Klas Hansson Bjelkenstjerna

Who was Klas Hansson Bjelkenstjerna?

Baron Klas Hansson Bjelkenstjerna was a Swedish naval officer and civil servant.

HIs father, Hans Klasson Bjelkenstjerna, who also was a high ranking naval officer, died when his son was only 5 years old leaving him to be raised by relatives. Young Bjelkenstjerna soon grew up and followed in his father's footsteps, joining the Swedish navy.

He rose in rank within the navy, being appointed skeppsmajor in 1641. He married baroness Barbro Åkesdotter Natt och Dag in 1643. He participated in the sea campaigns against the Danish and Dutch fleets, in particular Battle of Colberger Heide, and the escape from the Kiel Fjord where the Danish fleet tried to trap the Swedish squadrons. Due to his achievements in battle he was rewarded with a promotion to Admiral-Löjtnant.

Years of relative peace followed, with Bjelkenstjerna entering civil service. In 1650, he was appointed to överhovmästare for the crown prince Carl Gustav. Queen Christina I granted him the barony of Pyhäjoki in the Northern Ostrobothnia region of Finland. This occurred in the year 1652. The following year Bjelkenstjerna became a member of the Privy Council.