Christina became queen-elect of Sweden at age six upon the death of her father, King Gustavus Adolphus, in 1632. She was instructed in politics by chancellor Axel Oxenstierna, who governed with four other regents while Christina was educated as a prince, according to her father’s wishes. She began attending council meetings at age 14.
How did Christina come to power?
What was Christina’s religion?
Lutheranism was Sweden’s official state religion, and Christina’s secret conversion to Roman Catholicism may be one of the reasons that she abdicated the Swedish throne in 1654. She then moved to Rome. Though she was initially welcomed there by Pope Alexander VII, he soon became disillusioned with her because she opposed public displays of piety.