Oxenstierna

Oxenstierna, or OXENSTERN, AXEL, COUNT, Swedish statesman, was born at Fånö, north of Stockholm, 16th June 1583. He was originally educated for the church, and studied theology as well as jurisprudence at Rostock, Jena, and Wittenberg, and, although he entered (1602) the public service of his country, he continued all his life to take a deep interest in religious questions, and laboured zealously for the extension of the Protestant doctrines. Charles IX. despatched him in 1606 as ambassador to the court of Mecklenburg, and made him senator in 1609. Having displayed great prudence and wisdom in the settlement of disputes between the Livonian nobles and the town of Reval, he was appointed by Charles—now infirm from age—guardian of the royal family and head of the regency. On the accession of Gustavus Adolphus (q.v.) in 1611 Oxenstierna was created chancellor; and in 1613 acted as minister-plenipotentiary in the negotiations for peace between Sweden and Denmark, and in 1617 in those which terminated hostilities between Sweden and Russia. In 1621, on the departure of the king for the Polish war, Oxenstierna was charged with the administration of affairs at home, but five years later was summoned to act as governor-general of the conquered districts in Prussia. In 1629 he concluded peace with the Poles on highly favourable conditions. Although he strongly opposed the desire of Gustavus to take part in the Thirty Years' War, yet, when he found that the Protestant sympathies of the king were irrepressible, he supported his master most faithfully and ably; Gustavus in return charged him with the difficult business of managing the diplomatic relations of Sweden in central Germany. After the king's death it was Oxenstierna who not only kept the Swedish armies together, but sustained the Protestant cause and prevented it going to pieces on the jealousies of the German Protestant princes, displaying masterly diplomatic ability, great courage, resource, and moderation. Having in four arduous years re-organised the Protestants and reanimated their courage by gaining French and Dutch assistance, he went back to Sweden (1636). He had already drawn up a constitution, which the estates accepted and ratified in 1634. After his return he resumed the duties of chancellor, adding to them those of guardian to the young queen Christina, who, however, did not accept the advice of her father's wise friend and counsellor as it beseemed her. Oxenstierna continued to direct the policy of the Protestants in Germany till the peace of Westphalia in 1648 put an end to the war. He humiliated the Danes and forced them to sign the treaty of Brömsebro (1645), and opposed the abdication of Christina and the succession of Charles X. This king, nevertheless, retained him in office until he died, 28th August 1654. See Lundblad's Svensk Plutarch (2 vols. Stock. 1824); Fryxell's History of Gustavus Adolphus; Geijer's History of the Swedes (Lond. n.d.); and Journal of Bulstrode White-locke (1772). His Writings and Correspondence began to appear in 1888.—His eldest son JOHAN (1611-57) carried through several diplomatic missions, his greatest service being to act as Sweden's plenipotentiary at Osnabrück (1648). It was in a letter to this son, who felt himself unequal to the office, that the chancellor used the famous phrase, 'Nescis, mi fili, quam parva sapientia regitur mundus.' This aphorism is current, however, in an extraordinary number of versions (Notes and Queries, 7th July 1888).—The younger brother ERIK (1624-56) was governor of Esthonia (1640), and succeeded his father as chancellor of the kingdom.