Court Mistress (Danish: hofmesterinde; Dutch: hofmeesteres; German: Hofmeisterin; Norwegian: hoffmesterinne; Swedish: hovmästarinna) or Chief Court Mistress (Danish: overhofmesterinde; Dutch: grootmeesteres, lit. 'grand mistress'; German: Obersthofmeisterin; Norwegian: overhoffmesterinne; Swedish: överhovmästarinna; Russian: обер-гофмейстерина, romanized: ober-gofmeysterina) is or was the title of the senior lady-in-waiting in the courts of Austria, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Imperial Russia, and the German princely and royal courts.
Chief court mistresses of Austria
editIn 1619, a set organisation was finally established for the Austrian Imperial court which came to be the characteristic organisation of the Austrian-Habsburg court roughly kept from this point onward.[1] The first rank of the female courtiers was the Obersthofmeisterin, who was second in rank after the empress herself, and responsible for all the female courtiers.[1] Whenever absent, she was replaced by the Fräuleinhofmeisterin, normally in charge of the unmarried female courtiers, their conduct and service.[1]
Anna of Tyrol, 1608–1618
edit- 1611–1618: Freiin Katharina v. Kollowrath-L.
Eleonora Gonzaga, 1622–1658
edit- 1621–1624: Gräfin Maria Anna v. Portia
- 1624–1637: Gräfin Ursula v. Attems
- 1637–1644: Freiin Margarita v. Herberstein
- 1647–1647: Gräfin Octavia Strozzi
- 1652–1655: Freiin Anna Eleonora v. Metternich
Maria Anna of Spain, 1631–1646
edit- 1630–1638: Victoria de Toledo y Colonna
- 1643–1646: Marquesa de Flores Dávila
Maria Leopoldine of Austria, 1648–1649
edit- 1648–1649: Gräfin Anna Eleonora v. Wolkenstein 1648–1649
Eleonora Gonzaga, 1651–1686
edit- 1651–1658: Gräfin Maria Elisabeth v. Wagensperg
Maria Theresa of Austria, 1740–1780
edit- 1740–1754: Gräfin Marie Karoline von Fuchs-Mollard
Empress Elisabeth of Austria, 1854–1898
edit- 1854–1862: Gräfin Sophie Esterházy
- 1862– : Gräfin Pauline von Königsegg
- Maria Welser, Gräfin von Welsersheimb Freiin zu Gumpenstein
Chief court mistresses of Denmark
editThe early modern Danish court was organized according to the German court model, in turn inspired by the Imperial Austrian court model, from the 16th century onward.[2]
The highest rank female courtier to a female royal was the hofmesterinde (Court Mistress) from 1694/98 onward named Overhofmesterinde (Chief Court Mistress), equivalent to the Mistress of the Robes, normally an elder widow, who supervised the rest of the ladies-in-waiting.[3]
The Princess Anne of Denmark married James VI of Scotland in 1589, and Fru Ide Ulfstand was appointed hofmesterinde to her new household. In Scotland, Margaret Stewart, Mistress of Ochiltree seems to have fulfilled the role.[4]
When the office was vacant the tasks were taken over by the second in command, the kammarfrøken. This was also the case when the office of hofmesterinde to the queen was left vacant in 1808–23 and 1839–45, and was handled by Friederiche Amalie Marie Hedevig von der Manfe and Marie Ernestine Wilhelmine von Walterstorf respectively.[5]
Christina of Saxony, 1481–1513
edit- 1490–1496: Sidsel Lunge
- 1503–1516: Anne Meinstrup
Isabella of Austria, 1515–1523
edit- 1516–1517: Anne Meinstrup
- 1517–1523: Sigbrit Willoms
Sophie of Pomerania, 1523–1533
edit- 1526–1533: Anne Meinstrup
Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg, 1534–1571
editSophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, 1572–1631
edit- 1572–1584: Inger Oxe
- 1584–1592: Beate Clausdatter Bille
Anne Catherine of Brandenburg, 1597–1612
edit- 1597–1612: Beate Huitfeldt
Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg, 1648–1685
edit- Lucie von Løschebrand
- 1657–1685: Maria Elisabeth von Haxthausen
Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel, 1670–1714
edit- 1677–1692: Juliane Elisabeth von Uffeln
- 1695–1705: Dorothea Justina Haxthausen[8]
- 1705–1707: Sophie Dorothea von Schack von Marschalck
- Louise Charlotte von Schlaberndorf
Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, 1699–1721
edit- 1699–1716: Abel Cathrine Buchwald
Anne Sophie Reventlow, 1721–1743
edit- Fru von Grabow[9]
Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach, 1721–1770
edit- Beate Henriette af Reuss-Lobenstein
Louise of Great Britain, 1746–1751
edit- 1746–1751: Christiane Henriette Louise Juel (first term)
Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, 1752–1796
edit- 1752–1754: Christiane Henriette Louise Juel (second term)
- 1757–1767: Karen Huitfeldt
- 1772–1784: Margrethe von der Lühe
- 1784–1793: Sophie Louise Holck-Winterfeldt
Caroline Matilda of Great Britain, 1766–1775
edit- 1766–1768: Louise von Plessen
- 1768–1768: Anne Sofie von Berckentin
- 1768–1770: Margrethe von der Lühe
- 1770–1772: Charlotte Elisabeth Henriette Holstein
- 1772–1775: Cathrine Charlotte von der Horst
Marie of Hesse-Kassel, 1808–1852
editCaroline Amalie of Augustenburg, 1839–1881
edit- 1839–1845: Vacant[5]
- 1845–1859: Ingeborg Christiane Rosenørn
Louise of Hesse-Kassel, 1863–1898
edit- 1864–1876: Ida Marie Bille
- 1876–1888: Julia Adelaide Harriet Raben-Levetzau
- 1888–1898: Louise Bille-Brahe (first term)
Louise of Sweden, 1906–1926
edit- 1906–1910: Louise Bille-Brahe (second term)
Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 1912–1952
edit- 1912–1935: Louise Grevenkop-Castenskiold
- 1935–1952: Inger Wedell
Chief court mistresses of Germany
editThe Austrian court model was the role model for the princely courts in Germany,[1] and the post of Obersthofmeisterin, or only hofmeisterin, existed in the princely (and later royal) German courts as well.
The German court model in turn became the role model of the early modern Scandinavian courts of Denmark and Sweden.[2]
- Chief court mistress to the queens of Prussia and empresses of Germany
Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 1708–1713
edit- Countess von Wittgenstein Valendar[10]
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, 1713–1757
edit- Sophie von Kameke
- Susanna Magdalena Finck von Finckenstein[11]
- 1740–1742: Christiane von Katsch (the same position with the crown princess since 1733)
- 1742–1766: Sophie Caroline von Camas
- 1766–1797: Charlotte Albertine von Kannenberg[12]
Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1786–1805
editLouise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1797–1810
edit- 1797–1810: Sophie Marie von Voß (the same position with the crown princess since 1793)[13]
Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria, 1840–1873
edit- Wilhelmine van Reede-Ginkel
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, 1861–1891
editAugusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, 1888–1918
edit- Therese von Brockdorff
Chief court mistresses of the Netherlands
editIn the 16th-century, the principal lady-in-waiting in the courts of the Habsburg governors of the Netherlands, Margaret of Austria and Mary of Hungary (governor of the Netherlands), was named hofmesterees ('Court mistress') or dame d'honneur.[14]
The principal female office holder in the royal court of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the 19th century was named Grootmeesteres ('Grand Mistress').[15][16]
- 1818–1824: Agneta Margaretha Catharina Fagel-Boreel
- 1823–1837: Sophie Wilhelmina barones van Heeckeren van Kell (1772–1847)
Anna Pavlovna of Russia, 1840–1865
edit- 1840–1844: Sophie Wilhelmina barones van Heeckeren van Kell (1772–1847)
- 1844–1850: Rose Amour Caroline Aya Gislène(Zézette) Falck, geb. barones De Roisin (1792-1850)
- 1850–1852: Johanna Philippina Hermanna barones van Knobelsdorff (1772–1860)
Sophie of Württemberg, 1849–1877
edit- 1849–1858: Anna Maria Margaretha Deutz van Assendelft – Rendorp (1797–1858)
- 1858–1878: Alida van der Oudermeulen barones van Wickevoort Crommelin (1806–1883)
Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, 1879–1934
edit- 1879–1894: Leopoldine Marie gravin van Limburg Stirum (1817–1894)
- 1894–1909: Wilhelmina Elizabeth Charlotta gravin Van Lynden van Sandenburg (1869–1930)
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, 1890–1962
edit- 1909–1938: Agneta Hendrika Groeninx van Zoelen-Van de Poll (1857–1933)
- 1924–1938: Gerarda Cornelia barones van Nagell (1878–1946)
- 1938–1954: Cornelie Marie, barones van Tuyll van Serooskerken
Juliana of the Netherlands, 1948–2004
edit- 1954–1957: Adolphine Agneta barones Van Heeckeren van Molecaten-Groeninx van Zoelen (1885–1967)
Chief court mistresses of Norway
editDuring the union of Sweden-Norway in 1814–1905, Sweden and Norway shared the same royal family. At that time, there were two Chief Court Mistress for the same queen: one as Queen of Sweden at the Swedish royal court when she lived in Sweden, and a separate Chief Court Mistress as Queen of Norway at the Norwegian royal court, who served in her post during the visits of the Swedish-Norwegian royal family to Norway.
Presently, the overhoffmesterinne in Norway acts as a vice hostess at the Norwegian royal court when the queen and the other female members of the royal family are absent.
- 1817–1818: Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg
Désirée Clary, 1823–1861
edit- 1825–1844: Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg
Josephine of Leuchtenberg, 1844–1876
edit- 1844–1845: Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg
- 1846–1859: Fanny Løvenskiold
Louise of the Netherlands, 1859–1871
edit- 1859–1871: Juliane Cathrine Wilhelmine Wedel Jarlsberg
Sophia of Nassau, 1872–1905
edit- 1873–1887: Alette Due
- 1887–1905: Elise Løvenskiold
Maud of Wales, 1905–1938
edit- 1906–1925: Marie Magdalena Rustad
- 1925–1927: Emma Stang
- 1927–1938: Borghild Anker
Chief court mistresses of Russia
editIn 1722, the Russian Imperial court was reorganized in accordance with the reforms of Peter the Great to Westernize Russia, and the old court offices of the Tsarina was replaced with court offices inspired by the German model. Accordingly, the new principal lady in waiting of the Russian empress was named Ober-Hofmeisterin.
Catherine I of Russia, 1713–1725
editAnna of Russia, 1730–1740
edit- 1730-1740: Tatyana Borisovna Golitsyna, spouse of Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn (Field Marshal)[18]
Elizabeth of Russia, 1741–1762
edit- 1741-1750: Tatyana Borisovna Golitsyna, spouse of Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn (Field Marshal)[19]
- 1760-1762: Anna Vorontsova[20]
Catherine II of Russia, 1762–1796
edit- 1762-1775: Anna Vorontsova[21]
- 1776-1788: Maria Rumyantseva[22]
- 1796-1804: Anna Matyushkina[23]
Elizabeth Alexeievna (Louise of Baden), 1801–1826
edit- 1823-1825: Alexandra Branitskaya[24]
Alexandra Feodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia), 1825–1860
edit- 1825-1838: Alexandra Branitskaya[25]
- 1855–1863: Yekaterina Saltykov (in position since 1840)
Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark), 1881–1917
edit- 1881–1881: Princess Julia Kurakina (in position since 1866)
- 1881–1888: Princess Hélene Kotchoubey
- 1888–1906: Countess Anna Stroganoff
Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse), 1894–1917
edit- 1894–1910: Maria Golitzyna
- 1910–1917: Elizaveta Narishkina
Chief court mistresses of Sweden
editIn Sweden, the Chief Court Mistress is the second highest-ranking official of the royal household, preceded only by the Marshal of the Realm. She ranks immediately below the members of the royal family, the speaker of the Parliament and the prime minister, and has precedence over former speakers of the Parliament and former prime ministers. The incumbent is Kirstine von Blixen-Finecke, who has served from 2016.
The title and position have changed over time. Before the reign of Queen Christina (1632–1654), the title was generally referred to as hovmästarinna (Court Mistress), but during and after the reign of Christina, it became the custom to have two such Court mistresses subordinate to one överhovmästarinna (Chief Court Mistress).[26] Only the Queen and the Queen Dowager had a Chief Court Mistress called överhovmästarinna (the Chief Court Mistress) while the equivalent at the courts of other female members of the royal house was called hovmästarinna (Court Mistress).
The position was the highest a female courtier could have in the Swedish royal court, and the överhovmästarinna was ranked an Excellency, something unusual for a woman in the 17th century, which placed her immediately after the female members of the royal house in rank. Her role was to uphold etiquette at court, and receive and carry out the instructions of the Queen in the management of the court. She managed the employment of new members to the court of the Queen, and every meeting and letter to the Queen passed through her.[26] She also managed the ceremony of the court presentation, in which nobles were presented to the royal family and thus allowed to show themselves officially at court.[27] She could also represent the Queen on some occasions at court ceremonies and parties as hostess.
Catherine Stenbock, 1552–1621
edit- 1552–1568: Anna Hogenskild
Karin Månsdotter, 1567–1568
edit- 1567–1569: Elin Andersdotter
Catherine Jagellon, 1568–1583
edit- 1568–1583: Karin Gyllenstierna
Gunilla Bielke, 1585–1597
edit- 1587–1592: Kerstin Oxenstierna
Christina of Holstein-Gottorp, 1604–1625
edit- 1604–1608: Carin Ulfsdotter Snakeborg
- 1608–1612: Gunilla Jönsdotter Struss
- 1612–1619: Carin Kyle
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg, 1620–1655
edit- 1620–1623: Hebbla Eriksdotter Stålarm
- Catharina von Schnideck
- Regina Catharina von Windisch-Grätz
- 1628–1633: Brita Gylta
- 1633–1634: Ebba Leijonhufvud
- 1634–1639: Elisabeth Gyllenstierna
- 1639–1640: Christina Posse
- 1640–1649: Vacant
- 1649–1655: Görvel Posse
Christina, Queen of Sweden, 1632–1654
editDuring the reign of Christina, the office was often shared by several people.
- 1633–1634: Ebba Leijonhufvud
- 1634–1639: Elisabeth Gyllenstierna
- 1639–1642: Ebba Ryning (jointly with Beata Oxenstierna)
- 1639–1647: Beata Oxenstierna (jointly with Ebba Ryning)
- 1644–1648: Margareta Brahe (jointly with Kerstin Bååt)
- 1645–1650: Kerstin Bååt (jointly with Margareta Brahe)
- 1650: Barbro Fleming (jointly with Maria Sofia De la Gardie)
- 1651–1654: Maria Sofia De la Gardie (jointly with Barbro Fleming)
Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, 1654–1715
edit- 1655–1660: Elisabet Carlsdotter Gyllenhielm
- 1660–1664: Görwel Bååt
- 1664–1671: Görvel Posse
- 1671–1686: Occa Maria Johanna von Riperda
- 1686–1715: Märta Berendes (equivalent position at the court of the princesses in 1687–1717)
Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark, 1680–1693
edit- 1680–1693: Maria Elisabeth Stenbock
Ulrika Eleonora 1718–1741
edit- 1717–1736: Katarina Ebba Horn af Åminne
- 1736–1741: Hedvig Elisabet Strömfelt (equivalent position to the Crown princess in 1744–1751)
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, 1751–1782
edit- 1751–1751: Hedvig Elisabet Strömfelt
- 1751–1754: Ulla Tessin
- 1754–1761: Ulrica Catharina Stromberg
- 1761–1765: Ulrika Juliana Gyllenstierna
- 1765–1771: Brita Stina Sparre
- 1771–1782: Fredrika Eleonora von Düben
Sophia Magdalena of Denmark, 1771–1813
edit- 1771–1777: Anna Maria Hjärne
- 1777–1780: Ulrika Strömfelt
- 1780–1795: Charlotta Sparre
- 1795–1813: Hedvig Eva De la Gardie
Frederica of Baden, 1797–1809
edit- 1795–1805: Hedvig Catharina Piper
- 1805–1810: Lovisa Sophia von Fersen
- 1809–1810: Lovisa Sophia von Fersen
- 1811–1818: Christina Charlotta Stjerneld
- 1818–1818: Caroline Lewenhaupt
- 1818–1818: Charlotta Aurora De Geer
Désirée Clary, 1823–1861
edit- 1823–1829: Marcelle Tascher de la Pagerie
- 1829–1844: Vilhelmina Gyldenstolpe
Josephine of Leuchtenberg, 1844–1876
edit- 1844–1866: Charlotta Skjöldebrand
Louise of the Netherlands, 1859–1872
edit- 1859–1860: Stefanie Hamilton
- 1860–1869: Wilhelmina Bonde
- 1871–1872: Anne-Malène Wachtmeister
Sophia of Nassau, 1872–1907
edit- 1872–1879: Elisabet Augusta Piper
- 1880–1890: Malvina De la Gardie
- 1890–1907: Ebba Åkerhielm
Victoria of Baden, 1907–1931
edit- 1907–1908: Vacant
- 1908–1931: Augusta Lewenhaupt
See also
edit- Mistress of the Robes, British equivalent
- Camarera mayor de Palacio, Spanish equivalent
- Première dame d'honneur, French equivalent
- Surintendante de la Maison de la Reine, French equivalent
References
edit- ^ a b c d Nadine Akkerman & Birgit Houben, eds. The Politics of Female Households: Ladies-in-Waiting Across Early Modern Europe (2013).
- ^ a b Fabian Persson (1999). Servants of Fortune. The Swedish Court between 1598 and 1721. Lund: Wallin & Dalholm. ISBN 91-628-3340-5.
- ^ Klaus Kjølsen: Det Kongelige Danske Hof 1660–2000: en forvaltningshistorisk oversigt, 2010
- ^ Michael Pearce, 'Anna of Denmark: Fashioning a Danish Court in Scotland', The Court Historian, 24:2 (2019), p. 146. doi:10.1080/14629712.2019.1626110
- ^ a b c d Kongelig dansk hof- og statskalender
- ^ Emil Madsen, Forskellige Forhold ved den danske Hofstat i det 16. Aarhundrede, særlig dets anden Halvdel. , Historisk Tidsskrift, Bind 7. række, 3 (1900 - 1902)
- ^ Emil Madsen, Forskellige Forhold ved den danske Hofstat i det 16. Aarhundrede, særlig dets anden Halvdel, Historisk Tidsskrift, Bind 7. række, 3 (1900 - 1902)
- ^ Jorgensen, Ellen; Skovgaard, Johanne (January 5, 1910). "Danske dronniger; fortaellinger og karakteristikker af Ellen Jorgensen og Johanne Skovgaard". Kobenhavn H. Hagerup – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Berner Schilden Holsten, Hans Heinrich Adam (January 5, 1911). "Dronning Anna Sophie paa Clausholm". Odense : Miloske Boghandel – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Atkinson, Emma Willsher: Memoirs of the queens of Prussia, London : W. Kent
- ^ Biographie, Deutsche. "Finck von Finckenstein, Albrecht Konrad Graf - Deutsche Biographie". www.deutsche-biographie.de.
- ^ "Digitale Bibliothek - Münchener Digitalisierungszentrum". daten.digitale-sammlungen.de.
- ^ Biographie, Deutsche. "Voß, Sophie Marie Gräfin von - Deutsche Biographie". www.deutsche-biographie.de.
- ^ Jacqueline Kerkhoff: Maria van Hongarije en haar hof 1505–1558: tot plichtsbetrachting uitverkoren
- ^ Dianne Hamer: Sophie: biografie van Sophie van Würtemberg (1818–1877) op basis van brieven en dagboken, 2011
- ^ S Gravenhaagsche” Stads-Almanak: voor 1857
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ Volkov, Nikolay Egorovich: The court of the Russian emperors in his past and present: At 4 o'clock / Comp. NE Volkov. - St. Petersburg: print of R. Golike, 1900. (Волков Николай Егорович: ДВОР РУССКИХ ИМПЕРАТОРОВ В ЕГО ПРОШЛОМ И НАСТОЯЩЕМ)
- ^ a b Fabian Persson (1999). Servants of Fortune. The Swedish court between 1598 and 1721. Lund: Wallin & Dalholm. ISBN 91-628-3340-5
- ^ Tydén-Jordan Astrid, red (1987). Kungligt klädd, kungligt mode. Stockholm: Bergh. Libris 7401256. ISBN 91-502-0849-7