Per Gustaf August ''Cossva'' Anckarsvärd (17 August 1865 – 25 September 1953) was a Swedish diplomat. Anckarsvärd had a long career in Swedish diplomacy, spanning over four decades. After starting as a notary at the

Svea Court of Appeal Svea Court of Appeal (), located in Stockholm, is one of six appellate courts in the Swedish legal system, as well as the oldest Swedish court currently in use (the Supreme Court being constituted only in 1789, over 150 years later). It is loca ...

in 1889, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming second secretary in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1896 and later serving as deputy director and head of its Consular Department in 1903. He held key positions as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary in

Constantinople Constantinople (#Names of Constantinople, see other names) was a historical city located on the Bosporus that served as the capital of the Roman Empire, Roman, Byzantine Empire, Byzantine, Latin Empire, Latin, and Ottoman Empire, Ottoman empire ...

, where he was an eyewitness to the

Armenian genocide The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was implemented primarily t ...

, and later in

Warsaw Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...

, where he served until 1931. Throughout his career, Anckarsvärd also held ceremonial roles, such as chamberlain to the Royal Court and herald in the Order of the Seraphim. He retired in 1932.

Early life

Anckarsvärd was born on 17 August 1865 in

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, Sweden, and was the son of (1816–1878), an architect, and his wife Ellen Nyström (1833–1898). He passed his

matriculation examination A matriculation examination or matriculation exam is a university entrance examination, which is typically held towards the end of secondary school. After passing the examination, a student receives a School leaving qualification, school leaving ce ...

on 19 May 1884 and enrolled as a student at

Uppsala University Uppsala University (UU) () is a public university, public research university in Uppsala, Sweden. Founded in 1477, it is the List of universities in Sweden, oldest university in Sweden and the Nordic countries still in operation. Initially fou ...

on 16 January 1885. He completed his preliminary examination on 15 September 1886 and passed the legal examination on 12 September 1889.

Career

Anckarsvärd was appointed extraordinary notary at the

on 26 September 1889. On 13 June 1890, he became an attaché, followed by his appointment as

valet de chambre ''Valet de chambre'' (), or ''varlet de chambre'', was a court appointment introduced in the late Middle Ages, common from the 14th century onwards. Royal households had many persons appointed at any time. While some valets simply waited on ...

on 26 June 1890. He was made acting second secretary in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 25 May 1890 and became second secretary there on 16 October 1896. Anckarsvärd was appointed chamberlain to the

Royal Court of Sweden The Royal Court () is the official name for the organisation ( royal households) that supports the monarch and the royal house. The incumbent monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf, is head of the Royal Court. Organizational structure The Royal Court is d ...

on 9 June 1899 and served as herald in the Order of the Seraphim (''Kungl. Maj:ts Orden'') from 26 November 1900 to 1906. He became first secretary in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on 5 December 1901 and was appointed legation secretary in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

on 3 May 1903. Later that year, on 27 August 1903, he became deputy director (''kansliråd'') and head of the Consular Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. On 28 September 1906, Anckarsvärd was named envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to

(now

Istanbul Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...

), while also serving as consul general there. He was appointed consular judge on 3 December 1909. On 8 April 1914, he also became envoy to

Sofia Sofia is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Bulgaria, largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Is ...

. Anckarsvärd was Swedish envoy in Constantinople during the

, and thus one of its eyewitnesses. During the events, Anckarsvärd highlighted the aim of the Young Turk government and its policies to "exterminate the Armenian nation". On 20 February 1920, he assumed the role of envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary in

. He served in this position until 1931. Anckarsvärd retired in 1932.

Personal life

Anckarsvärd married Maude Marie Agnes Duryea (1880–1949) on 20 November 1900, in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

. Maude was born on 20 August 1880, in New York City, the daughter of Peter Duryea and Matilda Filkins. They had the following children: Carl Magnus Cossva (born 1 December 1901 in Stockholm), Ellen Maude (born 19 June 1904 in Berlin) and Dagmar Maria (born 10 January 1909 in Constantinople).

Awards and decorations

King Gustaf V's Jubilee Commemorative Medal (1928) * Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish language, Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden''), sometimes translated as the Royal Order of the North Star, is a Swedish order of chivalry created by Frederick I of Sweden, King Frederick I on 23 F ...

(6 June 1916) * Commander 1st Class of the

(24 January 1908) * Knight of the

(27 November 1905) * Order of the Dannebrog S

Grand Cross of the

Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Denmark, Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V of Denmark, Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single cla ...

(1910) *

FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR

Grand Cross of the

Order of the White Rose of Finland The Order of the White Rose of Finland (; ) is one of three official orders in Finland, along with the Order of the Cross of Liberty, and the Order of the Lion of Finland. The President of Finland is the Grand Master of all three orders. The ...

(1922) *

Grand Cross of the

Order of Polonia Restituta The Order of Polonia Restituta (, ) is a Polish state decoration, state Order (decoration), order established 4 February 1921. It is conferred on both military and civilians as well as on alien (law), foreigners for outstanding achievements in ...

Grand Cross of the Order of St. Sava (1920) * Order of the Osmanie lenta

1st Class of the

Order of Osmanieh The Order of Osmanieh (, Modern ) was a civil and military decoration of the Ottoman Empire. History The order was created in January 1862 by Sultan Abdülaziz. With the obsolescence of the Nişan-i Iftikhar, this became the second highest order ...

(1907) *

1st Class of the

Order of the Medjidie Order of the Medjidie (, August 29, 1852 – 1922) was a military and civilian order of the Ottoman Empire. The order was instituted in 1851 by Sultan Abdulmejid I. History Instituted in 1851, the order was awarded in five classes, with the Firs ...

(1920) *

Commander of the Order of the White Falcon (1901) * Cavaliere OCI BAR

Knight of the

Order of the Crown of Italy The Order of the Crown of Italy ( or OCI) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy, Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate Italian unification, the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for ...

(22 May 1892) * St Olavs Orden ridder 1 klasse stripe

Knight 1st Class of the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

(21 January 1904) * PRU Order of Crown ribbon

Knight 4th Class of the Order of the Crown (7 March 1894) * 4th Class of the Order of the Crown of Siam (1897)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anckarsvard, Cossva 1865 births 1953 deaths Consuls-general for Sweden Ambassadors of Sweden to the Ottoman Empire Ambassadors of Sweden to Bulgaria Ambassadors of Sweden to Poland Politicians from Stockholm Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star Witnesses of the Armenian genocide Expatriates in the Ottoman Empire

Early life

Career

Personal life

Awards and decorations

See also

References