1654: News Update in Europe
Queen Christina of Sweden Publicly Announces Conversion to Catholicism; Says She has no Plans to Abdicate
Queen Christina, in a move that shocked Sweden and all of Europe, publicly announced that she would be converting to Roman Catholicism. She added that she has no plans to abdicate the throne. It is unclear how Sweden, a completely Lutheran and Protestant nation, will react to her conversion. So far, there appears to be dismay and confusion, and priests serving the State Church of Sweden are worried that preaching will constitute a violation of the law. Will all churches in Sweden stop functioning until Christina forcibly converts them? Charles Gustav, who Christina named as her heir in 1649, has publicly denounced Christina's decision and is calling on her to abdicate in despite of her refusal to do so.
England makes peace with Netherlands, but immediately follows with declaration of War on Spain
Oliver Cromwell would continue to shape the erratic foreign policy of his new English Commonwealth, starting with a peace treaty with the Dutch immediately followed by a declaration of war on Spain. Cromwell cited a need for England to focus on battling the "vile papists" rather than on fighting other Protestants for commercial reasons. In the first act of the war, the English launched a naval invasion of several of Spain's colonies, capturing Jamaica and landing troops onto Hispaniola. Cromwell has stated that he may be willing to work with the French in the war, as they are already at war with Spain.
King Louis XIV of France Reaches Age of Majority; Crowned in Reims Cathedral
King Louis XIV of France, who has been known as the "Sun King" since last year due to his performance as Apollo in a French ballet, would be crowned in Reims Cathedral in 1654. Now that he has reached the age of majority, he may finally be able to pursue some of his own policies rather than be guided by his ministers, but Cardinal Mazarin is still in place, at least for now. Observers in Protestant countries worry that because of the Fronde, Louis may seek to exert absolute Catholic control in France. But for now, the main threat to Protestant Europe is clearly still the Habsburgs.
Queen Christina of Sweden Publicly Announces Conversion to Catholicism; Says She has no Plans to Abdicate
Queen Christina, in a move that shocked Sweden and all of Europe, publicly announced that she would be converting to Roman Catholicism. She added that she has no plans to abdicate the throne. It is unclear how Sweden, a completely Lutheran and Protestant nation, will react to her conversion. So far, there appears to be dismay and confusion, and priests serving the State Church of Sweden are worried that preaching will constitute a violation of the law. Will all churches in Sweden stop functioning until Christina forcibly converts them? Charles Gustav, who Christina named as her heir in 1649, has publicly denounced Christina's decision and is calling on her to abdicate in despite of her refusal to do so.
England makes peace with Netherlands, but immediately follows with declaration of War on Spain
Oliver Cromwell would continue to shape the erratic foreign policy of his new English Commonwealth, starting with a peace treaty with the Dutch immediately followed by a declaration of war on Spain. Cromwell cited a need for England to focus on battling the "vile papists" rather than on fighting other Protestants for commercial reasons. In the first act of the war, the English launched a naval invasion of several of Spain's colonies, capturing Jamaica and landing troops onto Hispaniola. Cromwell has stated that he may be willing to work with the French in the war, as they are already at war with Spain.
King Louis XIV of France Reaches Age of Majority; Crowned in Reims Cathedral
King Louis XIV of France, who has been known as the "Sun King" since last year due to his performance as Apollo in a French ballet, would be crowned in Reims Cathedral in 1654. Now that he has reached the age of majority, he may finally be able to pursue some of his own policies rather than be guided by his ministers, but Cardinal Mazarin is still in place, at least for now. Observers in Protestant countries worry that because of the Fronde, Louis may seek to exert absolute Catholic control in France. But for now, the main threat to Protestant Europe is clearly still the Habsburgs.