OTD 4 September 1755 - Birth of Count Axel von Fersen the Younger
Hans Axel von Fersen was born on 4 September 1755 at Stockholm
in Sweden.
Family
His parents were Field Marshal Axel von Fersen the Elder and
Countess Hedvig Catharina De la Gardie.
The young Axel von Fersen was influenced by French culture, due
to his father's services to King Louis XV of France. He learned French,
Latin, English, German and Italian. He also had a military education.
Languages
Axel von Fersen spoke French, German, Italian and English.
The Grand Tour
In those days it was common that young members of noble families
made their Grand Tour in Europe. On 3 July 1770, von Fersen made his
first journey abroad. He visited Brunswick, Turin, Strasbourg and Lüneburg.
In November 1772 von Fersen continued on to Turin in Italy. There he paid
a visit to King Charles Emmanuel III.
In January 1774 his travels took him to France where he met the reigning
monarch King Louis XI of France and his mistress Madame du Barry.
Then he also met Marie-Antoinette for the very first time.
The young noble man was absolutely a favourite at the French court,
because of his own aimable qualities.
Marie-Antoinette and von Fersen met each other when they were both
around 18 years old.
von Fersen continued his Grand Tour. He went to England, where he stayed
at the court of King George III and Queen Charlotte. In the beginning of
1775 von Fersen returned to Sweden where he served King Gustavus III.
In the late summer of 1778 von Fersen returned to France where he
stayed at Versailles. There he met Queen Marie-Antoinette again.
Military Duty
In mid-September 1780 von Fersen, then aide-de-camp of
General Rochambeau, met the American General: George Washington in
Hartford Connecticut.
In 1783, King Gustavus III of Sweden asked von Fersen to join him
in Germany as Captain of the Guard. The King promoted von Fersen to
the rank of titulary-colonel in the Swedish army. He also became
Chevalier of the Order of the Sword and lieutenant-colonel of the
light-horse cavalry of the King.
King Louis XVI of France also appointed von Fersen as proprietary colonel
of the Royal Suédois French Army infantry regiment.
Louis also appointed von Fersen second-colonel of the Royal Deux-Points
regiment and Chevalier of the Order of Military Merit.
On 7 June 1784 von Fersen returned to France and to Versailles with
King Gustavus III who concluded a treaty of alliance with France.
In the spring of 1788, von Fersen joined King Gustavus of Sweden in
his Finnish campaign against Russia as lieutenant-colonel of the
Royal Horse Guards.
The French Revolution
On 14 July 1489, the Invalides and the Bastille in Paris were both stormed
and taken by the mob. On July 16th., von Fersen was at Versailles with
the King and the Queen to debate how to forestall the incipient revolution
in Paris.
On 6 October 1789, an armed crowd made their way to the royal apartments
at Versailles. von Fersen was witness of this painfull event.
von Fersen also tried to help the Royal Family to escape from France.
However they only reached Varennes on 22 June 1791.
From 2 August till 14 August 1791, von Fersen was in Vienna to discuss
the tragic situation of the French Royal Family with Emperor Leopold,
Queen Marie-Antoinette's brother. But all plans failed.
On 16 March 1792 Gustavus III of Sweden was shot at the Royal Opera
House in Stockholm and he died almost two weeks later.
On 21 January 1793 King Louis XVI was guillotined at the Place de
Grève at Paris. von Fersen heard the news when he was at Cologne.
On 2 August 1793, Queen Marie-Antoinette was moved to the Conciergerie
to await her trial. During this time von Fersen still attempted to find a way
to save her and the remaining royal family. However the former queen of
France was executed on 16 October 1793. von Fersen heard the news when
he was at Brussels.
Later years
von Fersen returned to Sweden, there he was forced to see the increasing
expansion of French Revolutionary Army.
In November 1797 von Fersen attended the Second Congress of Rastatt.
There he met Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1801, von Fersen was appointed Marshal of the Realm. He was now the
highest official in the court of Sweden.
Death
On 20 June 1810 von Fersen died at the hands of a Stockholm lynch mob at
the age of 54. He was Sweden's highest-ranking official next to the King and
his death sent shock waves throughout the country.
Rumors
There were Rumors that von Fersen and Queen Marie-Antoinette of France
were lovers.
His trip to America in 1780 would have been made for avoiding a grand
scandal at the French court.
However it is impossible to state how far the relationship between von Fersen
and Queen Marie-Antoinette of France went. At the same time, the French
Queen also was rumored to be the lover of the Duc d'Orléans,
the Comte d'Artois and many others.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
in Sweden.
Family
His parents were Field Marshal Axel von Fersen the Elder and
Countess Hedvig Catharina De la Gardie.
The young Axel von Fersen was influenced by French culture, due
to his father's services to King Louis XV of France. He learned French,
Latin, English, German and Italian. He also had a military education.
Languages
Axel von Fersen spoke French, German, Italian and English.
The Grand Tour
In those days it was common that young members of noble families
made their Grand Tour in Europe. On 3 July 1770, von Fersen made his
first journey abroad. He visited Brunswick, Turin, Strasbourg and Lüneburg.
In November 1772 von Fersen continued on to Turin in Italy. There he paid
a visit to King Charles Emmanuel III.
In January 1774 his travels took him to France where he met the reigning
monarch King Louis XI of France and his mistress Madame du Barry.
Then he also met Marie-Antoinette for the very first time.
The young noble man was absolutely a favourite at the French court,
because of his own aimable qualities.
Marie-Antoinette and von Fersen met each other when they were both
around 18 years old.
von Fersen continued his Grand Tour. He went to England, where he stayed
at the court of King George III and Queen Charlotte. In the beginning of
1775 von Fersen returned to Sweden where he served King Gustavus III.
In the late summer of 1778 von Fersen returned to France where he
stayed at Versailles. There he met Queen Marie-Antoinette again.
Military Duty
In mid-September 1780 von Fersen, then aide-de-camp of
General Rochambeau, met the American General: George Washington in
Hartford Connecticut.
In 1783, King Gustavus III of Sweden asked von Fersen to join him
in Germany as Captain of the Guard. The King promoted von Fersen to
the rank of titulary-colonel in the Swedish army. He also became
Chevalier of the Order of the Sword and lieutenant-colonel of the
light-horse cavalry of the King.
King Louis XVI of France also appointed von Fersen as proprietary colonel
of the Royal Suédois French Army infantry regiment.
Louis also appointed von Fersen second-colonel of the Royal Deux-Points
regiment and Chevalier of the Order of Military Merit.
On 7 June 1784 von Fersen returned to France and to Versailles with
King Gustavus III who concluded a treaty of alliance with France.
In the spring of 1788, von Fersen joined King Gustavus of Sweden in
his Finnish campaign against Russia as lieutenant-colonel of the
Royal Horse Guards.
The French Revolution
On 14 July 1489, the Invalides and the Bastille in Paris were both stormed
and taken by the mob. On July 16th., von Fersen was at Versailles with
the King and the Queen to debate how to forestall the incipient revolution
in Paris.
On 6 October 1789, an armed crowd made their way to the royal apartments
at Versailles. von Fersen was witness of this painfull event.
von Fersen also tried to help the Royal Family to escape from France.
However they only reached Varennes on 22 June 1791.
From 2 August till 14 August 1791, von Fersen was in Vienna to discuss
the tragic situation of the French Royal Family with Emperor Leopold,
Queen Marie-Antoinette's brother. But all plans failed.
On 16 March 1792 Gustavus III of Sweden was shot at the Royal Opera
House in Stockholm and he died almost two weeks later.
On 21 January 1793 King Louis XVI was guillotined at the Place de
Grève at Paris. von Fersen heard the news when he was at Cologne.
On 2 August 1793, Queen Marie-Antoinette was moved to the Conciergerie
to await her trial. During this time von Fersen still attempted to find a way
to save her and the remaining royal family. However the former queen of
France was executed on 16 October 1793. von Fersen heard the news when
he was at Brussels.
Later years
von Fersen returned to Sweden, there he was forced to see the increasing
expansion of French Revolutionary Army.
In November 1797 von Fersen attended the Second Congress of Rastatt.
There he met Napoleon Bonaparte.
In 1801, von Fersen was appointed Marshal of the Realm. He was now the
highest official in the court of Sweden.
Death
On 20 June 1810 von Fersen died at the hands of a Stockholm lynch mob at
the age of 54. He was Sweden's highest-ranking official next to the King and
his death sent shock waves throughout the country.
Rumors
There were Rumors that von Fersen and Queen Marie-Antoinette of France
were lovers.
His trip to America in 1780 would have been made for avoiding a grand
scandal at the French court.
However it is impossible to state how far the relationship between von Fersen
and Queen Marie-Antoinette of France went. At the same time, the French
Queen also was rumored to be the lover of the Duc d'Orléans,
the Comte d'Artois and many others.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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