| Luise Ulrike von Preussen; Queen of Sweden and Jewel Thief |
When hen Luise Ulrike first arrived in Sweden, however, she was welcomed enthusiatically. She was
not very impressed by the Swedish king's hall. In a letter to her brother Friedrich, she wrote: "Arts
and Sciences were not in his (her husband's) taste. He has a deaf conductor, a level dance champion,
a crippled fencing master and a blind hovmålare. One can imagine the result of this." She received
Drottningholm Palace as a gift, and immediately decided to bring about a lively, more cultural
environment. She lived there with a youthful court who amused themselves with amateur theater and
picnics. Even though neither she nor Adolf Friedrich had a concept of frugality and their first annual
debt was over eighty thousand thalers, they were still popular with the people. After all, no children
had been born in the Swedish royal house in over fifty years when she gave birth to her first child.
not very impressed by the Swedish king's hall. In a letter to her brother Friedrich, she wrote: "Arts
and Sciences were not in his (her husband's) taste. He has a deaf conductor, a level dance champion,
a crippled fencing master and a blind hovmålare. One can imagine the result of this." She received
Drottningholm Palace as a gift, and immediately decided to bring about a lively, more cultural
environment. She lived there with a youthful court who amused themselves with amateur theater and
picnics. Even though neither she nor Adolf Friedrich had a concept of frugality and their first annual
debt was over eighty thousand thalers, they were still popular with the people. After all, no children
had been born in the Swedish royal house in over fifty years when she gave birth to her first child.
However, her brother had been right about her. From the start, politically minded Luise disliked the
Swedish constitution and preferred an absolute monarchy. She and her husband would have been
rulers during her their reign if the Swedish monarchy had not been stripped of its power, but now
Sweden was a monarchy in name only, and early on she laid plans to overthrow the parliament.
The powers of the Senate and Estates were unparalleled at the time, and her goal of restoring royal
powers was in opposition to the stand of the two existing main parties, the Hats and the Caps, both
of which wanted to maintain the status quo. So, she surrounded herself with nobles of her choosing
and this slowly gave way to a type of "royal court party" comprised of representatives of all parties.
Later, in 1746, she and her son the crown prince gathered more followers from the Caps party and
she visited several of the Cap's most prominent members and discovered the power of bribery.
Disapproving of the Swedish-Russian alliance, for example, she manipulated votes in the in 1747
parliament, and they voted for an alliance between Sweden, Prussia and France that same year.
Swedish constitution and preferred an absolute monarchy. She and her husband would have been
rulers during her their reign if the Swedish monarchy had not been stripped of its power, but now
Sweden was a monarchy in name only, and early on she laid plans to overthrow the parliament.
The powers of the Senate and Estates were unparalleled at the time, and her goal of restoring royal
powers was in opposition to the stand of the two existing main parties, the Hats and the Caps, both
of which wanted to maintain the status quo. So, she surrounded herself with nobles of her choosing
and this slowly gave way to a type of "royal court party" comprised of representatives of all parties.
Later, in 1746, she and her son the crown prince gathered more followers from the Caps party and
she visited several of the Cap's most prominent members and discovered the power of bribery.
Disapproving of the Swedish-Russian alliance, for example, she manipulated votes in the in 1747
parliament, and they voted for an alliance between Sweden, Prussia and France that same year.
When she became queen in 1751, she was spending a fifth of the royal income on culture. She went
to work bringing new life into the royal court and establishing a French-style theater at Drottningholm
Palace. Pretty and extremely intelligent, she studied fashion, science and arithmetic, and at thirty
years old learned to speak both Swedish and English. From the outset, she was attracted to the finest
Swedish literary, scientific and artistic talent. Her books included the works of Locke, all the works
of French writers Diderot, Montesquieu and Voltaire, and correspondences with astronomer Pierre
Maupertuis, author and philosopher Claude Adrien Helvetius and scientist René Antoine Réaumur.
She created Witterhetsakademin in 1753 for "history, antiques, eloquence and Swedish language
education" in the pattern of academies in Berlin and Paris, and she supported artists, writers,
musicians and scientists.
to work bringing new life into the royal court and establishing a French-style theater at Drottningholm
Palace. Pretty and extremely intelligent, she studied fashion, science and arithmetic, and at thirty
years old learned to speak both Swedish and English. From the outset, she was attracted to the finest
Swedish literary, scientific and artistic talent. Her books included the works of Locke, all the works
of French writers Diderot, Montesquieu and Voltaire, and correspondences with astronomer Pierre
Maupertuis, author and philosopher Claude Adrien Helvetius and scientist René Antoine Réaumur.
She created Witterhetsakademin in 1753 for "history, antiques, eloquence and Swedish language
education" in the pattern of academies in Berlin and Paris, and she supported artists, writers,
musicians and scientists.
On her thirty-fourth birthday, July 24, 1753, Luise got a surprise; Awakened by a 120 gun salute, her
day was filled with festivities. In the afternoon, the Royal Couple went for a carriage ride in the park
at Drottningholm and when the carriage stopped, Adolf led the queen along a fresh path. In a letter to
her mother, she related the incident: "He took me outside to the garden, and surprised me with a real
fairy pagent!! The king had a Chinese palace constructed, which is the most beautiful sight you can
see. My eldest son stood at the entrance of the palace dressed as a Chinese prince ... He read a poem
addressed to me and handed me the keys to the castle and its furnishings ... If I was not surprised
enough by the exterior, I was even moreso of the interior ".
day was filled with festivities. In the afternoon, the Royal Couple went for a carriage ride in the park
at Drottningholm and when the carriage stopped, Adolf led the queen along a fresh path. In a letter to
her mother, she related the incident: "He took me outside to the garden, and surprised me with a real
fairy pagent!! The king had a Chinese palace constructed, which is the most beautiful sight you can
see. My eldest son stood at the entrance of the palace dressed as a Chinese prince ... He read a poem
addressed to me and handed me the keys to the castle and its furnishings ... If I was not surprised
enough by the exterior, I was even moreso of the interior ".
The year that Sweden went to war against her brother (and against her opposition) in 1756, she
attempted a royalistic revolution to put the newly established Hovpartiet (Court Party) in power.
Luise asked Empress Catherine of Russia to finance her coup, and when refused she decided to
pawn the royal jewelry given to her by the state as a wedding gift as well as some other crown jewels
belonging to the state, among them 44 diamonds she had surreptitiously removed from the royal
crown and replaced with glass. The jewelery was put in the care her brother, August Wilhelm, who
tried to pawn them at a bank in Hamburg. Here the trouble began, for it was the same banker who
brokered French money for the Hat Party in Stockholm. He sent a report to the French ambassador
in Stockholm, who in turn contacted the Council. Alas, her lady-in-waiting also blew the whistle on
her and the government demanded to inspect the jewels. The Queen refused, and got a brief reprieve
because the king had taken ill, giving her time to get the diamonds out of hock and back for the
inventory. Weeks went by and the demands for an inspection became increasingly louder. On June
18, 1756, the scandal of the Queen's missing jewels made the newspapers. New cipher messages
were sent to Berlin and finally a bag with the Queen's precious cargo came from Berlin.. . and over
eight hundred rounds of hidden ammunition were ready to sail to her palace.
attempted a royalistic revolution to put the newly established Hovpartiet (Court Party) in power.
Luise asked Empress Catherine of Russia to finance her coup, and when refused she decided to
pawn the royal jewelry given to her by the state as a wedding gift as well as some other crown jewels
belonging to the state, among them 44 diamonds she had surreptitiously removed from the royal
crown and replaced with glass. The jewelery was put in the care her brother, August Wilhelm, who
tried to pawn them at a bank in Hamburg. Here the trouble began, for it was the same banker who
brokered French money for the Hat Party in Stockholm. He sent a report to the French ambassador
in Stockholm, who in turn contacted the Council. Alas, her lady-in-waiting also blew the whistle on
her and the government demanded to inspect the jewels. The Queen refused, and got a brief reprieve
because the king had taken ill, giving her time to get the diamonds out of hock and back for the
inventory. Weeks went by and the demands for an inspection became increasingly louder. On June
18, 1756, the scandal of the Queen's missing jewels made the newspapers. New cipher messages
were sent to Berlin and finally a bag with the Queen's precious cargo came from Berlin.. . and over
eight hundred rounds of hidden ammunition were ready to sail to her palace.
Luise Ulrike of Prussia (1720-1782) was the sixth sister of Friedrich the
Great, joining the Margravine Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth,
Princess Charlotte Albertine of Prussia, Margravine Friederike Luise of
Brandenburg-Ansbach, Duchess Philippine Charlotte of Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel, Margravine Sophie Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt
and Princess Anna Amalie of Prussia, Abbess of Quedlinburg. Her
brothers included Prince Friedrich Ludwig of Prussia, Prince Friedrich
Wilhelm of Prussia, Prince Ludwig of Prussia, Prince August Wilhelm
of Prussia, Prince Heinrich of Prussia and Prince Ferdinand of Prussia.
This sister became wife of King Adolf Friedrich of Sweden and mother
to King Gustav III of Sweden and King Charles XIII of Sweden. She
was known as Queen Lovisa Ulrika.
Great, joining the Margravine Wilhelmine of Brandenburg-Bayreuth,
Princess Charlotte Albertine of Prussia, Margravine Friederike Luise of
Brandenburg-Ansbach, Duchess Philippine Charlotte of Brunswick-
Wolfenbüttel, Margravine Sophie Dorothea of Brandenburg-Schwedt
and Princess Anna Amalie of Prussia, Abbess of Quedlinburg. Her
brothers included Prince Friedrich Ludwig of Prussia, Prince Friedrich
Wilhelm of Prussia, Prince Ludwig of Prussia, Prince August Wilhelm
of Prussia, Prince Heinrich of Prussia and Prince Ferdinand of Prussia.
This sister became wife of King Adolf Friedrich of Sweden and mother
to King Gustav III of Sweden and King Charles XIII of Sweden. She
was known as Queen Lovisa Ulrika.
On August 8, 1744, Luise arrived in Sweden, having received the first
visit from her new husband while still on board the ship that carried her
from Rügen to Karlskrona. Although the couple had already been
married a few weeks, the bridegroom had been represented by a brother
of the bride at the wedding ceremony in Berlin, and this was the first
time that they actually met in person. They immediately liked each
other and made a good match. Her sister Anna Amalia had initially been
considered for this position because her brother felt that with Sweden
going through the pangs of the Age of Liberty, Luise was a bit too
ambitious to be a queen without power. Friedrich reportedly even
claimed that she was "an arrogant, temperamental intriguer". But the
Swedish representatives preferred her and that is who they got...much
to their later chagrin.
visit from her new husband while still on board the ship that carried her
from Rügen to Karlskrona. Although the couple had already been
married a few weeks, the bridegroom had been represented by a brother
of the bride at the wedding ceremony in Berlin, and this was the first
time that they actually met in person. They immediately liked each
other and made a good match. Her sister Anna Amalia had initially been
considered for this position because her brother felt that with Sweden
going through the pangs of the Age of Liberty, Luise was a bit too
ambitious to be a queen without power. Friedrich reportedly even
claimed that she was "an arrogant, temperamental intriguer". But the
Swedish representatives preferred her and that is who they got...much
to their later chagrin.
The archbishop presented the Queen with a strong note
from the parliament forcing her to write a humiliating
confession and a letter of regret. The king issued a
statement stating that he would be deposed if she ever
again attempted something similar. By 1763, the
government, who had unwisely taken the wrong side in the
Seven Years War, a decision which cost 30,000 Swedes
their lives and the loss of one million thalers, now needed
her help in convincing her brother not to annex the then
Swedish province of Pommerania. She agreed...for a price.
from the parliament forcing her to write a humiliating
confession and a letter of regret. The king issued a
statement stating that he would be deposed if she ever
again attempted something similar. By 1763, the
government, who had unwisely taken the wrong side in the
Seven Years War, a decision which cost 30,000 Swedes
their lives and the loss of one million thalers, now needed
her help in convincing her brother not to annex the then
Swedish province of Pommerania. She agreed...for a price.
She had opposed his choice of a wife, Sophia Magdalena of Denmark, whom he married in 1766.
However, in 1772, the new king succeeded where she had failed: he reinstated absolute monarchy in
a coup. Gustav paid her debts, but shuffled her off to her own separate court at Fredrikshof, and in
1777, she was forced to sell Drottningholm Palace to Gustav. In 1777-78, she instigated a conflict
with Gustav by openly questioning the legitimacy of his son which resulted in a dreadful scandal. The
king at one point threatened to exile her to Pomerania but settled on making her write yet one more
humiliating formal statements, this one withdrawing her accusation. It signed by the entire adult royal
family except the royal couple and six members of parliament.
However, in 1772, the new king succeeded where she had failed: he reinstated absolute monarchy in
a coup. Gustav paid her debts, but shuffled her off to her own separate court at Fredrikshof, and in
1777, she was forced to sell Drottningholm Palace to Gustav. In 1777-78, she instigated a conflict
with Gustav by openly questioning the legitimacy of his son which resulted in a dreadful scandal. The
king at one point threatened to exile her to Pomerania but settled on making her write yet one more
humiliating formal statements, this one withdrawing her accusation. It signed by the entire adult royal
family except the royal couple and six members of parliament.
As Luise neared her own death, she asked at last to see the crown prince
whose parentage she had once questioned. When the little man came, she
beckoned for him to come to bedside. "I see," she said at last, "he has
the Brandenburg eyes." The crown prince patted her on the cheek and
asked how she felt, and she took a valuable diamond and mounted it on
his hat. She kissed him and gave him her blessing. On July 16, 1782,
Luise died. Gustav III gave his mother a magnificent funeral, and she
was put in the burial vault next to her departed husband. In the end, King
Gustav III was assassinated by a conspiracy of noblemen. He was shot in
the back as he attended a masked ball at the opera on March 16, 1792.
He died of his wounds in Stockholm Palace on March 29, 1792.
whose parentage she had once questioned. When the little man came, she
beckoned for him to come to bedside. "I see," she said at last, "he has
the Brandenburg eyes." The crown prince patted her on the cheek and
asked how she felt, and she took a valuable diamond and mounted it on
his hat. She kissed him and gave him her blessing. On July 16, 1782,
Luise died. Gustav III gave his mother a magnificent funeral, and she
was put in the burial vault next to her departed husband. In the end, King
Gustav III was assassinated by a conspiracy of noblemen. He was shot in
the back as he attended a masked ball at the opera on March 16, 1792.
He died of his wounds in Stockholm Palace on March 29, 1792.
Adolf Freidrich stayed in the background, his quiet pursuits tending more toward nature. He amassed
a very large collection of curios, strange stuffed animals, unique stones and items such as dried plants
from all over the world. Famed botanist Carl Linnaeus was invited to Drottningholm to catalog and
describe the collection, and it became a work of over seven hundred pages.
a very large collection of curios, strange stuffed animals, unique stones and items such as dried plants
from all over the world. Famed botanist Carl Linnaeus was invited to Drottningholm to catalog and
describe the collection, and it became a work of over seven hundred pages.
On a separate occasion she received another surprise, an unusual gift from the legendary sea captain
Carl Gustaf Ekeberg: a Caribbean slave boy about ten years old. The Queen found him enchanting,
and he grew up in the palace and played with the royal children. Although he walked about freely in
the castle, he did not receive any kind of education until he finally got so bored that he became
unruly. He was named Badin, and he clung to Luise as long as she lived.
Carl Gustaf Ekeberg: a Caribbean slave boy about ten years old. The Queen found him enchanting,
and he grew up in the palace and played with the royal children. Although he walked about freely in
the castle, he did not receive any kind of education until he finally got so bored that he became
unruly. He was named Badin, and he clung to Luise as long as she lived.
Her relationship with her son Gustav, below, was not resolved until her final days. The presumed sire
of the heir named by the king's mother and most of the public was Count Adolph Friedrich Munck of
Fulkila, chief of the royal stables. There was rumored to have been written evidence in the form of
personal letters that Munck acted as a sort of sex councilor and had to physically show them how to
consummate their marriage.
of the heir named by the king's mother and most of the public was Count Adolph Friedrich Munck of
Fulkila, chief of the royal stables. There was rumored to have been written evidence in the form of
personal letters that Munck acted as a sort of sex councilor and had to physically show them how to
consummate their marriage.
This caused a flurry of lewd cartoons and caricatures. The rumors
became more acute when it was discovered that the queen gave Munck a
watch with her miniature portrait, a pension and a diamond-ring, and the
king gave him a promotion.As the king arranged for his mother to make a
public apology for her accusation, rumors erupted that it would occur at
the forthcoming grand feast planned to celebrate the birth of the heir. Far
too many people showed up at the celebration and when the excited
crowd panicked, between sixty and one hundred people where trampled
to death.
became more acute when it was discovered that the queen gave Munck a
watch with her miniature portrait, a pension and a diamond-ring, and the
king gave him a promotion.As the king arranged for his mother to make a
public apology for her accusation, rumors erupted that it would occur at
the forthcoming grand feast planned to celebrate the birth of the heir. Far
too many people showed up at the celebration and when the excited
crowd panicked, between sixty and one hundred people where trampled
to death.
The government paid her debts which gave her new money
to use for bribery, and she decided to use it to change the
constitution. She failed, and by 1766, it was over. From
1766 to 1771, the anti-parliament opposition looked toward
her son Crown Prince Gustav for leadership, not her. In
1771, the king died and she became a Dowager Queen, and
a rather unpopular queen at that. When her son Gustav in
Paris received the news of the king's death, he wrote that
the Queen Dowager must be protected, as he knew "how
little loved" his mother was. Her relationship with her son
Gustav had already been strained before these events.
to use for bribery, and she decided to use it to change the
constitution. She failed, and by 1766, it was over. From
1766 to 1771, the anti-parliament opposition looked toward
her son Crown Prince Gustav for leadership, not her. In
1771, the king died and she became a Dowager Queen, and
a rather unpopular queen at that. When her son Gustav in
Paris received the news of the king's death, he wrote that
the Queen Dowager must be protected, as he knew "how
little loved" his mother was. Her relationship with her son
Gustav had already been strained before these events.
While weapons were being gathered, a plan was concocted in which criminals would be hired to
cause fake disturbances which would be quelled by the victorious King who would then resume
control. However, the plans were openly discussed at the pubs by, among others, royalist Ernst
Angel, the illegitimate son of Maximilian of Hesse-Cassel, the brother of king Friedrich I of Sweden.
On June 21, 1756, police heard the drunken Angel talk of a royal revolution and they arrested him
and interrogated him using torture. On the next day, the arrests of the suspected noblemen began.
When the royal couple entered Stockholm after a stay at Drottninghom Palace, the streets where
filled with the military. The whole conspiracy had been discovered, and a sentence of death had been
decreed, first on four of the involved noblemen, who were decapitated on Riddarholmstorget in
Stockholm in front of thousands of spectators outside the royal palace. Three days later, Ernst Angel
and three more were decapitated. Several others where sentenced to prison, whipping, exile, pillaring
and by being banned from seats in the parliament.
cause fake disturbances which would be quelled by the victorious King who would then resume
control. However, the plans were openly discussed at the pubs by, among others, royalist Ernst
Angel, the illegitimate son of Maximilian of Hesse-Cassel, the brother of king Friedrich I of Sweden.
On June 21, 1756, police heard the drunken Angel talk of a royal revolution and they arrested him
and interrogated him using torture. On the next day, the arrests of the suspected noblemen began.
When the royal couple entered Stockholm after a stay at Drottninghom Palace, the streets where
filled with the military. The whole conspiracy had been discovered, and a sentence of death had been
decreed, first on four of the involved noblemen, who were decapitated on Riddarholmstorget in
Stockholm in front of thousands of spectators outside the royal palace. Three days later, Ernst Angel
and three more were decapitated. Several others where sentenced to prison, whipping, exile, pillaring
and by being banned from seats in the parliament.