Clara Elisabeth, Countess von Platen-Hallermund (14 January 1648 — 30 January 1700,
Schloss Monplaisir, in what is now the Von-Alten-Garten in
Hannover
Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German States of Germany, state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germa ...
) was a German noblewoman, most notable as the mistress of
Ernest Augustus (Elector of Hanover, father of George I of Great Britain) and for her involvement in the
Königsmarck affair.
Early life
She was the eldest daughter of Georg Philipp von
Meysenbug-Züschen (1610-1669) and his wife, who was also his relative, Anna Elisabeth von
Meysenbug (1620-1681).
Court life
Clara Elisabeth's father tried to get her and her sister Catharina positions at the French court at
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles ( ; french: Château de Versailles ) is a former royal residence built by King Louis XIV located in Versailles, about west of Paris, France. The palace is owned by the French Republic and since 1995 has been managed, u ...
. When this attempt failed, he placed them at the court of Ernest Augustus, where Clara Elisabeth served as
lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting or court lady is a female personal assistant at a court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman but of lower rank than the woman to whom sh ...
to the Duchess
Sophia and attracted the Duke's attention. Exerting great influence on him, she bore him two children: Ernst August (1674–1726) and
Sophia von Kielmansegg (1675–1717). In spite of being the Duke's / Elector's life-long mistress, Clara Elisabeth was married to Franz Ernst, Baron / Count (Reichsgraf since 1689) von
Platen-Hallermund (1631–1709).
Bibliography
* Paul Gerhard Zeidler: ''Elisabeth von Platen, eine deutsche Pompadour.'' Roman 1921
*
Paul Morand
Paul Morand (13 March 1888 – 24 July 1976) was a French author whose short stories and novellas were lauded for their style, wit and descriptive power. His most productive literary period was the interwar period of the 1920s and 1930s. He was mu ...
: ''Sophie Dorothea von Celle. Die Geschichte eines Lebens und einer Liebe.'' Christian Wegner Verlag 1968,
* Thea Leitner: ''Skandal bei Hof - Frauenschicksale an europäischen Königshöfen.'' Piper Verlag München 1997,
* Elisabeth E. Kwan / Anna Eunike Röhrig: ''Vergessene Frauen der Welfen.'' Göttingen : MatrixMedia Verl. 2008,
* Elisabeth E. Kwan / Anna Eunike Röhrig: ''Frauen vom Hof der Welfen. 20 Biografien.'' Göttingen : MatrixMedia Verl. 2006,
References
1648 births
1700 deaths
Mistresses of German royalty
German baronesses
{{Germany-noble-stub
