Oxenstjerna or Oxenstern, Count Axel Gustafsson 1583-1654
Swedish statesman

Born near Uppsala into one of Sweden's great families, he entered royal service in 1605 and helped to achieve the smooth accession of Gustav II Adolf in 1611. From 1612 he was Gustav's chancellor, and showed outstanding administrative and diplomatic ability, negotiating favourable peace treaties with Denmark (1613), Russia (1617) and Poland (1629). During the Thirty Years War (1618-48) he governed Sweden when Gustav was absent on military expeditions, supporting the war effort despite his attempts to prevent the king from entering the war. After the king's death in 1632 he became director of the Protestant League (1633). He was regent for Queen Kristina (1636-44), and continued to exercise authority in policy-making after she came of age.