Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/551

Rh all the deputies. She represented to them, with abundance of eloquence and address, the advantages that would accrue from the consolidation of the three nations into one kingdom. That it would put an end to the frequent wars that desolated them; render them entire masters of the commerce of the Baltic; keep in awe the Hanse towns, grown powerful by the divisions of her people; and acquire for them, all the conveniences which result from a perfect conformity of customs, laws and interest. The majesty of her person, the strength of her arguments, and the sweetness of her eloquence gained over the deputies. They approved and established a fundamental law, which was received by the three nations, and solemnly confirmed by oath. This was the law so celebrated in the north, under the name of the Union of Calmar; which afterwards only served to shew how impotent are human wishes, though conceived with wisdom, and forwarded with address. This union afterwards gave birth to wars between Sweden and Denmark, without fulfilling the views of the projector.

Margaret is charged with only one political error, that of suffering Olaüs to grant the important duchy of Sleswick to the house of Holstein, whose enmity they wished thus to do away; but which proved a thorn in her side, till the death of its duke, when she by her vigorous measures drove his successors to submit to hold their possessions as a fief from Denmark.

Distinguished at the same time for moderation, solid judgement, enterprising and persevering ambition, Margaret receives different characters from the Danish and Swedish historians.—The latter were judiced