Matthias Palbitzki (23 December 1623, 20 October 1677 in Julita,

Södermanland Södermanland ( or ), locally Sörmland, sometimes referred to under its Latin form ''Sudermannia'' or ''Sudermania'', is a historical province or ''landskap'' on the south eastern coast of Sweden. It borders Östergötland, Närke, Västmanla ...

) was a Swedish diplomat and art-connoisseur. His diplomatic skills were highly appreciated. 1675 he was elevated to Swedish baron.

Life

Matthias Palbitzki was probably born in Stolp, where his father Georg Matthias Palbitzki was mayor of a Pomeranian District. From 1630 he was taught by private tutors and attended the 1637 Academic Gymnasium Danzig. Because of the

Thirty Years' War The Thirty Years' War was one of the longest and most destructive conflicts in European history The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (80 ...

in Pomerania, which also impacted the estates of the family, his mother sent him 1640 the

Sorø Academy Sorø Academy (Danish, ''Sorø Akademi'') is a boarding school and gymnasium located in the small town of Sorø, Denmark. It traces its history back to the 12th century when Bishop Absalon founded a monastery at the site, which was confiscated by ...

. Together with his brother in 1642, he went on tour to the Dutch Republic or France to enter into military service. Already in Hamburg he met the commander

Gustaf Horn Count Gustav Horn af Björneborg (October 22, 1592 – May 10, 1657) was a Finnish nobleman of the Swedish Empire, military officer, and Governor-General. He was appointed member of the Royal Council in 1625, Field Marshal in 1628, Governor ...

, who persuaded him to get in Swedish service, and took him to Stockholm. Matthias Palbitzki became

Hofjunker ''Valet de chambre'' (), or ''varlet de chambre'', was a noble court, 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 ...

Christina, Queen of Sweden Christina ( sv, Kristina, 18 December (New Style) 1626 – 19 April 1689), a member of the House of Vasa, was Queen of Sweden in her own right from 1632 until her abdication in 1654. She succeeded her father Gustavus Adolphus upon his death a ...

. In 1643 he was an

ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diffe ...

of the bodyguard and the same year was promoted to lieutenant commander. In 1645 he continued his

grand tour The Grand Tour was the principally 17th- to early 19th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a tuto ...

through the west and southern Europe, to Egypt, Greece and Constantinople. On the way back he spent almost a year in Rome and then traveled through Switzerland and France to Sweden. Upon his return in October 1648 he was appointed chamberlain. Palbitzki Ossoliński Palace in Warsaw

Beginning in 1649 sent him Queen Christina diplomatic mission in the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...

, where he was to negotiate for mediation in the conflict with Poland and the

Grand Duchy of Tuscany The Grand Duchy of Tuscany ( it, Granducato di Toscana; la, Magnus Ducatus Etruriae) was an Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Republic of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence. In th ...

. In 1650 he posted in Neurenberg, where he brought

Charles X Gustav Charles X Gustav, also Carl Gustav ( sv, Karl X Gustav; 8 November 1622 – 13 February 1660), was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. Afte ...

the news of his appointment to the Swedish throne. In 1651, he undertook further diplomatic missions to Madrid. In Spain he reached the resumption of trade relations. He then took an extended trip through the country and visited the city of

Saguntum Sagunto ( ca-valencia, Sagunt) is a municipality of Spain, located in the province of Valencia, Valencian Community. It belongs to the modern fertile ''comarca'' of Camp de Morvedre. It is located c. 30 km north of the city of Valencia, cl ...

. On his way home he tried in vain to mediate in the

Fronde The Fronde () was a series of civil wars in France between 1648 and 1653, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. King Louis XIV confronted the combined opposition of the princes, the nobility, the law cour ...

. In 1654 he was sent to the court of

Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria (5 January 1614 – 20 November 1662), younger brother of Emperor Ferdinand III, was an Austrian soldier, administrator and patron of the arts. He held a number of military commands, with limited success, and ...

in Brussels. He courted the abdicated Queen Christina, who had arrived in Antwerp. On his duties under Charles X Gustav little is known. By his own account, he followed the Swedish king in the Polish-Swedish War and accompanied him to Hamburg in 1657 and 1658 to Gothenburg. Under the regency for Charles XI he was resumed in the diplomatic service. From summer 1664 to spring 1665, he was a Swedish ambassador in Warsaw. The following year, he was President of the Government in

Swedish Pomerania Swedish Pomerania ( sv, Svenska Pommern; german: Schwedisch-Pommern) was a dominion under the Swedish Crown from 1630 to 1815 on what is now the Baltic coast of Germany and Poland. Following the Polish War and the Thirty Years' War, Sweden held ...

, at the same time President of the court in

Greifswald Greifswald (), officially the University and Hanseatic City of Greifswald (german: Universitäts- und Hansestadt Greifswald, Low German: ''Griepswoold'') is the fourth-largest city in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania after Rostoc ...

, and after a few weeks in office, sent again to Poland. In 1666 he was sent to the German imperial court to inform the Swedish position in conflict with Bremen. Palbitzki had a comprehensive education, including knowledge of Latin and Greek literature. He emerged as a connoisseur and promoter of European, particularly classical and Italian art and promoted foreign artists such as the sculptor

Nicolas Cordier Nicolas Cordier (1567–1612), was a French sculptor, painter and printmaker working in Rome and also known as "il Franciosino" (the little Frenchman), Nicholas Cordier, or Niccolò da Lorena. Cordier was born in Saint-Mihiel. As a sculptor he pr ...

Literature

*Helmut Backhaus: Mathias Palbitzki. In: Göran Nilzen (ed.): Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Volume 28: Odeberg - Pederby. Bonnier, Stockholm (1992-) 1994, p 558 f. *

August Ludwig Schlözer August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian calendar, Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo (astrology), Leo and was originally named ''Sextilis'' in Latin ...

(ed.) . Swedish Biography containing a collection of biographies of famous war and statesmen Part 2. David Iversen, Leipzig 1768 S. 571-590. *

Gabriel Anrep John Gabriel Anrep (December 4, 1821 – March 12, 1907) was a Swedish genealogist and author. Biography He was born on December 4, 1821 at Lekeberg Municipality on the family farm. He moved to Stockholm and was involved in genealogical pub ...

(ed.): Svenska adelns Ättar-Taflor. Volume 3: . of Nackreij - Skytte PA Norstedt & Söner, Stockholm, 1862, p 133 f. , (in Swedish). *Lexicon entry in Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon of 1906 (Swedish) Palbitzki, Mattias. In: Nordisk familjebok. Volume 20, Second Edition. Stockholm 1904-1926, p 1269 f. (Swedish) {{DEFAULTSORT:Palbitzki, Matthias 1623 births 1677 deaths Swedish nobility People from Słupsk