Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - X. Reign of Christina, 1632–1654 - B. Personal Rule of Christina, 1644–1654
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180 A History of Sweden
Wrangel’s Skokloster on an inlet of the Malar, where
with the treasures gathered in Polish and German
wars he had reared the proudest castle ever owned by
a private man in Sweden. Its interior was decorated
with masses of splendid weapons, paintings, precious
hangings, ornaments, and books, things saved from
the Thirty Years’ War. Thus arose one castle more
magnificent than another.
In these grand halls was- hastily spent the plundered
wealth in feasting and luxurious living. One must,
forsooth, show the foreigner that the Swede was not
only a fine warrior, but was also rich and stylish. The
Swede thought more of being a rich man than of work-
ing himself up to be one. Even the ambassador of
wealthy France declared that luxury in Sweden in
proportion to wealth was greater than in any other
land. Under the glittering surface there was much
coarseness, which astonished cultured foreigners; not
least was the extravagance in food and drink. One
of Gustavus Adolphus* table orders prescribed thirty
dishes for dinner. Of course it was not intended that
each one should eat of all the dishes, but that each one
could have his choice of them.
The long continued camp life had inevitably tended
to lower social standards among men, and wild drink-
ing bouts with fighting belonged to the order of the
day. But the war had also another result. As in the
viking days, the men returned home not only with
precious plunder, but also with new, fresh impres-
sions from the great world, and with a newborn in-
itiative and aggressiveness, which served the country
in good stead.
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