Magnus De la Gardie Swedish statesman, count Date of Birth: 15.10.1622 Country: Sweden

1. Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie: Swedish Statesman and Count
2. Political and Military Career
3. Downfall and Family

Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie: Swedish Statesman and Count

Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman who served as the head of the government under King Charles XI from 1660 to 1680. He was the eldest son of the prominent Swedish military commander Jacob De la Gardie and Ebba Brahe. De la Gardie was known as the favorite of Queen Christina and was the first owner of the Mariendal estate. He was one of the wealthiest individuals in the Swedish Empire and held the titles of Count of Läckö and Marshal of the Realm.

Political and Military Career

In 1647, De la Gardie became a member of the Riksråd (Council of State) and later served as the Governor-General of Livonia. From 1660 to 1680, he held the position of Rikskansler (Chancellor of the Realm). In terms of foreign policy, De la Gardie advocated for an alliance with Louis XIV of France and involved Sweden in wars with its neighboring countries, including Poland, Russia, Brandenburg, Denmark, and Bremen. The war with the Danes was particularly disastrous, and the mismanagement of military affairs raised suspicions of financial misconduct.

Downfall and Family

In 1680, King Charles XI dismissed his uncle De la Gardie and appointed an investigation into his government activities to address the financial crisis. To overcome the crisis, the king's new advisor, Johan Gyllenspetz, initiated the Reduction, which involved the seizure of noble estates, with the De la Gardie family being the most affected.

Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was renowned for his scholarship and corresponded with many European celebrities. His initiative and support led to the establishment of the Collegium antiquitatum (Collegium of Antiquities). In 1669, De la Gardie donated his collection of manuscripts, including the Younger Edda and the Silver Bible, a translation of the Gospel into the Gothic language by Bishop Ulfilas, to Uppsala University.

He married Princess Maria Eufrosyne of Pfalz-Kleeburg on March 7, 1647. They had eleven children, but only three survived: Gustav Adolf De la Gardie, Kristina Katarina De la Gardie, and Hedvig Ebba De la Gardie.