Magnus Brahe
Encyclopedia
Count Magnus Brahe
(1564-1633) was a Swedish noble. Being both Lord High Constable
and Lord High Steward
of Sweden
, he was a notable figure in the 17th century Sweden.
Magnus Brahe, a son of Per Brahe the Elder and Beata Stenbock, was born at Tynnelsö Palace on September 25, 1564. He became a chamberlain of King Sigismund
in 1590. Four years later, he left Sigismund and started to support Duke Carl, who was an enemy of Sigismund and challenged the king for the throne. Brahe received various important assignments from Duke Carl, and eventually, in 1602, Brahe became Lord High Constable
(Swedish: riksmarsk) and a member of the Swedish Privy Council
. Magnus's older brothers had supported Sigismund which led to them losing the Visingsborg County. Having been a trustful supporter of Duke Carl, who became regent of Sweden in 1599 and king 1604, Magnus Brahe was declared Count of Visingsborg instead. When King Carl IX died and was succeeded by his son Gustavus Adolphus in 1611, Magnus Brahe remained a close confidant of the king, albeit a new one. The same year, he was appointed Lord High Steward
(Swedish: riksdrots), becoming arguably the most prominent member of the Privy Council. In 1614, he was made president of Svea Court of Appeal
, when this court was created. Brahe was knighted at the coronation of Gustavus Adolphus in October 1617. He died in Stockholm on March 3, 1633, due to an illness, which possibly was caused by the great grief Brahe felt when king Gustavus Adolphus died. He was buried on May 12 the same year in Västerås Cathedral.
Magnus Brahe married Countess Brita Stensdotter Leijonhufvud (1567-1611) at Gräfsnäs Palace on November 10, 1594. They were parents of Ebba Brahe
(1596-1674), who was the subject of king Gustav Adolphus' love. The countess died in 1611, and Brahe remarried at Strömsholm Palace
on October 18, 1618, this time with Baroness Helena Bielke (1592-1651).
Brahe
Brahe is the name of a Scanian noble family that was influential in both Danish and Swedish history but has its family roots in Swedish origin. The first member of the family is speculated to have been Verner Braghde from Halland. Better documented is Peder Axelsen Brahe who appears in late 14th...
(1564-1633) was a Swedish noble. Being both Lord High Constable
Lord High Constable of Sweden
The Lord High Constable was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from the 13th century until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and, from 1630 and on, the head of the Swedish Council of War...
and Lord High Steward
Lord High Steward of Sweden
The Lord High Steward or Lord High Justiciar was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use....
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, he was a notable figure in the 17th century Sweden.
Magnus Brahe, a son of Per Brahe the Elder and Beata Stenbock, was born at Tynnelsö Palace on September 25, 1564. He became a chamberlain of King Sigismund
Sigismund III Vasa
Sigismund III Vasa was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, a monarch of the united Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1632, and King of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599...
in 1590. Four years later, he left Sigismund and started to support Duke Carl, who was an enemy of Sigismund and challenged the king for the throne. Brahe received various important assignments from Duke Carl, and eventually, in 1602, Brahe became Lord High Constable
Lord High Constable of Sweden
The Lord High Constable was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from the 13th century until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and, from 1630 and on, the head of the Swedish Council of War...
(Swedish: riksmarsk) and a member of the Swedish Privy Council
Privy Council of Sweden
The High Council of Sweden or Council of the Realm consisted originally of those men of noble, common and clergical background, that the king saw fit for advisory service...
. Magnus's older brothers had supported Sigismund which led to them losing the Visingsborg County. Having been a trustful supporter of Duke Carl, who became regent of Sweden in 1599 and king 1604, Magnus Brahe was declared Count of Visingsborg instead. When King Carl IX died and was succeeded by his son Gustavus Adolphus in 1611, Magnus Brahe remained a close confidant of the king, albeit a new one. The same year, he was appointed Lord High Steward
Lord High Steward of Sweden
The Lord High Steward or Lord High Justiciar was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use....
(Swedish: riksdrots), becoming arguably the most prominent member of the Privy Council. In 1614, he was made president of Svea Court of Appeal
Svea Court of Appeal
The Svea Court of Appeal , located in Stockholm, is one of six appellate courts in the Swedish legal system. It was founded in 1614 and was the highest court in Sweden until 1789, when the Supreme Court of Sweden was established....
, when this court was created. Brahe was knighted at the coronation of Gustavus Adolphus in October 1617. He died in Stockholm on March 3, 1633, due to an illness, which possibly was caused by the great grief Brahe felt when king Gustavus Adolphus died. He was buried on May 12 the same year in Västerås Cathedral.
Magnus Brahe married Countess Brita Stensdotter Leijonhufvud (1567-1611) at Gräfsnäs Palace on November 10, 1594. They were parents of Ebba Brahe
Ebba Brahe
Ebba Magnusdotter Brahe was a lady-in-waiting in the Swedish court, countess, and the mistress of king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden...
(1596-1674), who was the subject of king Gustav Adolphus' love. The countess died in 1611, and Brahe remarried at Strömsholm Palace
Strömsholm Palace
Strömsholm Palace, sometimes called Strömsholm Castle , is a Swedish royal palace. The baroque palace is built on the site of a fortress from the 1550s, located on an island in the Kolbäcksån river at the west end of Lake Mälaren...
on October 18, 1618, this time with Baroness Helena Bielke (1592-1651).