[POTN] 1.6 - Gustav's Marriage

Upon returning to the Hague by late November, Gustav stayed in the Dutch Republic for some time. A preliminary alliance pact was signed by Gustav and Prince Willem II on 2nd December, 1648.

Seen as a way for the Prince to secure an ally to support the Orangist cause and transform the Republic into a monarchy, the alliance was not well-liked by the Dutch States Party, and many doubted whether Sweden could be trusted as a reliable ally of the Dutch. Privately, however, Gustav's advisors and those serving Elizabeth Stuart had already commenced following the Peace of Westphalia. Elizabeth Stuart sought to conclude the marriage as soon as possible to secure an ally for her son, the restored Elector Palatine.

The Swedish nobility, also eager for the match, had been debating the details of the marriage in the Riksdag since November.

While some members demanded a generous dowry worthy of the Swedish power, but more were in favour of a quick marriage, in order for the potential succession crisis to be prevented as soon as possible. Gustav himself, meanwhile, largely ignored the ongoing negotiations, and continued spending time with Henriette, touring different cities in the Dutch Republic following the investiture of the Duke of Bremen-Verden.

On Christmas Day, 1648, Gustav privately proposed to Henriette in Groningen. After the proposal was accepted, the couple travelled back to the Hague, and Gustav, with representatives of the Swedish realm, officially proposed the marriage to Elizabeth Stuart on 29th December, 1648.

An arrangement was made accordingly, which allowed an unusually small amount of dowry, given the financial difficulties of the Elector Palatine's household. The two, engaged, spent some more time together in the Dutch Republic, before sailing back to Sweden together soon after the beginning of the year 1649.

The planning for the grand wedding immediately commenced, decided to be held at Storkyrkan in Stockholm in late February, with a coronation at Uppsala Cathedral to be organised for the new Queen in early March. During this period, however, the tension in England grew increasingly high, and Gustav and the Chancellor spent some time every day to prepare for any drastic changes in the English political landscape.

On 2nd December, 1649, news arrived at Stockholm concerning the beheading of King Charles in Whitehall. As was most of Europe, the Swedish public was shocked by the development, as few expected the Parliamentarians to actually kill a monarch.

Various members of the Riksdag began urging for a diplomatic, or even military intervention against the regicide. While the Chancellor, in agreement with Gustav, did acknowledge the Prince of Wales as King Charles II, the new legitimate monarch of the British Isles, the Swedish government largely avoided any possibility of a military action against the Parliamentarian regime in London.

As did other European powers, Sweden refused to break their relation with the Parliamentarians entirely, instead resorting to passive tactics, calling for the English people to support their rightful King. On 22th February, 1649, King Gustav III officially married Princess Henriette Marie of the Palatinate, in a grand ceremony attended by royals and nobles from all over Europe.

The couple swore to defend each other forever, upholding each other's dignity and faith. The couple also pledged to protect Sweden's people and her Protestant Church, promising never to falter. The royal couple then travelled from Stockholm to Uppsala, in preparation for the upcoming coronation of the new Queen.

On 3rd March, 1649, the new Queen was officially crowned as Queen Henrietta of Sweden. Thousands of Swedes, many having celebrated the wedding in Stockholm, followed the host and continued their celebrations in Uppsala.

Following the coronation, Gustav, returning to Stockholm, announced several reforms concerning various royal titles. In 1618, King Gustav II Adolf abolished royal duchies in the traditional sense. Before that, royal Swedish princes would be given duchies to govern as they came of age. They would, in principle, become the largely autonomous ruler of the province under their name, able to carry out duties in the name of the Swedish crown.

This practice was abolished by the late King in 1618, amidst his campaign for centralisation. The new reform in 1649 would re-establish these titles, but without the power previously possessed by Dukes. While the Dukes would still receive the royal properties in the province under their name, they would not be able to carry out administrative functions, which would stay with the hands of the Governors-General appointed directly by Stockholm.

These largely titular titles would be granted to members of the royal family at the King's pleasure. While these titles could theoretically be inherited, the monarch shall withhold the right to decree for any ducal titles to revert to the crown anytime. Heirs would not be allowed to inherit ducal titles on some occasions, including but not limited to suspicion of high treason, a pledge of allegiance to foreign powers, and an unpermitted conversion from the Church of Sweden.

Gustav then named Princess Kristina his titular Duchess of Finland in her own right, subsidiary to the Grand Duke of Finland, which itself was a subsidiary title of Gustav's. It was stressed that, however, female royal members shall not be made Duchesses in their own rights routinely, and concerning Kristina's case, it was only done given the Princess' great contribution and importance to the entire realm.

This was seen as an attempt by Gustav to continously include Kristina in his inner advisory circle, as the title of Duchess would allow Kristina to theoretically outrank all other non-royal nobles, ensuring her participation in state politics, preventing her being ousted from the centre of power with the excuse of her gender.

Kristina, meanwhile, was already starting a project on her own. A few letters to Gustav ensured that a footnote in the Treaty of Osnabrück allowed universities to be established in Sweden with royal assent, and these universities would be recognised by the Holy Roman Emperor.

Kristina saw this as an opportunity to spread her ideals in peace, knowledge, and also her own religious beliefs, sometimes leaning towards Catholicism. Gustav also saw her plans as a way for the Swedish monarchy to break the Church's lingering monopoly of knowledge, allowing the monarchy to be entirely in control of the nation's education.

As only three universities, namely those in Uppsala, Greifwald, and Tartu, existed in all Swedish lands in 1649, plans were made for more universities across the realm to be established as soon as possible, in a project led by Princess Kristina herself. Various locations were selected, and constructions began near Stockholm, Kalmar, and Götaborg by late 1649, while plans to establish similar institutions in Nyköping, Riga, or even Åbo, were also discussed and considered by Kristina and her advisors.