Editing Christina, Queen of Sweden (section)

==Death and burial ==
In February 1689, the 62-year-old Christina fell seriously ill after a visit to the temples in [[Campania]], and received the [[last rites]].  She suffered from [[diabetes mellitus]].<ref name="Popp 2010"/> Christina seemed to recover, but in the middle of April she developed an acute streptococcus bacterial infection known as [[erysipelas]], then contracted [[pneumonia]] and a high fever. On her deathbed, she sent the pope a message asking if he could forgive her insults. She died on 19 April 1689 in Palazzo Corsini at six in the morning.<ref name="Franckenstein">{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TrtbAAAAQAAJ&q=19+April+1689+christina&pg=PA334|title=Het leven en bedryf van Christina, koninginne van Sweeden, &c. sedert haar geboorte tot op des zelfs dood ...|first=Christian Gottfried|last=Franckenstein|date=10 July 1697|publisher=by Boudewyn vander Aa|access-date=10 July 2017|via=Google Books}}</ref>

[[File:Christina of Sweden (1626) grave 2010 Vatican (2).jpg|thumb|Christina's sarcophagus in the extensive papal crypt at the Vatican]]

Christina had asked for a simple burial in the [[Pantheon, Rome]], but the pope insisted on her being displayed on a ''lit de parade'' for four days in the Riario Palace. She was embalmed, covered with white [[Brocade (fabric)|brocade]], a silver mask, a gilt crown, and a scepter. "The Queen wore a thin mantle, decorated with hundreds of crowns and fur bordered with ermine, under this a splendid garment in two pieces, thin gloves and drawers of knitted silk and a pair of elegant textile bootees".<ref name=burial>{{cite journal |url=https://cguaa.journals.ekb.eg/article_29861.html |title=The methods of treatment of Indian archaeological cashmere textile in Applied Art Museum, Cairo, Egypt طرق علاج نسيج کشمير هندى أثري بمتحف کلية الفنون التطبيقية, القاهرة، مصر |journal=حولية الاتحاد العام للآثاريين العرب |date=2017 |volume=20 |issue=20 |pages=116–138 |doi= 10.21608/CGUAA.2017.29861 |access-date=March 21, 2021|doi-access=free }}</ref> In similar fashion to the popes, her body was placed in three coffins – one of cypress, one of lead and finally one made of oak. The funeral procession on 2 May led from [[Santa Maria in Vallicella]] to [[St. Peter's Basilica]], where she was buried within the [[Vatican Grottoes]] – one of only three women ever given this honor (the other two being [[Matilda of Tuscany]] and [[Maria Clementina Sobieska]]).  Her intestines were placed in a high urn.{{efn|From 2005 to 2011, her marble sarcophagus was positioned next to that of [[Pope John Paul II]] when his grave was moved.}}

In 1702, [[Clement XI]] commissioned a monument for the queen, in whose conversion he vainly foresaw a return of her country to the Faith and to whose contribution towards the culture of the city he looked back with gratitude. This monument was placed in the body of the basilica and directed by the artist [[Carlo Fontana]].{{efn|Christina was portrayed on a gilt and bronze medallion, supported by a crowned skull. Three reliefs below represented her relinquishment of the Swedish throne and abjugation of Protestantism at Innsbruck, the scorn of the nobility, and faith triumphing over heresy. It is an unromantic likeness, for she is given a double chin and a prominent nose with flaring nostrils.}}

Christina had named Azzolino her sole heir to make sure her debts were settled, but he was too ill and worn out even to join her funeral, and died in June the same year. His nephew, Pompeo Azzolino, was his sole heir, and he rapidly sold off Christina's art collections.