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| Hans Axel von Fersen by Noël Hallé |
We have met the remarkable Hans Axel von Fersen before, learnt of his adventures and discovered more about a relationship with Marie Antoinette that is still speculated over to this day. Today we return to Sweden on the anniversary of his death to examine a dark moment in the history of that nation. I am delighted to note that the estimable Anna Belfrage is also remembering Axel von Fersen and her blog today features her heartbreaking story of his final hours, The Funerals of a Prince.
Fersen's life was one that encompassed travel, intrigue and tragedy and the manner in which he left it was far from ordinary, though it was hardly peaceful either. The road to his death began in 1809, when Sweden's Gustav IV Adolf was swept unceremoniously aside in favour of Denmark's Prince Carl August of Augustenburg. Wisely distancing himself from the intrigue and drama, Fersen openly supported Prince Gustav of Vasa, the son of Gustav IV Adolf and, in Fersen's opinion, the legitimate heir to the throne.
In fact, Carl August did not last long in office and died suddenly, despite apparently being in rude health. Although it was later concluded that he had died as a result of a stroke, people began to whisper that Fersen had been involved in a plot to poison the Dane. Despite this unpleasant state of affairs, it was part of Fersen's official duties to accompany the dead man's funeral cortege through Stockholm.
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| Monument to Axel von Fersen |
Carl August was a popular ruler and thousands turned out to mourn him, disgusted to see Fersen involved in the ceremony. They heckled his carriage and pelted it with stones until, as the mood turned increasingly violent, the unfortunate man attempted to conceal himself in a private house. At this point the mob rushed the building and dragged Fersen out into the street, where they subjected him to a dreadful beating as Royal Life Guards stood by, their commanding officer instructing his men to hold their fire despite other officials pleading that Fersen be arrested for his own safety.
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| The Murder of Axel von Fersen by Alfred Bexelius, 1810 |
Fersen's torment was only ended when Otto Johan Tandefelt jumped on his chest and crushed his ribcage, killing the unfortunate man.
In the months that followed his death, Fersen was officially cleared of any involvement in the death of the Crown Prince. He was buried with full honours as a Marshal of the Realm, something of a bitter posthumous victory for the man who had once enjoyed influence at the highest levels.
Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.
Amazon UK
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Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)
12 comments:
Blimey! I honestly didn't think your tales could become more gruesome but you have proved me wrong in no uncertain terms!
A gruesome tale for a sunny day!
I must be a bloodthirsty wench because I love your more gruesome tales!
A lady after my own grisly heart!
O what a tragic brutal end to Axel von Fersen….. for some reason I muddle his final moments with the Earl of Bothwell....maybe the connection is Denmark...Have you any idea how old Fersen would have been at the time of his death ?
He was 54 when he was killed, such a horrible death too!
Rest in Peace Count Fersen! I hope the worthless lot who killed you got a taste of their own desserts!
Wow that was so sad, the worst thing is that the poor man didn't deserve that. Another proof of how malitious rumors and the stupid ppl who believed them can lead to such a violent and horrible ending.
Rest in peace Count Fersen.
I FROM COLOMBIA AND I LIKE THIS STORY CAUSE IN MY OPPINION THIS GUY WAS INNOCENT IN ALL SENSES!!! HE WAS THE ONE WHO HELPED MARIA ANTONIETTE AND THE KIND LOUIS XVI TO SCAPE FOR THE HORRIBLE FINAL IN FRANCE ! HE WAS SO VALIENT AND FAITHFULL ! THE FUCKIN ASTOR-PRUSIAN FORCES, DIDNT ACT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE TO INVADE PARIS AND BRING BACK THE ROYAL FAMILY AND KILL ALL THE DISGUSTING REVOLUTIONARY PEOPLE.
IS SO SAD, TO KNOW THE HORRIBLE FINAL HE HAD ..IS LIKE THE CURSE FOLLOW HIM TO SWEDEN. I WISH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO PARTICIPATE ON HIS DEATH BE IN HELL. AND MOREEEEE THE OTTO JOHAN TANDEFELT ..HE IS IN HELL BURNING FOR ALL ETTERNITY !!!!!
IN THE OTHER HAND , IM SORPRISED ABOUT THE BEHAVIOUR OF THE SWEDISH PEOPLE BY THEN.. I MEAN, NOWADAYS THEY ARE VERY PEACEFULL, AND SEEM TO BE NO AVIOLENT COUNTRY, EVEN DOESNT PARTICIPATE IN WARS AND I CAN SAY MAYBE IS A PEACEFULL PLACE, SO, THTAS WHY IS KINDA HARD TO UNDERSTAND HOW THESE SWEDES ACTED THAT DAY AGAINS HIM. IS LIKE SOMETHING SOOOOOO IMPOSSIBLE COULD HAPPEN NOWADAYS WITH THE ACTUAL KIND.
AXEL VON FERSEN , SHOULD BE MOREEE POPULAR IN SWEDEN. I ASKED SOME PEOPLE FROM THERE ABOUT HIM, AND NONE OF THEM KNEW ABOUT HIM.. WHICH SORPRISED ME , KNOWING HE WAS ONE OF MOST IMPORTAND PERSON IN STORY ALSO IN FRANCE.
GREETINGS!
What is sad is that the French Revolution started because France went broke financing the American Revolution!! America couldn't pay their loans back and France went broke. The people of France blamed the King for spending money on luxury items instead, when the King actually spent the money on America!! And the rest is history. But really, its America that profited from France going broke. America got its freedom and France got Anarchy. The American Revolution is what started the French Revolution and ruined the lives of many innocent people!!
thank you for that .. and partly because neither the nobiity or the clergy paid direct tax and without the consent of the established orders of their society to make a re-organisation of the tax burden, the government could no longer function. Thats why eventually Louis was forced to apply for help from the Estates General which consisted of the nobility, the clergy and the 3rd Estate (commoners). This didnt come up with the result hoped for .... and what followed was the Revolution.....
what a sad story for the man
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