Don’t you hate when your girlfriend has a husband and you can’t hang with your philosopher bestie due to a silly little war about whether the church should slay or not? Christina of Sweden definitely did.

Take a trip with us to 17th century Sweden, from Christina’s strange childhood and mommy issues to her ascension to the throne and blossoming desire to kiss her lady in waiting. Tangents include, but are not limited to, circumcision, Bunny the cat, and whether Jared is trying to steal Abe’s partner Sam.

SOURCES

Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-89) by Anchi Hoh (2016)

The Making of a Queen: The Education of Christina of Sweden by M.L. Clarke (1978)

Queen Christina, Lesbian Icon? On Sweden’s Delightfully Nonconformist Monarch by Eleanor Medhurst (2024)

The Afterlife of Christina of Sweden: Gender and Sexuality in Heritage and Fiction by Amy Saunders (2019)

https://www-jstor-org.i.ezproxy.nypl.org/stable/1395418?searchText=queen+christina+sweden&seq=1

https://youtu.be/6JDKEUqcjKA?si=eseHdwmOpzk81XgV

'A Girton Girl on a Throne': Queen Christina and Versions of Lesbianism, 1906-1933' by Sarah Waters (1994)

The Court of Christina of Sweden and the Later Adventures of the Queen in Exile by Francis Gribble (1913)

Christina of Sweden by Marguerite Horan Gowen (1944)

The Girl King, dir. Mika Kaurimaski (2015)

Queen Christina, dir. Rouben Mamoulian (1933)

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

02:26 My Annals

06:00 Five Ws

10:14 Xtina’s Bio

24:39 Xtina’s Sexuality

30:42 Xtina’s Gender Expression

32:53 Ebba Sparre

38:32 Was Xtina intersex?

43:56 Descartes at Xtina’s court?

45:38 Xtina’s Cultural Legacy: Garbo’s “Queen Christina”

53:54 Xtina’s Cultural Legacy: “The Girl King”

1:06:38 Follow us on socials!

THAT'S HISTORY, BABE! is hosted by Abe Merker and Jared Tetreau. This episode was produced by Jared Tetreau, Abe Merker, and Claudia Chiossone. Research Assistance by Madison Albertson. Music by Kinneret. Series Artwork by Sid Lugo. Intro Animations by Gemma Hill.

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