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Hereditary Genius
159
Gustavus Vasa, his daughter Cecilia, and, in a much lower generation, Charles
XII., were all of them very remarkable and, in many respects, very similar
characters. The connexion between them is easily seen in the table above. I will
now describe them in order.
GF. Gustavus Vasa, though proscribed and an outcast, yet, aet. 31, succeeded in
uniting the Swedes to expel the Danes, and became the founder of the Swedish
dynasty.
Gb. Cecilia his daughter, who was “a very prototype of the wayward and eccentric
Christina; had an intense longing to travel, and imitate the far-famed example of
the Queen of Sheba. “She went to England with her husband, where she got
frightfully into debt She died aet. 87, after leading a rambling and dissolute life.
(Introduction to “England as seen by Foreigners,” by W. B. Rye, 1865.)
NP. Charles XII. Showed great self-will and remarkable fondness for military
exercises from his earliest youth. He had a great desire to emulate Alexander.
Succeeded to the throne aet. 15; begun his wars, aet. 18, with Russia, Denmark,
and Poland, defeating them all in turn. He had great courage and constitutional
power; was obstinate, rash, and cruel (his father, Charles XI., was also
obstinate, harsh, and despotic). He was killed in battle aet. 37.
Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general. He was entrusted with high command aet.
18, and had become illustrious aet. 26. He led his Carthaginian army, with its
troops of elephants, from Spain across France and the Alps. Descending into
Italy, he forced his way against the Roman power, and at that immense
distance from his base of operations utterly defeated them at Cannae. He was
afterwards defeated by them under Scipio in Africa. He poisoned himself to
avoid Roman vengeance, aet. 64.
F. Hamilcar Barca, “the Great,” commanded in Spain while still a mere youth.
Nothing is known of his ancestry.
B. Hasdrubal, a worthy rival of the fame of his father and brother. He crossed the
Alps subsequently to Hannibal, and was at last defeated by the Romans and
killed.
B. Mago, a good general, who co-operated with his brothers.
B. (Half-brother, son of Hannibal's mother.) Hasdrubal, general in Spain.
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