Fersen portrait in mature age
The Swedish count Hans Axel von Fersen he was almost certainly the great love of the queen of France Marie Antoinette.
In reality the true nature of their relationship, a subject on which rivers of ink have been spilled, eludes us in many respects and is destined, in all probability, to remain a mystery.
According to many historians it was a passionate and sincere sentimental relationship that lasted a lifetime, according to others, however, the two young men shared only esteem and affection for each other, also due to Fersen's deep monarchical conviction.
However, there is no doubt about one aspect:they both met a tragic fate.
If the guillotine extinguished Marie Antoinette's life too early in the late morning of October 16, 1793 ( see https://www.pilloledistoria.it/8551/storia-moderna/execution-di-maria-antonietta-in-un-film-del-1938-con-video), her faithful friend had no more luck.
The tragic end of Fersen is part of the dramatic context of the riots that shook Sweden in 1809, when, after a military coup, King Gustav IV Adolfo he was forced to abdicate to allow the accession to the throne of Charles XIII , of more liberal ideas.
The count paid dearly for his ardent support to Gustavo.
When Cristiano Augusto , adopted son of the new monarch and his legitimate successor, died in circumstances that appeared mysterious, Fersen was accused of poisoning him and, during the solemn funeral, was lynched by the crowd .
It was June 20, 1810 , the anniversary of the failed escape to Varennes.
It was later ascertained that the heir to the throne had died of natural causes, so Fersen was innocent.
The nobleman was buried in Ostergotland , in the Ljungs Church, where he still rests today.