In 1636 Maria Eleonora was taken to Gripsholm castle and officially lost her parental rights to her daughter, because at times she was completely out of her mind. In 1639 a letter written by her and intended for Sweden's archenemy, the King Christian IV of Denmark, was intercepted. After a summons, Maria Eleonora appeared at her daughter's court in a flood of tears in the summer of 1640. Queen Christina, 13 years old, reasoned with her mother and dissuaded her from taking up residence at Nyköping near Denmark. Afterwards, Maria Eleonora returned to Gripsholm. To undertake one of her periodic fasts, she retired to the seclusion of her own apartment, accompanied by only one of her ladies-in-waiting, Anna Sofia von Bülow. Maria Eleonora wrote regularly to her daughter Christina. She and her German court wanted to leave their exile at Gripsholm castle. Christina replied tactfully, knowing that the Council would not permit the queen mother any leave. Eventually her mother asked to leave Sweden altogether. Christina invited her to Stockholm, attempting to persuade her to stay in the country. At night the two ladies let themselves down from a window and were rowed in a boat to the other side of the nearby lake, where a carriage was waiting for them. They drove to Nyköping, where they boarded a Danish ship. King Christian IV had intended the ship to take her home to Brandenburg, but she convinced the captain to bring her to Denmark instead. She was well received by the Danish king, but Maria Eleonora wanted to go home to Brandenburg. The electoral prince there demanded financial compensation from Sweden, where on the contrary the Council expected to withdraw her appanage as well as her properties. Finally the teenage Christina succeeded in negotiating a certain alimony for her mother, adding to this from her own purse.
In 1636 Maria Eleonora was taken to Gripsholm castle and officially lost her parental rights to her daughter because at times she was completely out of her mind In 1639 a letter written by her and intended for Sweden's archenemy the King Christian IV of Denmark was intercepted After a summons Maria Eleonora appeared at her daughter's court in a flood of tears in the summer of 1640 Queen Christina 13 years old reasoned with her mother and dissuaded her from taking up residence at Nyköping near Denmark Afterwards Maria Eleonora returned to Gripsholm To undertake one of her periodic fasts she retired to the seclusion of her own apartment accompanied by only one of her ladies-in-waiting Anna Sofia von Bülow Maria Eleonora wrote regularly to her daughter Christina She and her German court wanted to leave their exile at Gripsholm castle Christina replied tactfully knowing that the Council would not permit the queen mother any leave Eventually her mother asked to leave Sweden altogether Christina invited her to Stockholm attempting to persuade her to stay in the country At night the two ladies let themselves down from a window and were rowed in a boat to the other side of the nearby lake where a carriage was waiting for them They drove to Nyköping where they boarded a Danish ship King Christian IV had intended the ship to take her home to Brandenburg but she convinced the captain to bring her to Denmark instead She was well received by the Danish king but Maria Eleonora wanted to go home to Brandenburg The electoral prince there demanded financial compensation from Sweden where on the contrary the Council expected to withdraw her appanage as well as her properties Finally the teenage Christina succeeded in negotiating a certain alimony for her mother adding to this from her own purse