Erik Axelsson Oxenstierna

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Count ( Swedish Greve ) Erik Axelsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre (born February 13, 1624 in Fiholm in Södermanland , † October 23, 1656 in Frauenburg ) was a Swedish statesman and Chancellor from 1654 until his death.

Life

origin

His parents were the Swedish Chancellor Axel Oxenstierna (1583-1654) and his wife Anna Åkesdotter (Bååt) . The later diplomat Johan Axelsson Oxenstierna (1611–1657) was his brother.

Career

After studying in Uppsala , he was made honorary rector (rector illustris) in 1642 and a year later colonel for a cavalry regiment . On February 27 of the same year he sat in on the Senate and shortly afterwards left Sweden for study trips. Oxenstierna came back in 1645, and Queen Christina I , who had now come of age, wanted him, like all other members of the Oxenstierna family, as far away as possible in their younger years. In the following year he became governor of Reval and over Estonia because of this . As a superior he received his relative, the imperial treasurer Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna , who was appointed governor general of Livonia at the same time .

About the exercise of his office it is reported that "there is hardly a governor's job that has been more important for the development of the country". However, this mostly took place under the direction and control of his father. At the time when the Oxenstierna family returned to royal grace, Erik was recalled to the country in 1652 after being appointed imperial councilor in 1651 . In 1652 he was appointed to the head of the Kommersekollegium founded by his father , but did not take office until a year later. After Kristina I renounced the throne in 1654, Oxenstierna took over the management of the government chancellery as Vice Chancellor, which passed to him entirely after the death of his father in the same year. In many ways he became to Charles X Gustav what his father had been to Gustav Adolf . He played an important role in both domestic and foreign affairs. The Reichstag decided in 1655 under his leadership, the desire shown by him and the King regarding the confiscation of aristocratic manor estates for the Crown ( reduktionsfråga ).

Just as his father had brought Gustav Adolf's bride to Sweden, so did Oxenstierna with the wife of Charles X in 1654. In the same year he followed his father to the post of Lagmann (legal manager) of Norrland . In 1655 he went to war with King Charles X and was particularly noticeable there for his skillful diplomacy. In 1656 he concluded the Wehlau and Marienburg treaties with Brandenburg , which bound the electors as vassals to the Swedish crown. On September 1, 1656, the contract in Elbing with the Dutch came about. On December 23, 1655, he had already taken over the office of Governor General of Prussia , which his father had once held. Erik Oxenstierna died a little later.

family

He married Elisabeth Brahe from the Görväln family on September 10, 1648 (born January 29, 1632 - † February 24, 1689). The couple had several children:

  • Anna Margareta (March 20, 1650 - February 26, 1672) ⚭ 1665 Claes Tott (1630–1674), Field Marshal
  • Kristina (March 30, 1651; † 1711) ⚭ Gabriel Turesson Oxenstierna from the House of Croneborg (October 10, 1642; † February 28, 1707)
  • Axel (born August 12, 1652 - † December 6, 1676) rector illustris of Uppsala University
  • Elisabeth (March 16, 1654 - October 2, 1721) ⚭ 1673 Count Gustaf Adolf De la Gardie (December 11, 1647 - March 5, 1695), son of Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
  • Karl Gustaf (July 28, 1655 - March 13, 1686), Minister ⚭ 1684 Countess Ebba Hedwig De la Gardie, (* 1659 - September 20, 1700), daughter of Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie

literature

personal data
SURNAME Oxenstierna, Erik Axelsson
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Oxenstierna, Erik Axelsson af Södermöre
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swedish Chancellor
DATE OF BIRTH February 13, 1624
PLACE OF BIRTH Fiholm, Södermanland
DATE OF DEATH October 23, 1656
Place of death Frauenburg