Axel Oxenstierna

The High Well Born Count Axel Oxenstierna
Lord High Chancellor of Sweden
In office 1612–1654
Preceded by	Svante Turesson Bielke
Succeeded by	Erik Oxenstierna
Monarchs	Gustavus Adolphus Christina
Governor-General of Riga
In office 1622–1626
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	?
Governor-General of Prussia
In office 1626–1631
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	(1583-06-16)16 June 1583 Fånö, Uppland, Sweden
Died	28 August 1654(1654-08-28) (aged 71) Stockholm, Sweden
Spouse	Anna Åkesdotter Bååt
Children	Gustaf Oxenstierna, Johan Oxenstierna, Catharina Oxenstierna, Christina Oxenstierna, Beata Oxenstierna, Barbro Oxenstierna, Åke Oxenstierna, Maria Oxenstierna, Gabriel Oxenstierna, Jakob Oxenstierna, Erik Oxenstierna
Residence	Tidö Castle
Occupation	Statesman
Signature

Axel Gustafsson Oxenstierna (Swedish: [ˈǎksɛl ˈʊ̂ksɛnˌɧæːɳa] ^ⓘ; 1583–1654) was a Swedish statesman and Count of Södermöre.^[1] He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1609 and served as Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1612 until his death. He was a confidant of King Gustavus Adolphus and then Queen Christina,^[2] for whom he was at first regent.

Oxenstierna is widely considered one of the most influential people in Swedish history. He played an important role during the Thirty Years' War and was appointed Governor-General of occupied Prussia; he is also credited for having laid the foundations of the modern central administrative structure of the State, including the creation of counties (Swedish: län).