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Project Profiles Lebanon
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The Royal Library of Sweden began in the sixteenth century as the private collection of the Swedish monarchy, starting with Gustav Vasa (ruled 1521-1560), who also introduced the Reformation into Sweden. At that time, the collection was housed in the palace of Tre Kronor (Three Crowns) in Stockholm. During the seventeenth century the Royal Library grew as a result of war booty sent back from Central Europe (e.g., from Bohemia, Germany, Poland) by the Swedish troops of Gustav Adolf and his successors. After the death of Gustav Adolf in 1632, much of the collection was dispersed around Europe by his daughter, Queen Kristina, who gave items away as gifts and as payment. Much of her collection accompanied her to Rome, where it became part of the Vatican library.
The most devastating event in the history of the collection took place in 1697 when Tre Kronor caught fire. Only 283 of the nearly 1400 manuscripts survived, among them the Codex Gigas (Devil’s Bible) which still today is the most famous manuscript in the collection. After the fire, the collection resided in various locations in Stockholm, until the new royal palace was completed in 1768. It was not until 1878 that the Royal Library received a home of its own. The collections at the Royal Library of Sweden have grown considerably through individual donations, for example, the Huseby, Rålamb, Engelström, and Tilander Collections.
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Stockholm, Kungl. Biblioteket (Swedish Royal Library), Cod. Holm. A 227, f. 63v Book of Hours (Dutch), Mark the Evangelist, ca. 1500.
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