“Do you not know, my son, with how very little wisdom the world is governed?”
Hello again everyone, here I am once again with a History blog post!
In the 17th Century, Europe was once again at war with itself. This time, it was during the Thirty Years’ War, a conflict so brutal and multifaceted that it ranks around the twelfth-highest conflict by death toll. Killing more than eight million people, it reshaped the socio-political and economic face of Europe. Starting off as a war of religion in Central Europe between Catholics and Protestants, it soon spread across the Continent. It involved conquests and battles no longer focused on one’s confession but on power struggles to occupy as much territory as possible whilst annihilating any opponents in the process, no matter the resulting destruction.
Sweden had been one of the most prominent countries to side with the Protestant, and later the wider Anti-Imperial/Anti-Habsburg faction during “the Swedish stage” of the war. The country’s constant victories against the Imperial forces were due to their adept and innovative usage of cannon, weaponry existing for three centuries at that point but still playing marginal roles. Secondly, their logistical capabilities, even deep into enemy territory, allowed for much larger advantages over their oftentimes disorganised opponents.
Among the logisticians and politicians playing a crucial role in this was Axel Oxenstierna, a nobleman so powerful that he soon became a paragon of Swedish governmental administration… Without however ever becoming the head of State himself.
The rise to power
Born into a wealthy noble family in eastern Sweden, Oxenstierna soon made a good name of himself; in his early thirties, he had been nominated to the Council of the Realm, one of the highest offices of the Kingdom, during a diplomatic trip in Germany. This catapulted him into the role of one of the monarch’s most trusted advisors: in fact the magnates that made up the Privy Council of Sweden oftentimes could prove themselves just as powerful as the King himself.
His service became quickly noted: just six years into his membership as Privy Councillor, he had been nominated Lord High Chancellor of the country, effectively become the de facto political leader of a country that, at this point in time, barely reached a population of a million people. Oxenstierna became Chancellor at an extremely delicate time. The King had just died, and a breakdown in talks with Denmark resulted in Copenhagen’s armies crossing the border and laying siege to Swedish settlements. This event, known as the Kalmar War, resulted in Sweden’s defeat. Nonetheless, this was not to be considered a sign of weakness on Stockholm’s part. In fact, the resulting treaty strengthened Oxenstierna’s role even further as an able diplomat in foreign affairs. Soon enough, more peace treaties, all advantageous for Sweden, followed. Peace was made with Russia and later on, Poland, as the country had found itself embroiled in conflict with these two nations simultaneously during their war with Denmark.
It was during this time that Gustavus Adolphus II of Sweden came of age; the ambitious monarch spent much time abroad, especially in Finland, leaving Oxenstierna to effectively continue his rule of the country. And this continued to be the case, just as the Thirty Years’ War had begun.
Sweden’s involvement in the Thirty Years’ War
The Thirty Years’ War and its disastrous effects deserve rightfully so its own article. Nonetheless, here I shall describe Sweden’s role in the conflict.
As the Holy Roman Empire was putting down opposition in Bohemia and beating the Danes out of the war, France, a strong opponent of the HRE that had staked much in the Germans’ defeat (without direct intervention), realised that there was little left to counter the Imperial forces. However, the tides of the conflict soon changed for all involved as Sweden marched its soldiers into Germany with the express purpose of defeating the Habsburg-led Empire. Financed by France, motivated by opposition to the predominantly Catholic HRE and determined to place Sweden on the map with its innovative military tactics and materiel, Gustavus Adolphus II defeated one Imperial Army after another, laying waste to lands as far south as Moravia. Axel Oxenstierna played a major role in Sweden’s involvement, although not in the martial sense. The High Chancellor was no army general; he never fought a single battle, let alone charge at the enemy. Rather, his help in the Swedish war effort was a particularly bureaucratic one. He became involved in logistics and transportation, establishing and defending supply lines up and down Central Europe. This, along with Stockholm’s weaponry, proved crucial to the numerous successes and consolidations the King’s armies obtained. This, at least, until the battle of Lützen.
Long live the Queen
At the Battle of Lützen, the Swedes scored yet another victory against the HRE and the Catholic League. However, it was here that King Gustavus Adolphus II was killed, grinding the Swedish advances to a sudden halt. Christina, the King’s heir, was crowned as Queen of Sweden. Despite this, as she was not yet of age, it was up to Oxenstierna to act as regent. The most powerful statesman of Sweden at the time, winner of many battles without firing a single shot, was now not just the hidden power behind the throne -he was the height power in the Nordic country.
Oxenstierna had been a close confidant to the erstwhile King. Now, he played, or rather attempted to play, the same role with Christina herself, teaching and advising her on how to run the country before the time was ripe for her to do so. I say attempted, as shortly after Christina’s accession, she had the civil servant put aside. Part of their animosity stems from his criticisms of possible influence by Christina in weakening the country’s position during the peace process to conclude the Thirty Years’ War. When the young queen considered abdicating, Axel Oxenstierna was among those strongest in advising her against it, due to the nature of the potential successor, Charles X Gustav. Eventually, Christina abdicated and moved to Rome, and Charles was declared King of Sweden. Axel Oxenstierna, the man that had reshaped the country’s internal and external affairs and being among the most pivotal politicians of his time, passed away shortly thereafter in late summer 1654.
The end?
Oxenstierna’s legacy remained so important for Stockholm that, shortly after his death, his son Erik Oxenstierna was designated as successor as the Lord High Chancellor of Sweden. His son differed little from his father in terms of governance, as highlighted by his decisions to reduce the powers of the nobility for the sake of the central government in Stockholm in order to strike balances of strength where deemed necessary. An adept negotiator despite his very young age, he managed to avoid enmity with the country’s aristocrats and thus avoiding conflicts despite curbing the nobility’s strengths. After suddenly passing away at 32, he was succeeded by his close colleague Magnus Gabriel De La Gardie.
Thus ends the story of Axel Oxenstierna, nonetheless leaving him as one of the most effective civil servants that became capable, through effective modernisation efforts of establishing a country with a small population into a Great Power of his times. For his abilities, he gained fame and praise from many of his time, such as Richelieu, Mazarin and Pope Urban VIII. From the army to county administration, Oxenstierna played a significant role in reorganising the government to keep up with the always rapid, always evolving world. Thank you for reading. Let me know if you have any comments on Axel Oxenstierna, his administration processes and time in office. Thank you again, and have a lovely day!
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