Abel Cathrine (ca. 1626-1676) was a Danish courtier and philanthropist. She was the favorite of the queen of Denmark,

Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Calenberg (24 March 1628 – 20 February 1685) was Queen of Denmark and Norway as the consort of the King Frederick III of Denmark. She is known for her political influence, as well as for her cultural impact: she act ...

, and known as the founder of Abel Cathrine Foundation ('' Abel Cathrines Stiftelse''). Abel Cathrines Gade, a street in Copenhagen, is named after her.

Biography

Abel Cathrine was born in

Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sc ...

in circa 1626. She never used a surname, but she is believed to have been the illegitimate daughter of a German nobleman of the von der Wisch family. She was likely employed in the household of Queen Sophie Amalie upon her arrival to Denmark in 1643. In 1655, Abel Catherine married the court official Hans Hansen Osten (1617-1672), who was supervisor (''proviantskriver'') at

Proviantgården Proviantgården or Provianthuset is a historic building on Slotsholmen in Copenhagen, Denmark. The building was originally constructed in the early 1600s as part of a Christian IV's naval harbor project. Its name, ''Proviantgården'', is in refere ...

Slotsholmen Slotsholmen (English: The Castle Islet) is an island in the harbour of Copenhagen, Denmark, and part of Copenhagen Inner City. The name is taken from the successive castles and palaces located on the island since Bishop Absalon constructed the c ...

and at the

Copenhagen Castle Copenhagen Castle ( da, Københavns Slot) was a castle on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It was built in the late 14th century and was located at the site of the current Christiansborg Palace. History In 1167, Bisho ...

in Copenhagen as well as crown manager of Queen Sofie Amalies's estates on Lolland and Falster. In addition to his responsibilities of the royal estates, Osten also accumulated a great fortune through personal investments. Formally, Abel Cathrine left her position as lady-in-waiting of the queen upon her marriage, but in practice she remained the intimate favorite of the queen who showed her many favors. After the death of her spouse in 1672, Abel Cathrine acquired Ulriksholm Manor (''Ulriksholm Slot'') in the parish of Kølstrup. She also used a large part of her wealth for charitable purposes. She founded ''Abel Cathrines Stiftelse'' to provide housing for the poor in Copenhagen. Abel Cathrine died on New Year's Day in 1676. In her will, she also created a hospital at Ulriksholm and a number of scholarships. Both Abel Cathrine and Hans Hansen Osten were buried at the

Church of Holmen The Holmen Church ( da, Holmens Kirke) is a Parish church in central Copenhagen in Denmark, on the street called Holmens Kanal. First built as an anchor forge in 1563, it was converted into a naval church by Christian IV. It is famous for having ...

in Copenhagen where an epitaph with a double portrait was painted by

Abraham Wuchters Abraham Wuchters (1608 – 23 May 1682) was a Brabant-born Dutch- Danish painter and engraver. He was born in Antwerp but had most of his career in Denmark where he and Karel van Mander III became the preferred painters of the Danish King, no ...

in 1674.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cathrine, Abel 1626 births 1676 deaths People from Schleswig-Holstein Danish ladies-in-waiting Danish philanthropists 17th-century Danish women 17th-century Danish people 17th-century philanthropists