Axel Oxenstierna

Count Axel Oxenstierna
Lord High Chancellor of Sweden
In office
1612–1654
Preceded bySvante Turesson Bielke
Succeeded byErik Oxenstierna
Monarchs
Governor-General of Riga
In office
1622–1626
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded by?
Governor-General of Prussia
In office
1626–1631
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born(1583-06-16)16 June 1583
Fånö, Uppland, Sweden
Died28 August 1654(1654-08-28) (aged 71)
Stockholm, Sweden
SpouseAnna Åkesdotter Bååt
ChildrenGustaf Oxenstierna,
Johan Oxenstierna,
Catharina Oxenstierna,
Christina Oxenstierna,
Beata Oxenstierna,
Barbro Oxenstierna,
Åke Oxenstierna,
Maria Oxenstierna,
Gabriel Oxenstierna,
Jakob Oxenstierna,
Erik Oxenstierna
ResidenceTidö Castle
OccupationStatesman
Signature

Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna (Swedish: [ˈǎksɛl ˈʊ̂ksɛnˌɧæːɳa] ; 1583–1654) was a Swedish statesman and Count of Södermöre.[1] He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1609 and served as Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1612 until his death. He was a confidant of King Gustavus Adolphus and then Queen Christina,[2] for whom he was at first regent.

Oxenstierna is widely considered one of the most influential people in Swedish history. He played an important role during the Thirty Years' War and was appointed Governor-General of occupied Prussia; he is also credited for having laid the foundations of the modern central administrative structure of the State, including the creation of counties (Swedish: län).

  1. ^ "Nordisk Familjebok – Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna". Nordisk Familjebok at runeberg.org (in Swedish). 1914. Retrieved 2 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Axel Oxenstierna". ne.se (in Swedish). Nationalencyklopedien. Retrieved 4 July 2009.