Charlotta von Liewen (12 October 1683 – 10 January 1735) was a politically active Swedish countess. She was married to

riksråd Riksrådet (in Norwegian and Swedish), Rigsrådet (in Danish) or (English: the Council of the Realm and the Council of the State – sometimes translated as the "Privy Council") is the name of the councils of the Scandinavian countries that rule ...

count Gustaf Bonde (1682–1764) and a collaborated with France. She was the daughter of Bernhard von Liewen and Sigrid Oxenstierna af Croneborg and in 1708 married count Gustaf Bonde (1682-1764). As maid of honor to Princess

Hedvig Sophia of Sweden Hedvig Sophia Augusta of Sweden (26 June 1681 – 22 December 1708), Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp, was the eldest child of Charles XI of Sweden and Ulrike Eleonore of Denmark. She was heir presumptive to the Swedish throne until her death and the ...

in 1708, she was a part of the group at court who attempted to exile the influential

Juliana Schierberg Juliana Sophia Schierberg, known as ''Julianchen'' (died 1712) was a Swedish favorite. She was the personal chamber maid and influential confidante of Princess Hedvig Sophia of Sweden and known for her influence and political activity. Juliana Sch ...

. Charlotta von Liewen is described as a person with a great informal power position within Swedish politics. She is known to have played a part in the traitor process against

Georg Heinrich von Görtz Georg Heinrich von Görtz, Baron of Schlitz (1668 – 19 February 1719), diplomat in Swedish service, was born in Holstein and educated at Jena. Career He entered the Holstein-Gottorp service, and after the death of the duchess Hedwig Sophia, C ...

and count

Gerhard von Dernath Gerhard is a name of Germanic origin and may refer to: Given name * Gerhard (bishop of Passau) (fl. 932–946), German prelate * Gerhard III, Count of Holstein-Rendsburg (1292–1340), German prince, regent of Denmark * Gerhard Barkhorn (1919– ...

in 1718. They were both loyalists of the Holstein Party, as was her. Charlotta von Liewen managed to arrange a meeting between Dernath, who was supposed to be imprisoned, and Dankwardt, one of the commission's members. Dankwardt refused to accept bribes from Dernath. Charlotta von Liewen then had queen

Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden Ulrika Eleonora or Ulrica Eleanor (23 January 1688 – 24 November 1741), known as Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, was Queen of Sweden, reigning in her own right from 5 December 1718 until her abdication on 29 February 1720 in favour of her husband ...

fire Dankwardt, after which Dernath was freed. Charlotta von Liewen is also confirmed to have been an agent of the French ambassador, Charles Louis de Biaudos de Casteja, who was known for his network of agents during his tenure in Sweden, especially female ones, such as

Margareta Gyllenstierna Margareta Gyllenstierna af Fogelvik (c. 1689 - 26 January 1740), was a politically active Swedish countess, married to Arvid Horn, the President of the Privy Council Chancellery of Sweden, Privy Council Chancellery (1710–1719 and 1720–1738) a ...

and

Hedvig Catharina Lillie Hedvig is a given name. Notable people with the name include: People *Hedvig Catharina De la Gardie (1732–1800), Swedish noblewoman of French descent *Hedvig Catharina Lilje (1695–1745), Swedish noblewoman, salonist and informal amateur-politi ...

. Casteja reported that France could use her influence over her spouse by feeding her ambitions for his career. In 1731, Casteja aided her in acquiring an advancement for her spouse, her son, who was in French service, was appointed capten for the French regiment Comte de Saxe and she herself was given a pair of diamond earrings by order of

Louis XV of France Louis XV (15 February 1710 – 10 May 1774), known as Louis the Beloved (french: le Bien-Aimé), was King of France from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774. He succeeded his great-grandfather Louis XIV at the age of five. Until he reache ...

. She was not the only woman in Sweden to collaborate as an agent for France, but the dealings between Lieven and Casteja was more clearly documented than most. After her death, the French ambassador reported that Bonde could no longer be expected to act for French interests, for although his next spouse also acquired influence over his policy, she was no friend of France.

References

* Norrhem, Svante (2007). Kvinnor vid maktens sida : 1632-1772. (Women alongside power: 1632-1772) Lund: Nordic Academic Press. Libris 10428618. (Swedish) * http://www.adelsvapen.com/genealogi/Von_Liewen_nr_45 * Fabian Persson (1999). Servants of Fortune. The Swedish court between 1598 and 1721. Lund: Wallin & Dalholm. {{authority control 1683 births 1735 deaths Swedish countesses 18th-century spies