King Charles X Gustav, 1654 – 1660

King Charles X Gustav, 1654 – 1660
06/16/1654 AD abdicated

During the abdication ceremony at Uppsala Castle, Christina wore her regalia, which were ceremonially removed from her, one by one. Per Brahe, who was supposed to remove the crown, did not move, so she had to take the crown off herself.

Dressed in a simple white taffeta dress, she gave her farewell speech with a faltering voice, thanked everyone and left the throne to Charles X Gustav, who was dressed in black. Per Brahe felt that she "stood there as pretty as an angel."

Charles Gustav was crowned later on that day. Christina left the country within a few days.

In February 1654, she had plainly told the Council of her plans to abdicate. She asked for 200,000 rikstalers a year, but received dominions instead. Financially she was secured through a pension and revenue from the town of Norrköping, the isles of Gotland, Öland Ösel and Poel, Wolgast, and Neukloster in Mecklenburg and estates in Pomerania.

Her plan to convert was not the only reason for her abdication, as there was increasing discontent with her arbitrary and wasteful ways.

Stockholm

Lattitude: 59.3294° N
Longitude: 18.0686° E
Region: Europe

Modern Day Sweden

Events in 1654 MORE