Editing Axel Oxenstierna (section)

==Career==

===1606–1611: Diplomat and Privy Councillor===
In 1606 he undertook his first diplomatic mission, to [[Mecklenburg]] and other German royal courts. While on diplomatic duty abroad, Oxenstierna gained appointment to the [[Privy Council of Sweden|Privy Council]] (''Riksrådet'').<ref name="Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" /> Henceforth, Oxenstierna became one of the king's most trusted servants.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Oxenstjerna|display=Oxenstjerna s.v. Count Axel Gustafsson|volume=20|pages=401–402|first=Robert Nisbet|last=Bain|author-link=Robert Nisbet Bain}}</ref> In 1609 he travelled to Reval (present day [[Tallinn]]), on King Charles's behalf, to receive tributes from the city of Reval and the Estonian knighthood.<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" /> Together with other councillors, Oxenstierna tried to warn the king of Denmark and the intentions of Danish King [[Christian IV]].<ref name="Populär Historia">{{cite web|url=http://www.popularhistoria.se/o.o.i.s?id=43&vid=1205 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070627002703/http://www.popularhistoria.se/o.o.i.s?id=43&vid=1205 |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 June 2007 |title=Den mäktige Oxenstierna |last=Wetterberg |first=Gunnar |year=2005 |work=popularhistoria.se |publisher=Populär Historia |language=sv |access-date=2 July 2009 }}</ref> In 1610, Oxenstierna travelled to [[Copenhagen]] with the aim of preventing war with the neighbours, but unsuccessfully.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/> The following year, Danish forces crossed the border, initiating the [[Kalmar War]]. In autumn 1611, King Charles died. Around New Year 1611–12, the parliament had to deal with the situation. According to the rules, the 17-year-old [[Gustavus Adolphus]] had not reached the proper age to be considered adult enough to rule as king. However, the estates agreed to disregard those rules. In return, the young king agreed to ensure the nobles further privileges and appoint Axel Oxenstierna [[Lord High Chancellor of Sweden]].<ref name="Populär Historia"/>
[[File:Axel Oxenstierna painted by Jacob Heinrich Elbfas 1626.jpg|right|thumb|Axel Oxenstierna in 1626]]

===1612–1629: Lord High Chancellor and Governor-General===
On 6 January 1612 Oxenstierna became Lord High Chancellor (''Rikskansler'') of the Privy Council.<ref name="Oxenstierna Family Website - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre" /> His controlling, organizing hand soon became apparent in every branch of the administration.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/> Sweden was at the time troubled by three wars against [[Denmark]] ([[Kalmar War]]), [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland-Lithuania]] ([[Polish–Swedish War (1600–1629)|Polish-Swedish War]]) and Russia ([[Ingrian War]]). Oxenstierna's first big task as Chancellor was to achieve peace in some of the wars. The war against Denmark was considered the most dangerous of the three as the enemy-controlled parts of Sweden itself.<ref name="Populär Historia"/> Negotiations began in Knäred and Oxenstierna was first Swedish plenipotentiary. The negotiations led to the [[Treaty of Knäred]] in 1613. For his efforts regarding these negotiations, Oxenstierna received the title of district judge in the hundred of Snävringe and, eventually, the barony of [[Kimito]].<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" />

[[File:Gustav II of Sweden.jpg|left|thumb|King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden]]
During the frequent absences of Gustavus in [[Duchy of Livonia (1629–1721)|Livonia]] and in [[Finland]] (1614–1616) Oxenstierna acted as his viceroy.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/> One assignment Oxenstierna received while the king was in Livonia, was the task to finalize the negotiations regarding the marriage of [[John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg|John Casimir]] and the king's sister, Princess [[Catherine of Sweden (1584-1638)|Catharina]].<ref name="Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" /> At the coronation of Gustavus Adolphus, in October 1617, Oxenstierna was [[knight]]ed.<ref name="Oxenstierna Family Website - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre" /> In 1620 he headed the embassy dispatched to [[Berlin]] to arrange the nuptial contract between Gustavus and [[Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg]]. During the king's Russian and Polish wars he had the principal duty of supplying the [[Swedish Army|armies]] and the [[Royal Swedish Navy|fleets]] with everything necessary, including men and money.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/> Oxenstierna's ways of carrying out his assignments apparently gained King Gustavus's appreciation, since the king, in 1622, asked Oxenstierna to accompany him to Livonia and appointed him [[Governor-General in the Swedish Realm|Governor-General]] and commandant of [[Riga]], a strategically important town during the ongoing war against Poland.<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" /><ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/> His services in Livonia gained him the reward of four castles (among others [[Burtnieki]] and [[Valmiera]])<ref name="Oxenstierna Family Website - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna af Södermöre" /> and the whole bishopric of [[Cēsis|Wenden]]. Entrusted with the peace negotiations which led to the truce with Poland in 1623, he succeeded in averting a threatened rupture with Denmark in 1624. The Polish-Swedish War was reinitiated in 1626, and on 7 October that year, Oxenstierna became Governor-General in the newly acquired [[Possessions of Sweden|Swedish possession]] of [[Duchy of Prussia|Prussia]]. In 1629 he concluded the advantageous [[Truce of Altmark]] with Poland-Lithuania. Prior to this, in September 1628, he arranged a joint occupation of [[Stralsund]] with Denmark to prevent that important fortress from falling into the hands of the Imperialists.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/>

Oxenstierna was not only highly successful within the diplomacy. During these years, he was entrusted with various important assignments in which he succeeded, such as gathering money and troops for the attack in Prussia in 1626. He played the leading organizational and administrational role in Prussia, as he had done earlier in Livonia. He was in charge of, for example, tolls, fortifications and the entire state [[grain trade]].<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" /> During the latter part of the 1620s, [[Elbląg]] (German: ''Elbing''), where Oxenstierna resided and from where he governed the Swedish parts of Prussia, became a major Swedish centre of power, second only to Stockholm.<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget">{{cite book|last=Ericson Wolke|first=Lars|author2=Larsson, Villstrand|title=Trettioåriga kriget|year=2006|editor=Historiska Media|pages=145–148|publisher=Historiska media |isbn=91-85377-37-6|language=sv}}</ref>

===1630–1636: Oxenstierna in the Thirty Years' War===
When Sweden entered the [[Thirty Years' War]] in the summer of 1630, tolls from Oxenstierna-controlled Prussia, as well as food supplies acquired by Oxenstierna, were pivotal assets.<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" /> He had also obtained credits from foreign businessmen, ensuring large sums of money making it possible to hire mercenary soldiers to the army used in Germany.<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget"/>

After the [[Battle of Breitenfeld (1631)|Battle of Breitenfeld]] on 7 September 1631, Oxenstierna received a summons to assist the king with his counsels and co-operation in Germany. During the king's absence in [[Franconia]] and [[Bavaria]] in 1632 he held the appointment of ''legatus'' in the [[Rhineland]], with plenipotentiary authority over all the German generals and princes in the Swedish service. Although he never fought a battle, he frustrated all the efforts of the Spanish troops by using strategically successful regulations.{{Clarify|date=August 2018}} He managed to conduct large reinforcements to King Gustavus through the heart of Germany in the summer of 1632.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/>

In the [[Battle of Lützen (1632)]], on 6 November 1632, Gustavus Adolphus died.<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget - Gustavus death">{{cite book|last=Ericson Wolke|first=Lars|author2=Larsson, Villstrand|title=Trettioåriga kriget|year=2006|editor=Historiska Media|pages=125|publisher=Historiska media |isbn=91-85377-37-6|language=sv}}</ref> This meant that Oxenstierna became supreme commander of the Swedish troops in Germany, although he let his subordinate generals be responsible for the military operations on a lower level. He moved his headquarters to [[Mainz]], which in practice became the new Swedish capital.<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget"/> Oxenstierna was now absolute ruler of the significant area that the Swedish army had conquered in Germany. He was offered the position as prince-elector of Mainz, but, after serious considerations, the offer was turned down.<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna" />

When King Gustavus died in November 1632, his only legitimate and surviving child, [[Christina of Sweden|Christina]], was almost six years old. Until her declaration of majority at 18, a [[Privy Council of Sweden|regency council]] ruled Sweden. This council was headed by Lord High Chancellor Oxenstierna, who wrote [[Instrument of Government (1634)]], a new constitution. During the years after the king's death, it became apparent that differences of opinion existed within the council. Some of Oxenstierna's colleagues recommended that Sweden should seek peace and withdraw from the war in Germany, not least after the defeat at [[Battle of Nördlingen (1634)|Nördlingen]] in 1634. However, Oxenstierna's opinion, that Sweden should remain in the war to ensure compensation for the sacrifices made, prevailed.<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget"/> The, for the Swedish side, disastrous outcome at Nördlingen brought him, for an instant, to the verge of ruin and compelled him for the first time so far to depart from his policy of independence as to solicit direct assistance from France. But, well aware that [[Cardinal Richelieu|Richelieu]] needed the Swedish armies as much as he himself needed money, he refused at the Conference of Compiègne in 1635 to bind his hands in the future for the sake of some slight present relief. In 1636, nevertheless, he concluded a fresh subsidy-treaty with France at [[Wismar]].<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/> Swedish troops remained in Germany all the way until 1648 and the Thirty Years' War's end.<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget - End of War">{{cite book|last=Ericson Wolke|first=Lars|author2=Larsson, Villstrand|title=Trettioåriga kriget|year=2006|editor=Historiska Media|pages=180|publisher=Historiska media |isbn=91-85377-37-6|language=sv}}</ref> Oxenstierna, however, left Germany and returned to Stockholm in 1636, after ten years duty as premier Swedish representative in Prussia and Germany.<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget"/>

===1636–1654: Back in Sweden===
Oxenstierna more directly claimed his place within the regency of Queen Christina and became the young queen's teacher in statesmanship.<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna"/><ref name="Populär Historia"/> His presence at home dominated all opposition, and such was the general confidence for Oxenstierna, that for the next nine years his voice, especially as regarding foreign affairs, remained omnipotent in the [[Privy Council of Sweden|Privy Council]].<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/>

====Torstenson War====
In May 1643, the Swedish Privy Council decided to attack Denmark. The [[Torstenson War]] was at large parts the work of Oxenstierna. The purpose was to gain territories from Denmark and be released from the Danish [[Sound Dues]].<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget"/> Another factor might have been a will to avenge the tough peace [[Treaty of Knäred]] in 1613. Whatever the reason, Oxenstierna considered the time was right to finally settle the score with Denmark. Swedish troops led by Field Marshal [[Lennart Torstensson]] attacked Danish [[Jutland]] from Germany, while Field Marshal [[Gustav Horn, Count of Pori|Gustav Horn]] was in charge of the troops that attacked [[Scania]].<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget - Denmark-Sweden">{{cite book|last=Ericson Wolke|first=Lars|author2=Larsson, Villstrand|title=Trettioåriga kriget|year=2006|editor=Historiska Media|pages=191–199|publisher=Historiska media |isbn=91-85377-37-6|language=sv}}</ref> 

In July 1644, [[Andries Bicker]] and [[Jacob de Witt]] were sent as envoy to Oxenstierna and the queen to mediate between Sweden and Denmark.<ref name="Aa518" >[http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/retroboeken/vdaa?source=aa__001biog02_01.xml&page=519&view=imagePane Abraham Jacob van der Aa, Biographisch Woordenboek der Nederlanden (BWN), (1878), volume 1-2, p 517]</ref> Oxenstierna spoke [[High German]], Christina Dutch.<ref>[https://www.vriendenvandewitt.nl/assets/files/johan-in-zweden181123-2-2.pdf Johan de Witt in Zweden ]</ref>  The outcome of the war was decided in the naval [[Battle of Fehmarn (1644)]] in October when the Royal Swedish Navy decisively defeated the Danish Navy. The defeat of the Danish Navy left the Danish isles open to a Swedish invasion, and Denmark sued for peace.<ref>[https://www.vriendenvandewitt.nl/assets/files/johan-in-zweden181123-2-2.pdf Johan de Witt in Zweden ]</ref> The end of the war rested on the power of the Dutch naval dominance by Admiral [[Witte de With]] who arrived in the [[Øresund|Sound]] in July to support the Dutch and Swedish point of view, a [[Mare Liberum|free passage]].<ref>[https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/a-kaag-and-a-galjoot-close-to-the-shore-with-witte-de-with-in-the-brederode-leaving-the-vlie-9-june-1645-175829  Witte de With in the 'Brederode' leaving the Vlie, 9 June 1645]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://inter-antiquariaat.nl/antiek/verkocht/denemarken-frederik-de-wit-1680/ | title=Oude kaart Denemarken geschiedenis 17e-eeuw originele gravure }}</ref>  Oxenstierna was personally involved in the negotiations leading to the [[Second Treaty of Brömsebro (1645)|Treaty of Brömsebro]] at a creek in [[Blekinge]]. Sweden gained [[Gotland]], [[Saaremaa]] (Ösel), [[Jämtland]], [[Härjedalen]] and for thirty years [[Halland]].<ref name="Trettioåriga kriget"/><ref name="Trettioåriga kriget - Denmark-Sweden"/> Sweden <!--now virtually controlling the [[Baltic Sea]],--> had unrestricted access to the North Sea and was no longer encircled by [[Denmark–Norway]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = Antique map of Scandinavia by Blaeu W. & J.|url = https://www.sanderusmaps.com/en/our-catalogue/detail/163777/antique-map-of-scandinavia-by-blaeu-w--j/|website = www.sanderusmaps.com|access-date = 2015-12-07|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305012133/https://www.sanderusmaps.com/en/our-catalogue/detail/163777/antique-map-of-scandinavia-by-blaeu-w--j/|archive-date = 2016-03-05|url-status = dead}}</ref> Shortly after the peace treaty, Oxenstierna was created Count of Södermöre.<ref name="Nordisk Familjebok - Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna"/>

[[File:Swedish queen Drottning Kristina portrait by Sébastien Bourdon stor.jpg|thumb|Queen Christina of Sweden]]

====Queen Christina and her abdication====
When Christina came of age, she tried to push Oxenstierna, her old mentor, aside.<ref name="Populär Historia" /> The relations between the two were not good and Oxenstierna always attributed the exiguousness of Sweden's gains under the [[Peace of Westphalia]] − Sweden gained only [[Swedish Pomerania|Western Pomerania]], [[Usedom]], [[Wollin]], [[Wismar]] and [[Bremen-Verden]] − following the conference in [[Osnabrück]] to Christina's undue interference.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/> When the queen, a few years later, wanted to abdicate, Oxenstierna at first opposed this because he feared mischief to Sweden from the unruly and adventurous disposition of her preferred successor, [[Charles X Gustav]]. The chancellor changed his mind about Charles Gustav, however, and gave Christina the help she needed to go through with her abdication. Oxenstierna died two months after the ascension of the new king.<ref name="Encyclopædia Britannica"/><ref name="Populär Historia" />