Axel Gyldenstjerne
Encyclopedia
Axel Gyldenstjerne was a Danish-Norwegian official and Governor-general of Norway
from 1588 until 1601.
(1563-70), when he served at King Frederik II
’s court, as well as in field operations.
He was a member of the king's retinue at the peace treaty negotiations at Roskilde
and served as the government's messenger to peace mediators in Szczecin
. His records were a significant contribution to the recorded Danish history of this war. The Treaty of Stettin
was concluded on December 13, 1570, ending the Northern Seven Years' War between the Swedish Empire
and Denmark
(in alliance with Lübeck
and Poland
). The treaty was favorable for Denmark, assuring Danish hegemony in Northern Europe
for a short period.
and Skåne. From 1579 he served as a judge in Skåne; from 1581, he was a member of the Danish National Council
and in 1585 he and Christoffer Valkendorf were responsible for the national government in the king's absence.
's regents (Christian IV was inducted as a child king), appointed Gyldenstjerne to serve as Governor-general of Norway
and feudal overlord of Akershus
. He worked in close consultation with the regents, traveling annually to Copenhagen to confer with them and participate in Danish meetings. During his time as governor he established a ministry of justice, upgraded Akershus fortress
, raised taxes, and limited the ingress of Sweden in the north.
While there, Gyldenstjerne played a central role at the wedding of James VI of Scotland and Princess Anne of Denmark
in Oslo
. Anne and James were formally married at the Old Bishop's Palace in Oslo
on 23 November 1589, "with all the splendour possible at that time and place".
So that both bride and groom could understand, Leith minister David Lindsay conducted the ceremony in French, describing Anne as "a Princess both godly and beautiful...she giveth great contentment to his Majesty". Gyldenstjerne also organized the Norwegian tribute to Christian IV in June 1591.
Gyldenstjerne also played a personal role in encouraging Peder Claussøn Friis
, a historian, linguist and scientist, to translate the Norse saga
s which tell of the lives of Scandinavian kings
from old Norse
to Danish-Norwegian. The translations came into the possession of Ole Worm, who first printed them in 1633.
. He participated in a trip to Russia, 1602-03, as an escort for the Danish king's brother, Prince Hans
, who was to marry Tsar Boris Godunov
's daughter Ksenia (Xenia), but fell ill and died before the marriage could take place. Gyldenstjerne died during the journey back home.
Governor-general of Norway
The Governor-general of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish or Riksståthållare in Swedish, both meaning 'Lieutenant of the realm' , was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch....
from 1588 until 1601.
Northern Seven Years' War
He is first mentioned in the records during the Northern Seven Years' WarNorthern Seven Years' War
The Northern Seven Years' War was the war between Kingdom of Sweden and a coalition of Denmark–Norway, Lübeck and the Polish–Lithuanian union, fought between 1563 and 1570...
(1563-70), when he served at King Frederik II
Frederick II of Denmark
Frederick II was King of Denmark and Norway and duke of Schleswig from 1559 until his death.-King of Denmark:Frederick II was the son of King Christian III of Denmark and Norway and Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg. Frederick II stands as the typical renaissance ruler of Denmark. Unlike his father, he...
’s court, as well as in field operations.
He was a member of the king's retinue at the peace treaty negotiations at Roskilde
Roskilde
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network....
and served as the government's messenger to peace mediators in Szczecin
Szczecin
Szczecin , is the capital city of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship in Poland. It is the country's seventh-largest city and the largest seaport in Poland on the Baltic Sea. As of June 2009 the population was 406,427....
. His records were a significant contribution to the recorded Danish history of this war. The Treaty of Stettin
Treaty of Stettin
The Treaty of Stettin of December 13, 1570, ended the Northern Seven Years' War fought between Sweden and Denmark with her internally fragmented alliance of Lübeck and Poland. It also settled Swedish, Danish and Holy Roman Imperial claims regarding the Livonian War. Unfavourable for Sweden, it...
was concluded on December 13, 1570, ending the Northern Seven Years' War between the Swedish Empire
Swedish Empire
The Swedish Empire refers to the Kingdom of Sweden between 1561 and 1721 . During this time, Sweden was one of the great European powers. In Swedish, the period is called Stormaktstiden, literally meaning "the Great Power Era"...
and Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
(in alliance with Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
). The treaty was favorable for Denmark, assuring Danish hegemony in Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
for a short period.
Danish National Council
After the war he was awarded feudal lordships in DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and Skåne. From 1579 he served as a judge in Skåne; from 1581, he was a member of the Danish National Council
Rigsraadet
Rigsraadet, or Riksrådet, , is the name of the councils of the Scandinavian countries that ruled the countries together with the kings from late Middle Ages to the 17th century...
and in 1585 he and Christoffer Valkendorf were responsible for the national government in the king's absence.
Service in Norway
When Fredrik died in 1588 Christian IVChristian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
's regents (Christian IV was inducted as a child king), appointed Gyldenstjerne to serve as Governor-general of Norway
Governor-general of Norway
The Governor-general of Norway, styled Rigsstatholder in Danish or Riksståthållare in Swedish, both meaning 'Lieutenant of the realm' , was the appointed head of the Norwegian Government in the absence of the Monarch....
and feudal overlord of Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
. He worked in close consultation with the regents, traveling annually to Copenhagen to confer with them and participate in Danish meetings. During his time as governor he established a ministry of justice, upgraded Akershus fortress
Akershus Fortress
Akershus Fortress or Akershus Castle is a medieval castle that was built to protect Oslo, the capital of Norway. It has also been used as a prison.- Construction :...
, raised taxes, and limited the ingress of Sweden in the north.
While there, Gyldenstjerne played a central role at the wedding of James VI of Scotland and Princess Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark
Anne of Denmark was queen consort of Scotland, England, and Ireland as the wife of King James VI and I.The second daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark, Anne married James in 1589 at the age of fourteen and bore him three children who survived infancy, including the future Charles I...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. Anne and James were formally married at the Old Bishop's Palace in Oslo
Old Bishop's Palace in Oslo
The Old Bishop's Palace in Oslo was the residence of the Catholic bishops of Oslo. The palace was built like a fortified castle. The construction was begun around 1210 by the then bishop, Nikolas Arnesson, continuing through to the early 14th century...
on 23 November 1589, "with all the splendour possible at that time and place".
So that both bride and groom could understand, Leith minister David Lindsay conducted the ceremony in French, describing Anne as "a Princess both godly and beautiful...she giveth great contentment to his Majesty". Gyldenstjerne also organized the Norwegian tribute to Christian IV in June 1591.
Gyldenstjerne also played a personal role in encouraging Peder Claussøn Friis
Peder Claussøn Friis
Peder Claussøn Friis was a Norwegian author.By his translations of the old sagas he rendered great service to the history of Norway; indeed, one saga is extant only in his translation. In his Description of Norway and Adjacent Islands is to be found historical material of value...
, a historian, linguist and scientist, to translate the Norse saga
Norse saga
The sagas are stories about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, about early Viking voyages, the battles that took place during the voyages, about migration to Iceland and of feuds between Icelandic families...
s which tell of the lives of Scandinavian kings
Kings' sagas
The kings' sagas are Norse sagas which tell of the lives of Scandinavian kings. They were composed in the 12th to 14th centuries in Iceland and Norway....
from old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
to Danish-Norwegian. The translations came into the possession of Ole Worm, who first printed them in 1633.
Retirement
Gyldenstjerne left on his own initiative in 1601, and received two fiefs in BlekingeBlekinge
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , situated in the south of the country. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea.The name "Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke, which corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm"....
. He participated in a trip to Russia, 1602-03, as an escort for the Danish king's brother, Prince Hans
John, Prince of Schleswig-Holstein
Johan of Schleswig-Holstein was the youngest son of Frederick II of Denmark and Norway and Sophia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin...
, who was to marry Tsar Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
Boris Fyodorovich Godunov was de facto regent of Russia from c. 1585 to 1598 and then the first non-Rurikid tsar from 1598 to 1605. The end of his reign saw Russia descend into the Time of Troubles.-Early years:...
's daughter Ksenia (Xenia), but fell ill and died before the marriage could take place. Gyldenstjerne died during the journey back home.