Mårten Snickare

SPLENDOR AND PIETY

The Entry of Ulrika Eleonora into Stockholm 1680

Summary

This paper presents a detailed analysis of the entry of Queen Ulrika Eleonora, granddaughter of King Christian IV of , as a bride into Stockholm in 1680, exploring the symbolic use of space as the bride progresses through the city, discussing the many allegories of the entry, and offering a gendered reading of the event.

Inthe history of Swedish royalty QueenUlrika Eleonorathe Elder (1656-1693) does not play a prominent role. She has not, like Queen Christina, fascinated and inspired generations of historians and biographers; neither has she, like her immediate predecessor Hedvig Eleonora, left any great palaces, gardens, or art collections to posterity. However, she was crownedQueenof Swedenin1680, the year whenthe power of the aristocracy was brokenandthe absolute monarchy, the so-called Caroline autocracy, was established. She was the consort of Charles XI and the mother of Charles XII, the two most powerful kings in Swedish history. After a very short time, Ulrika Eleonora came to hold a central position at the pinnacle of power inanepoch whenSwedenwas more strictly hierarchically organized than ever before or after. The aim of this article is to discuss the role allotted to the Queen during this epoch and, more specifically, how this role was shaped and expressed through one important state ceremony — the entry of Ulrika Eleonora into Stockholm inNovember 1680. Ulrika Eleonora was the youngest daughter of the King and Queen of Denmark, Frederik III and Sofia Amalia. At the time of her birth, her fatherland was engaged in continual conflicts with Sweden about the control of the strategically as well as economical- ly important . Sweden’s military successes and territorial expansion in the first half of the century had aroused dreams of

Daphnis 32 2003 250 Mårten Snickare revenge in Denmark. At the same time, however, there were parties in both countries which advocated peace and consensus, and one way to stabilize the relations was through a dynastic alliance. In the beginning of the 1670’s negotiations were initiated for a marriage between Ulrika Eleonora and Charles XI, but negotiations were brokenoff by the war betweenDenmarkandSweden1675-1679. Whenthe peace treaty was signedinSeptember 1679, it included not only an agreement of a defensive alliance between the two countries, but also — as the foremost expression and guarantee of the expected peace and prosperity — a marriage contract between the Danish princess and the Swedish king. The political significance of the marriage is expressed by a commerative Danish peace medal, on which the monograms of Ulrika Eleonora and Charles XI are surrounded by palm branches and accompanied by the motto: “Die hier bindet wirdt gebunden, undt dadurch der Friede gefunden.”1 The wedding itself, in May 1680, was not a very spectacular ceremony. It was celebrated in the presence of a few invited guests at Skottorp, a small estate in the province of in the southwestern part of Sweden. In stark contrast to the modest and private character of the marriage ceremony, the entry made by the Queen into her new capital half a year later stands out as one of the most magnificent and artistically elaborate state ceremonies in seventeenth-century Sweden.2 The town had been making preparations for months: the citizens adorned themselves with precious fabrics and lace, and decorated their houses with tapestries, paintings, spruce branches

1 Quoted from Johan Schmedeman: Hennes Maijts dr Ulricæ Eleonoræ den mildas kongl. Lefwerne, p. 180, manuscript in Uppsala Universitetsbibliotek (Uppsala University Library). 2 A main source for the entry and coronation of Ulrika Eleonora is a memoran- dum drawn up by Johan Gabriel Stenbock, Marshal of the : Hennes Kungligh Maijestet Drottningh Ulricas Eleonoras Intåghs och kröninghs process och act. The manuscript memorandum is preserved at Kungliga Biblioteket (Royal Library), Stockholm. The most detailed descriptionof the ceremoniesis to be foundinthe biography of the Queenwrittenby Johan Schmedeman (see note 1). Also to be mentioned is the printed official report: RELATION. Hurulunda dhet tilgångit wid Hennes Kongl. May:tz wår al- lernådigste Drottningz ULRICÆ ELEONORÆ Intågh/ I Residence Staden Stockholm den 23. Novembris jämwäl dher på följande lyckelige Cröning den 24. Dito 1680. N.p. [1680].

Daphnis 32 2003