Per Brahe the Younger
Count Per Brahe the Younger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lord High Steward of Sweden | |
| In office 1641–1680 | |
| Preceded by | Gabriel Gustafsson Oxenstierna |
| Succeeded by | Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie |
| Governor General of Finland | |
| In office 1637–1640 | |
| Preceded by | Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna |
| In office 1648–1654 | |
| Succeeded by | Gustav Evertsson Horn |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 18 February 1602 Rydboholm Castle, Uppland |
| Died | 2 September 1680 (aged 78) Bogesund Palace, Sweden |
| Residence(s) | Bogesund Palace, Visingsborg, Brahehus |
Count Per Brahe the Younger (18 February 1602 – 2 September 1680)[1] was a Swedish soldier, statesman, and author. He was a Privy Councillor from 1630 and Lord High Steward from 1640.
Life
Brahe was born on Rydboholm (now in Österåker Municipality) in Uppland. He was the son of riksråd Count Abraham Pedersson Brahe of Visingsborg (1569-1630) and Elsa Gyllenstierna of Lundholm, and as such the brother of Margareta Brahe and Nils Brahe, and the cousin of Ebba Brahe. He was the grandson of Per Brahe the Elder (1520–1590), one of Gustavus Vasa's Privy Councillors, created count of Visingsborg by King Eric XIV, known also as the continuator of Peder Svart's chronicle of Gustavus (sometimes the "Chronicles of Per Brahe"), and author of Oeconomia in 1585, a manual for young noblemen. Per Brahe the younger, after completing his education by several years’ travel abroad, became in 1626 chamberlain to Gustavus Adolphus, whose lasting friendship he gained.[1]
He fought with distinction in Prussia during the last three years of the Polish War (1626–1629) and also, as colonel of a regiment of horse, in 1630 in Germany. After the death of Gustavus Adolphus in 1632 his military yielded to his political activity. He had been elected president or Lantmarskalk in the Riksdag of 1629, and in the following year was created a Privy Councillor. In 1635 he conducted the negotiations for an armistice with Poland[1] (Treaty of Stuhmsdorf).
In 1637–1640 and again in 1648–1654 he was Governor General in Finland, to which country he rendered inestimable services by his wise and provident rule. He reformed the whole administration, introduced a postal system, founded ten new towns, improved and developed commerce and agriculture, and very greatly promoted education.[1] In 1640 he opened the Royal Academy of Turku, of which he was the founder, and first chancellor.[1] Still today the expression "Kreivin aikaan", or "at Count's Time" in the Finnish language means "at the correct/good time". The base of his statue in Turku bears the inscription "I was well pleased with the land and the land with me".
After the death of King Charles X in 1660, Brahe, as Lord High Steward, became one of the regents of Sweden[2] for the second time (he had held a similar office during the minority of Queen Christina, 1632–1644), and during the difficult year 1660 he had entire control of both foreign and domestic affairs.[1] He died on 2 September 1680 at his castle Bogesund in Uppland. He also held the castles Visingsborg at Visingsö and Brahehus on the mainland by Gränna, where during his lifetime he had held more than regal pomp.[1]
The town of Raahe (Swedish: Brahestad) in Finland is named after him.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
- ^ Granlund 2004, p. 59.
- Granlund, Lis (2004). "Queen Hedwig Eleonora of Sweden: Dowager, Builder, and Collector". In Campbell Orr, Clarissa (ed.). Queenship in Europe 1660-1815: The Role of the Consort. Cambridge University Press. pp. 56–76. ISBN 0-521-81422-7.
See also
- 1602 births
- 1680 deaths
- People from Österåker Municipality
- Swedish counts
- Brahe family
- Governors-General of Sweden
- Swedish military officers
- Members of the Privy Council of Sweden
- Lord Marshals of the Riksdag of the Estates
- 17th-century Swedish politicians
- 17th-century Finnish people
- 17th-century military personnel