, most significantly with her lady-in-waiting, Countess Ebbe “Belle” Sparre, with whom she exchanged romantic letters.
In 1649, Queen Christina announced she had no plans to marry and that she chose her first cousin, Charles Gustav, to be heir to the throne.
In the late 1640s, Christina began feeling less desire to remain queen, as international tension and taxation issues made the role more stressful. In 1651, she began speaking out that she wanted to abdicate or step down from the throne. As her council attempted to get her to stay, her mental health became worse, and she finally had to abdicate in 1654.
After leaving the Swedish throne, Christina disguised herself as a man and traveled to Rome, where she converted from Protestantism to Roman Catholicism, making her a favored figure at the Vatican.
She lived in Rome for several years, befriending popes and continuing to advocate for the arts. In the following years, she traveled around Europe, writing philosophical works and supporting artists around the world.
In the late 1650s into the 1660s, Christina attempted to get back into politics, trying to scheme her way into becoming the Queen of Naples and later the Queen of Poland. However, once she failed to do so, she returned to Rome to live out her final years as a respected philosopher and patron of the arts.
Christina died at 62 in 1689 and was buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, which was quite a rare honor for a woman. Her strength and remarkable uniqueness truly made her a one-of-a-kind queen and woman of her time.
