Oxenstierna, Axel, Count

Oxenstierna (af Södermöre), Axel (Gustafsson), Count

(born June 16, 1583, Fånö, near Uppsala, Swed.—died Aug. 28, 1654, Stockholm) Swedish statesman. Born into a noble family, he became a member of the council of state and in 1612 was appointed chancellor by Gustav II Adolf. He worked with the king to stabilize administrative reforms. As a diplomat, he negotiated peace treaties with Denmark (1613) and Poland (1622). In the Thirty Years' War, he was appointed governor-general of Prussia (1626) and military commander in Germany (1631). He directed Swedish policy in Germany until 1636, when he returned to Sweden. As a regent during Queen Christina's minority (1636–44), he effectively ruled the country.