John Panzio, né Tuckson, Tockson or Toxon (c. 1838-1888), was the African
favorite
A favourite (British English) or favorite (American English) was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In post-classical and early-modern Europe, among other times and places, the term was used of individuals delegated si ...
and
valet of king
Charles XV of Sweden
Charles XV also Carl (''Carl Ludvig Eugen''); Swedish: ''Karl XV'' and Norwegian: ''Karl IV'' (3 May 1826 – 18 September 1872) was King of Sweden (''Charles XV'') and Norway, there often referred to accurately as Charles IV, from 1859 until his ...
.
Life
He was reportedly born on the African continent with a surname variously spelled as Tuckson, Tockson or Toxon, but when he became a favorite of the king, the monarch thought the name Panzio more exotic and fitting for him. It is unknown how he arrived in Sweden. In 1857, he was in Fristad, and was apparently in service of the regimental officer in the Älvsborg regiment before he was introduced by the officer to
Prince August, Duke of Dalarna, who took him in service in 1858 and in turn introduced him to Charles XV in 1860.
Officially, he was given the title secondary valet and official pipe cleaner to the king, in reality he was a favorite just as the Armenian
Ohan Demirgian
Ohan Demirgian, or Démirdjian in French, also called Habib Bey (14 January 1837 – 1877), was an Egyptian-Armenian diplomat. He was the favorite of king Charles XV of Sweden.
Biography
Demirgian was an Armenians, Armenian and the son of the Egyp ...
, and their presence at court was seen as scandalous. In 1866, he was formally fired, officially for having stolen cigars from the king, unofficially there had reportedly been complaints from the ladies-in-waiting of sexual harassment, but he remained nonetheless, always visible positioned behind the king at dinners.
After the death of the king in 1872, he worked at a bath house. He also started working as a magician and had a couple of different jobs after the career as a royal servant. He died on July 27, 1887, suffering from a stroke.
[Bergman, Arvid 2018]
Född slav-Död fri?
Pages 78-79.
Legacy
He became the subject of a novel by
Sven-Olof Roth: ''Karl XV:s piprensare.'' (The Pipe Cleaner of Charles XV).
See also
*
Gustav Badin
Adolf Ludvig Gustav Fredrik Albert Badin né ''Couchi'', known as Badin (1747 or 1750 – 1822) was a Swedish court servant (Kammermohr) and diarist. Originally a slave, he was the foster son and servant of Queen Louisa Ulrika of Sweden and a ...
References
* Lars Elgklou (1978). Bernadotte. Historien - eller historier - om en familj.. Stockholm: Askild & Kärnekull Förlag AB. Sid. 88–90.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Panzio, John
1830s births
1888 deaths
Royal favourites
Swedish courtiers
Swedish royal favourites
Immigrants to Sweden