She therefore caused herself to be proclaimed KING; thus declaring to the world that she despised her own sex and was desirous of being ranked among men.

But in the twenty-eighth year of her age Christina grew tired of royalty, and resolved to be neither a king nor a queen any longer.

She took the crown from her head with her own hands, and ceased to be the ruler of Sweden.

The people did not greatly regret her abdication; for she had governed them ill, and had taken much of their property to supply her extravagance.
Having thus given up her hereditary crown, Christina left Sweden and travelled over many of the countries of Europe.

Everywhere she was received with great ceremony, because she was the daughter of the renowned Gustavus, and had herself been a powerful queen.