Onthis Day...
December 8
In 1626, tomboy
Queen Christina of
Sweden was born, the only child of the country’s warrior hero,
Gustavus Adolphus.
She loved to shock people, swore like a trooper, and usually wore men’s clothing.
At her court she was surrounded by artists and scholars, and caused the frail philosopher
Descarte’s death by demanding tuition at five o’clock on freezing cold mornings. When she was only 28 she suddenly abdicated and left Sweden “shouting with joy.” In Rome she became a Catholic and pestered the life out of three successive popes. When a cardinal upset her, she fired a cannon at his door! Although she’s often described as a libertine and accused of numerous affairs with both men and women, the chances are that this notorious queen died a virgin.
─ from Today’s The Day! by Jeremy Beadle (Signet)