Background
Young Bjelkenstjerna soon grew up and followed in his father"s footsteps, joining the Swedish navy.
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Klas Baron
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He rose in rank within the navy, being appointed skeppsmajor in 1641. He participated in the sea campaigns against the Danish and Dutch fleets, in particular Battle of Colberger Heide (1644), and the escape from the Kiel Fjord where the Danish fleet tried to trap the Swedish squadrons. Years of relative peace followed, with Bjelkenstjerna entering civil service.
In 1650, he was appointed to överhovmästare (tutor) 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.
At his deathbed the Swedish king Carl X Gustav called upon his former tutor Admiral Bjelkenstjerna and supposedly bid him farewell with the words: »Farväl, minimum hederlige Bjelkenstjerna! Tack för hvar dag vi varit tillsammans!» which translates to English as "Farewell, my honourable Bjelkenstjerna! I"m thankful for each day that we spent together!".
Achievements
Membership
The following year Bjelkenstjerna became a member of the Privy Council.
