Hedvig Sophia of Sweden
Encyclopedia
Princess Hedvig Sophia Augusta of Sweden (26 June 1681 – 22 December 1708) was a Swedish princess and a Duchess Consort of Holstein-Gottorp
, the eldest child of King Charles XI
of Sweden
, and his spouse Queen Ulrica Eleanor. She was heir presumptive
to the Swedish throne until her death and the Regent of the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp for her minor son from 1702 to 1708. Some sources refer to her as Sofia.
. Her marriage was arranged as a part of the traditional Swedish policy of alliance with Holstein-Gottorp
against Denmark; her brother had earlier been expected to marry Frederick's sister, but he refused. The marriage took place against her consent and was not happy. Hedvig Sofia was an eager participant in the frequent partying that dominated her brother's court for a few years before the Great Northern War
in 1700, and she spent most of her life at the Swedish court. She visited Holstein-Gottorp in 1699 and remained there for about a year, but in 1700 she returned to Sweden, where she was second in line to the Swedish throne and presumptive heir. She resided mainly at Karlberg.
and formal Regent
for her minor son, the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. However, she spent most of her time in Sweden and rarely visited the home of her spouse: she left the daily affairs of the duchy to Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, the uncle of her late spouse, but matters of major importance were always to be confirmed by her. In Sweden, she worked to have her son accepted as an heir to the Swedish throne, and the "Holstein party", as it was called, was also the most successful contestant under her leadership until her death in 1708. As a widow, she was the object of plans to arrange a new political marriage. Among the candidates were the Crown Prince of Hanover, that is the future King George II of Great Britain
, but she refused a new arranged marriage; she was then involved with the young noble Olof Gyllenborg. That relationship was open public knowledge at court and seems to have been accepted, though much disliked by her grandmother, Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp
.
During her time as princess at the Swedish court, Hedvig Sophia was described as a beautiful woman with an interest in fashion, and the relationship between her and her brother, King Carl, was very deep. In July of 1709, her brother, who recently had become a refugee of his military catastrophe at Poltava
and was far away in Bendery (today in Moldavia
) finally received the news of Hedvig Sophia's death in Stockholm the previous December. Carl at first refused to believe it, and this was the only time he was ever known to have wept. It was "an event which I had trusted never to be so unhappy to survive" and he suffered from "that grief which can never altogether leave me until those who have been parted shall meet again". Hedvig Sophia's proper funeral and interment in Riddarholm Church did not take place until 1718, after the death of Carl.
She is perhaps most well-known for the extensive correspondence between her and her brother King Carl XII, who lived most of his life in war campaigns abroad. When he died in 1718 and left no male heirs to the throne, the late Hedvig Sophia's only child, Duke Karl Friedrich was in line to succeed him, but the late king's younger sister Ulrica Eleanor
quickly moved herself onto the throne instead.
Hedvig Sophia was the paternal grandmother of Emperor Peter III of Russia
.
Holstein-Gottorp
Holstein-Gottorp or Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp is the historiographical name, as well as contemporary shorthand name, for the parts of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein that were ruled by the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Other parts of the duchies were ruled by the kings of Denmark. The...
, the eldest child of King Charles XI
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, and his spouse Queen Ulrica Eleanor. She was heir presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
to the Swedish throne until her death and the Regent of the duchy of Holstein-Gottorp for her minor son from 1702 to 1708. Some sources refer to her as Sofia.
Princess of Sweden
After the death of her mother, she and her siblings were placed under the custody of her grandmother; due to her grandmothers influence, she was given anti-Danish views.Duchess consort
On 12 May 1698 at Karlberg she married her cousin, Frederick IV, Duke of Holstein-GottorpFrederick IV, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
Duke Frederick IV of Holstein-Gottorp was Duke of Schleswig.He was born in Gottorp as the elder son of Duke Christian Albrecht of Holstein-Gottorp and Princess Frederika Amalia of Denmark...
. Her marriage was arranged as a part of the traditional Swedish policy of alliance with Holstein-Gottorp
Holstein-Gottorp
Holstein-Gottorp or Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp is the historiographical name, as well as contemporary shorthand name, for the parts of the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein that were ruled by the dukes of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorp. Other parts of the duchies were ruled by the kings of Denmark. The...
against Denmark; her brother had earlier been expected to marry Frederick's sister, but he refused. The marriage took place against her consent and was not happy. Hedvig Sofia was an eager participant in the frequent partying that dominated her brother's court for a few years before the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
in 1700, and she spent most of her life at the Swedish court. She visited Holstein-Gottorp in 1699 and remained there for about a year, but in 1700 she returned to Sweden, where she was second in line to the Swedish throne and presumptive heir. She resided mainly at Karlberg.
Regent
In 1702, Hedvig Sofia became a widowWidow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
and formal Regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
for her minor son, the Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. However, she spent most of her time in Sweden and rarely visited the home of her spouse: she left the daily affairs of the duchy to Christian August of Holstein-Gottorp, the uncle of her late spouse, but matters of major importance were always to be confirmed by her. In Sweden, she worked to have her son accepted as an heir to the Swedish throne, and the "Holstein party", as it was called, was also the most successful contestant under her leadership until her death in 1708. As a widow, she was the object of plans to arrange a new political marriage. Among the candidates were the Crown Prince of Hanover, that is the future King George II of Great Britain
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
, but she refused a new arranged marriage; she was then involved with the young noble Olof Gyllenborg. That relationship was open public knowledge at court and seems to have been accepted, though much disliked by her grandmother, Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp
Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp
Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp was the queen consort of King Charles X of Sweden and queen mother of King Charles XI...
.
During her time as princess at the Swedish court, Hedvig Sophia was described as a beautiful woman with an interest in fashion, and the relationship between her and her brother, King Carl, was very deep. In July of 1709, her brother, who recently had become a refugee of his military catastrophe at Poltava
Battle of Poltava
The Battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709 was the decisive victory of Peter I of Russia over the Swedish forces under Field Marshal Carl Gustav Rehnskiöld in one of the battles of the Great Northern War. It is widely believed to have been the beginning of Sweden's decline as a Great Power; the...
and was far away in Bendery (today in Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
) finally received the news of Hedvig Sophia's death in Stockholm the previous December. Carl at first refused to believe it, and this was the only time he was ever known to have wept. It was "an event which I had trusted never to be so unhappy to survive" and he suffered from "that grief which can never altogether leave me until those who have been parted shall meet again". Hedvig Sophia's proper funeral and interment in Riddarholm Church did not take place until 1718, after the death of Carl.
She is perhaps most well-known for the extensive correspondence between her and her brother King Carl XII, who lived most of his life in war campaigns abroad. When he died in 1718 and left no male heirs to the throne, the late Hedvig Sophia's only child, Duke Karl Friedrich was in line to succeed him, but the late king's younger sister Ulrica Eleanor
Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden
Ulrika Eleonora or Ulrica Eleanor , also known as Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, was Queen regnant of Sweden from 5 December 1718 to 29 February 1720, and then Queen consort until her death....
quickly moved herself onto the throne instead.
Hedvig Sophia was the paternal grandmother of Emperor Peter III of Russia
Peter III of Russia
Peter III was Emperor of Russia for six months in 1762. He was very pro-Prussian, which made him an unpopular leader. He was supposedly assassinated as a result of a conspiracy led by his wife, who succeeded him to the throne as Catherine II.-Early life and character:Peter was born in Kiel, in...
.
Issue
| Name | |Death | Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp Duke Charles Frederick of Holstein-Gottorp was the son of Frederick IV of Holstein-Gottorp and his wife, Hedvig Sophia, daughter of King Charles XI of Sweden... | 30 April 1700 | 18 June 1739 | married Grand Duchess Anna Petrovna of Russia and had issue. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Titles and styles
- 26 June 1681 - 12 May 1698 Her Royal Highness Princess Hedvig Sophia of Sweden
- 12 May 1698 - 19 July 1702 Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp
- 19 July 1702 - 22 December 1708 Her Royal Highness The Dowager Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp
Ancestors
External links
- http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower1700-filer/image011.jpg (Image)