Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna: A Duchess, A Duke... and His Best Friend

Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna of Russia (Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt; Prenzlau, Russia, 25th June 1755 – St Petersburg, Russia, 15th April 1776)

Natalia Alexeievna of Russia by Alexander Roslin, 1776

After our diversion into the inns and taverns of London, we find ourselves back in the grand continental courts to meet a last of noble birth. Married to the man who would one day be Tsar Paul I of Russia Grand Duchess Natalia Alexeievna lived a short but somewhat sparkly life. She made an impact on courtiers and public alike but her time in the spotlight was all too brief.

Born Princess Wilhelmina Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt to Louis IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt and Caroline of Zweibrücken, Countess Palatine, there was never any question that she would be anything but a powerful political bride for some lucky noble. She was one of three unmarried daughters of the Landgrave and when news reached Louis and Caroline that Empress Catherine II was casting her net wide in the search for a bride for her son, Grand Duke Paul, the 18 year old Wilhelmina was certainly on the shortlist.

When news reached Prenzlau that the Empress would like to meet the three girls, they were put through a crash course in courtly behaviour and made into the image of perfect royal brides before they were dispatched for Russia on a ship captained by the Grand Duke's best friend, Count Andrei Razumovsky, of whom we shall hear more later. Less than 48 hours after the young ladies arrived in St Petersburg, Paul made his choice: he wished to marry Wilhelmina. An enormous wedding ceremony was held on 29th September 1773 and Wilhelmina, now named Natalia Alexeievna, became a Grand Duchess.

The bubbly young woman lit up the Russian court and found favour with Catherine yet this honeymoon period was not to last. It began to be apparent that the new bride was far from an innocent abroad but was, in fact, highly ambitious on behalf of her husband and when he did not share her love for scheming and intrigue, she sought her thrills elsewhere. Soon gossip began to spread that Natalia was involved in a passionate affair with Razumovsky and she became the talk of the court though Paul remained blissfully unaware of the talk about his wife and best friend. In a somewhat bittersweet show of devotion, when efforts were made to exile Razumovsky, it was the blissfully unaware Paul who stepped in to ensure his friend could remain at court!

When news emerged of Natalia's pregnancy, more than a few eyebrows were raised on the matter of paternity but as far as the Empress was concerned, if the baby were a boy, then she would consider the child as the rightful heir to the throne. 

Natalia's long and agonising labour resulted in the birth of a stillborn son on 15th April 1776; her doctors hesitated to perform a Caesarian and neither mother nor child stood a chance of survival. At the loss of his wife, Paul was distraught and for a short time refused to release her body for burial; five months later, he had married again.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

The Assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden

King Gustav III of Sweden (Stockholm, Sweden, 24th January 1746 - Stockholm, Sweden, 29th March 1792)

King Gustav III by Alexander Roslin, 1777

I had not intended to revisit the ailing King Gustav III of Sweden but the tale of the attempt on his life on 16th March 1792 seemed to strike a chord with salon visitors. For that reason I thought we would pay one final visit to the court of Gustav and discover how his sorry story ends.

As we have already learned, Gustav's fate was sealed when he chose to ignore an anonymous death threat received during dinner in Stockholm. Rather than flee, he instead strode into a glittering masked ball and found himself surrounded by assassins. When Jacob Johan Anckarström pulled the trigger on a gun loaded with balls, nails and scraps of iron, the weapon discharged into the king's back, wounding him seriously. Despite his injury, Gustav remained on his feet and as he staggered to remain upright, his aides rushed to his side with the intention of getting their monarch to safety.

As the assassins were apprehended, Gustav was returned to his quarters and the royal physicians flocked to the king's aid. At first it appeared that the assassination attempt had failed as Gustav lived and, with medical care, continued to serve as head of state. In fact, he was never to regain his health and within days the wound had become infected and the king's condition began to deteriorate rapidly.

As the days drew on the wound grew ever more septic and Gustav's weakened condition left him easy prey to pneumonia. On 29th March Gustav's life finally reached its final hours and with his dying breath he murmured, "A few moments rest would do me good." Those were the final words King Gustav III would ever speak and he died soon after, less than a fortnight from the night of the fateful, fatal ball.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

The Attempted Assassination of King Gustav III of Sweden

It's well known around town that we Gilflurts like a masked ball and our tale today takes us to one such occasion, though it was far from a happy affair. If you ever receive an invitation to a Gilflurt ball I can assure you that you need not fear assassination, though that's far more than can be said for King Gustav III of Sweden!

King Gustav III by Alexander Roslin, 1777

Early in the evening of 16th March 1792, King Gustav III of Sweden arrived at the Royal Opera House in Stockholm to attend a masked ball. Resplendent in his costume, he made sure to proudly display the dazzling star of the Royal Order of the Seraphim for all to see. This was, of course, something of a fatal error and even amongst the swirl of costume and masks, there could be no doubt as to who the monarch might be.

King Gustav III's costume

Enjoying dinner with friends, Gustav was passed an anonymous death threat written in French yet it did little to spoil the party. After all, this was far from the first such letter he had received in his time and so far all had come to nothing. Instead he finished dinner and went down to join the revellers. In fact, he had hardly been at the party before he found himself surrounded by a party  of five men, who had joined our old friend, Baron Carl Fredrik Pechlin, in a conspiracy against the king though the canny Pechlin was, of course, not present at this assassination attempt. All hid their identities behind black masks and as the men greeted the monarch in French, Jacob Johan Anckarström shot Gustav once in the back. The pistol was loaded with balls, nails and scrap lead and iron and the contents emptied themselves into Gustav's back, though he remained on his feet.

Jacob Johan Anckarström

Panic broke out and the king was rushed from the scene. By the following dawn the attackers were in custody and they soon implicated their co-conspirators, all of whom were imprisoned and Anckarström would eventually be executed for his part in the plot. It seemed at first that the plan to remove Gustav had failed yet fate had a final twist to take and far from recovering, the king began to weaken. The wound Anckarström had inflicted turned septic and on 29th March 1792, Gustav III of Sweden died, a victim of assassination.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

The Colourful Life of Charles XIII of Sweden

Charles XIII of Sweden (Stockholm,Sweden, 7th October 1748 – Stockholm, Sweden, 5th February 1818)

Charles XIII of Sweden by Carl Frederik von Breda 

Well, what a palaver we've had here as I asked the girl to spend Sunday dusting around the salon in preparation for today's visit - it's only right when you're entertaining a monarch, after all. Monday sees a return to Sweden to meet Charles XIII of Sweden, a man with an incredibly ambitious mother who has already graced the chaise longue!

Charles was the second son of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia and as befitted his noble status, was awarded the title of Grand Admiral within days of his birth. A good-humoured and cheerful child, he had a distant relationship with his parents but was extremely close to his elder brother, Gustav and when that same sibling came to power following a coup d'état in 1772, he rewarded Charles' loyalty with the title of Duke of Södermanland. Initially unwilling to consummate his own marriage, Gustav was happy to pass the responsibility for producing an heir to his sibling and brokered marriage plans between Charles and Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, though neither party was particularly enthused at the idea.

Queen Charlotte of Sweden and Norway, 1809

Although on civil terms, the Duke and Duchess of Södermanland lived separately and both had numerous affairs; indeed, Charles fathered a child with his mistress, Augusta von Fersen, cousin of Axel von Fersen, though both of the children he had with his wife died in early infancy. Charles' somewhat colourful private life gained him something of a reputation as an eccentric as did his interests in the occult and Freemasonry, as well as his reliance on mystics. He was easily influenced by family, lovers and friends yet served as regent without incident when Gustav III visited Russia in 1777. In addition, he proved himself brave and dedicated in military matters, distinguishing himself at numerous battles in the Russo-Swedish War.

Despite his earlier friendship with his brother, when Gustav was assassinated in 1792 there were those who whispered that Charles, fired by ambition and the not always honourable influence of others, had known of the assassination plans and did nothing to prevent the death of the king. Certainly Gustav's death saw Charles propelled to power as regent until his nephew, Gustav IV, was old enough to take the throne. Though Charles was ruler in name, he was operated from behind the scenes by Privy Councillor, Gustaf Adolf Reuterholm, a fiercely ambitious character. Slowly the regent and Reuterholm began to reverse the decisions and policies of the late king, becoming increasingly reactionary and restrictive.

Gustav III (left) and his two brothers, Prince Fredrik Adolf and Prince Charles by Alexander Roslin, 1771

Charles lost his position as regent in 1796 when Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden came of age and a feud developed between the new king and the Duke and Duchess of Södermanland. Gustav IV himself  would fall from power in 1809 after a series of poor decisions during the Napoleonic Wars and suddenly Charles found himself the man of the moment once more.

He was named named regent once more and then elected king by the Riksdag of the Estates, though he was subject to a new constitution that drastically reduced his power. However, he had lost his appetite for rule and in 1810 handed over control of policy to Crown Prince Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, whom Charles adopted as he was without a natural heir. With the Union of Sweden and Norway in 1814 Charles also became King Carl II of Norway, happy to leave the matter of governing his realm to the Crown Prince as he had in Sweden. 

Charles XIV John as Crown Prince of Sweden by François Gérard, 1811

His health deteriorating, Charles lived a quiet life with his wife, content to remove himself from affairs of state. The last king of the house of Holstein-Gottorp died in 1818, leaving Bernadotte to follow Charles on the thrones of Sweden and Norway.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

Baron Carl Fredrik Pechlin: A Conspirator Against a King

Baron Carl Fredrik Pechlin (Holstein, Germany, 8th August 1720 – Varberg, Sweden, 29th May 1796) 

 Baron Carl Fredrik Pechlin by Per Krafft, 1774

Well, we're back to the continent today and off to Sweden again for a tale of conspiracy. There are plenty of politicians and monarchs who don't get on, but not many of them go on to plot murder.

Pechlin was the son of an influential Holstein politician and began his working life as a soldier, rising to the rank of Major-General. However, his true and somewhat questionable gifts lay in the political arena, as he became a key figure in the Swedish Age of Liberty and his vast influence would earn him the nickname of General of the Riksdag.

At the time of his ascendancy, the opposition Caps party were finally gaining ground against the ruling Hats in Sweden after a quarter of a century of in the political doldrums. Professing to support the Caps, Pechlin was in fact working hard behind the scenes to secure his own future and at the last moment switched sides, his considerable influence securing the Hats a further term and himself a senior office within the government. However, his former political allies were not to be so easily thwarted and successfully petitioned to have him suspended from the Riksdag for two years. In fact, in 1769, Pechlin did exactly the same thing in reverse, exchanging the Hats for the Caps once more as he sailed with the prevailing political wind; it would not be the last time he switched allegiances and all the time he continued secret negotiations with other nations, his eye fixed firmly on his own fortunes.

King Gustav III by Alexander Roslin, 1777

When the royal coup d'état occurred in 1772 Pechlin quietly withdrew from public life, returning to the fore nearly fifteen years later as one of King Gustav III's most vocal opponents. In fact, he was to grow so loud and vociferous that the King, mindful of rumours that named Pechlin as a Russian spy, had him detained as moves towards an absolute monarchy gathered pace. This was to prove a fatal mistake on the part of Gustav, raising the ire of the nobility and gaining Pechlin fresh supporters across the upper classes. As his influence diminished and the government's powers faltered, Pechlin took a drastic step and, with a small group of acquaintances, agreed that the only solution to the problem would be the death of Gustav III.

On 15th March the conspirators met at Pechlin's home  to finalise their plans and the following day, whilst attending a masque, the king was shot. He survived the assassination attempt but the wound became infected and two months later, Gustav died. Pechlin was arrested and though no solid evidence could be found other than the words of his co-conspirator, Count Gustav Horn, he was imprisoned in Varberg Fortress, where he died four years later.

Varberg Fortress

Posterity has not been kind to Pechlin and he is remembered as the worst kind of politician; duplicitous, self-serving and corrupt, he thought himself untouchable and it was this that finally brought him down, the General of the Riksdag laid low by hubris.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)

Conspiracy, Coups and Crown Jewels: Louisa Ulrika of Prussia

Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (Berlin, Prussia, 24th July 1720 - Svartsjö, Sweden, 24th July 1782)

Louisa Ulrika by Alexander Roslin, 1775

Intrigue, ambition and political manoeuvring are staple ingredients in the heady world of dynastic politics and Louise Ulrika of Prussia, who died on this day in 1782, enjoyed more than her fair share of all three. From a marriage that even her own brother warned the groom against, she would rise to the heights of monarchy and try to bring about a revolution.

Born to Frederick William I of Prussia and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover, Louisa Ulrika was the younger sister of Frederick the Great. A sought after and eligible young woman, she married the Crown-Prince of Sweden, Adolf Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp, in 1744. The match was made against the express wishes of Frederick who thought his sister arrogant, overly-ambitious and a potentially dangerous influence on the Swedish monarchy. Perhaps that was true or perhaps Frederick thought that his other sister, Princess Anna Amalia of Prussia, would be a more pliant figure to achieve his own ends at court but whatever his reasons for speaking out, the marriage went ahead as planned.



With Sweden desperate for an heir, Louisa Ulrika was hugely popular with the people. Though her innate arrogance would eventually see her lose favour within the aristocracy, Louisa Ulrika formed strong alliances early on, especially with courtier Count Carl Gustaf Tessin. Tessin adored the new bride and made himself indispensable to her household, eventually serving as governor to her first child, the heir to the throne of Sweden. The Count's fortunes would change dramatically in 1751 when the newly crowned King found him on his knees at Louisa Ulrika's feet; outraged, Adolf Frederick removed Tessin from court and Louisa Ulrika did nothing to save the reputation of this perhaps too loyal follower.



At the time of her marriage Louisa Ulrika already held unshakable political opinions and was a firm believer in the system of absolute monarchy, something the Swedes did not subscribe to.  However, the intelligent Louisa Ulrika was also a strategist with one eye on the future and she drew loyalists to her until she eventually formed a political party of her own, the Hovpartiet (Court Party). Louisa Ulrika was not above using bribery to achieve her ends, all the time inspiring fierce affection in her followers.

The highly-cultured Louisa Ulrika championed the arts and sciences in Sweden, promoting and funding scientists in the country. As much as she made her cultural mark, the chance to stamp herself on the political landscape of her new nation would prove more elusive.

When she became queen in 1751 she realised the true limits of a Swedish constitution that rendered its monarchs as powerless figureheads, all policy decisions taken by parliament. Her personal ambitions were frequently frustrated by government and by 1756 she was ready to implement her plans, poised for revolution.

The plot had been gestating for years; indeed, half a decade earlier Louisa Ulrika substituted her coronation crown diamonds with glass in order to pawn the gemstones in Berlin and finance her coup d'état. With the followers of Hovpartiet behind her she would seize power once and for all, smashing the constitution and returning Sweden to the rule of an absolute monarchy. Never lacking in self-confidence, Louisa Ulrika's plans were initially frustrated when her own lady-in-waiting, Ulrika Strömfelt, informed parliament that the crown jewels had been tampered with. Even then fortune favoured the Queen as her husband fell ill and she was able to use his period of convalescence to retrieve the diamonds. All the time she continued to plot, arming her followers and developing a plan in which hired criminals would riot in the streets, causing widespread fear and chaos. The royalists, led by the King, would restore order and the monarchs would be swept to power on a tide of public adoration.


In the end it was alcohol and a loose tongue that caused the plot to falter as conspirator Ernst Angel drunkenly discussed the plans in the earshot of police. Arrested and interrogated, Angel gave up the conspirators and justice was swift and merciless as executions, flogging and exile followed. For the Queen the punishment was less painful but immensely humiliating. The proud Queen, who believed in the right of monarchy above all else, was forced her to write a letter of confession and regret. Louisa Ulrika did as she was commanded though said privately that her only true regret was that her revolution had failed. Her husband was put on notice by parliament that, should such a plot occur again, he would be removed from the throne.

Portrait of Count Carl Gustaf Tessin by Louis Tocqué,  1741  

The ambitious Louisa Ulrika was not to be sidelined forever and her chance for redemption came with the Seven Years War, when Sweden faced Prussia across the battlefields. As the tide of war turned against Sweden in 1763, parliament found itself forced to ask Louisa Ulrika to negotiate with her brother, Frederick, King of Prussia. For a long time she refused, enjoying this new power over the government she so loathed but when she did intervene, her efforts were successful. All her outstanding debts were cancelled and the Queen was once again in a position to set about bribing members of the government to ensure the decisions of parliament went as she wished.

Her efforts were destined to fail once more and as King Frederick's reign entered its twilight, so too did her influence dim as her own followers drifted away to join her son, Crown Prince Gustav. In 1771 the King died and the following year the newly-crowned King Gustav III would succeed where she had failed, instigating a successful coup and restoring Sweden to an absolute monarchy. Enormously proud of his achievements, she was shocked and dismayed to find that Gustav intended to rule the country according to his own will himself and that her influence would not be needed. As he asserted his independence, Gustav actively went against her recommendations in matters of state and their relationship slowly and surely grew more vitriolic than ever before.



In 1777 our heroine was at the centre of yet more drama when she accused Gustav's wife, Sophia Magdalena, of philandering, claiming that the heir to the throne was the child of nobleman, Fredrik Munck. The scandal that followed was immense and embarrassing to the family as once again, Louisa Ulrika was forced to write yet another statement of regret and apology. The Queen Dowager was to remain estranged from Gustav until she was on her deathbed, when mother and son finally reconciled.

For Louisa Ulrika, luxury and privilege were no substitute for power; she lived a life of driving ambition fuelled by an unshakeable belief not only in monarchy but in her own abilities, ultimately  frustrated by hubris.

Read more about Louisa Ulrika's son, Charles XIII, here.

Life in the Georgian Court, true tales of 18th century royalty, is available at the links below.

Pen and Sword
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Book Depository (free worldwide shipping)