Johanna "Jeanna" von Lantingshausen, née von Stockenström, (1753–1809), was a Swedish noble and courtier. She is foremost known as the instigator of the political demonstration by the noblewomen toward Gustav III in opposition of his parliamentary act of 1789.

Life

She was the daughter of Riksråd count Erik von Stockenström and Johanna Bedoire and was married in 1777 to Baron Albrekt von Lantingshausen. Johanna von Lantingshausen was a popular socialite and known for her performances within the

amateur theater Amateur theatre, also known as amateur dramatics, is theatre performed by amateur actors and singers. Amateur theatre groups may stage plays, revues, musicals, light opera, pantomime or variety shows, and do so for the social activity as well as f ...

Gustav III of Sweden Gustav III (29 March 1792), also called ''Gustavus III'', was King of Sweden from 1771 until his assassination in 1792. He was the eldest son of Adolf Frederick of Sweden and Queen Louisa Ulrika of Prussia. Gustav was a vocal opponent of what ...

: she was formerly a maid of honor to

Sophia Magdalena of Denmark Sophia Magdalena of Denmark ( da, Sophie Magdalene; sv, Sofia Magdalena; 3 July 1746 – 21 August 1813) was Crown Princess of Sweden by her marriage to Gustav III. She was liked by many in the Caps party, believing she was a symbol of virtue a ...

and a personal friend of

Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp ( sv, Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta; 22 March 1759 – 20 June 1818) was Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of King Charles XIII and II. She was also a famed diarist, memoirist and wit. She is ...

. She was also a personal friend of

: at

Gripsholm Castle Gripsholm Castle ( sv, Gripsholms slott) is a castle in Mariefred, Södermanland, Sweden. It is located by lake Mälaren in south central Sweden, in the municipality of Strängnäs, about 60 km west of Stockholm. Since Gustav Vasa, Gripshol ...

in the winter of 1776, for example, it is mentioned how she, the King and

Hedvig Eleonora von Fersen Hedvig "Hedda" Eleonora von Fersen (2 July 1753 – 8 November 1792, in Pisa) was a Swedish noble, lady in waiting to the Swedish queen, Sophia Magdalena of Denmark. She was the daughter of Axel von Fersen the Elder and Hedvig Catharina De la Gard ...

persuaded

Johan Gabriel Oxenstierna Count Johan Gabriel Oxenstierna (19 July 1750 – 29 July 1818) is considered one of the foremost Swedish poets of the Gustavian period. A prominent courtier during the reign of King Gustav III of Sweden, he was also a politician, diplomat and m ...

, Lewenhaupt and Adolf Ludvig Hamilton to join them in the prank to awake the sleeping courtiers from bed at night by surprising them in their beds.

Conflict with the monarch

At the stormy Assembly of the Estates in 1789, were Gustav III needed the support to continue the ongoing Russo-Swedish war, the monarch came into open conflict with the nobility, which was in opposition to the war and the

Union and Security Act The Union and Security Act ( sv, Förenings- och säkerhetsakten, fi, Yhdistys- ja vakuuskirja), alternatively Act of Union and Security, was proposed by king Gustav III of Sweden to the assembled Estates of the Realm during the Riksdag of 1789. I ...

: he used the other estates to defeat the nobility and had many representatives of the nobility placed in house arrest and imprisoned. This caused a break between Gustav III and the nobility, and it was demonstrated by a social boycott of him led by the female members of the aristocracy: the noblewomen made a political demonstration of their opinions by turning down all private invitations and socializing with him in his capacity of a private person: they demonstrated by visiting the Princesses,

and

Sophie Albertine of Sweden Princess Sophia Albertina of Sweden (''Sophia Maria Lovisa Fredrika Albertina''; 8 October 1753 – 17 March 1829) was the last Princess-Abbess of Quedlinburg Abbey, and as such reigned as vassal monarch of the Holy Roman Empire. Sophia Alberti ...

, who were also known to be in opposition to Gustav III, while at the same time turning down his invitations. Jeanna von Lantingshausen was the leader of this political demonstration of female nobles, and is reported to have been the instigator of it. Gustav III took deep offence of their "

Fronde The Fronde () was a series of civil wars in France between 1648 and 1653, occurring in the midst of the Franco-Spanish War, which had begun in 1635. King Louis XIV confronted the combined opposition of the princes, the nobility, the law cour ...

"-making and likened the noblewomen's way of political demonstration to the "hags" of the

French revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

and said himself to fear that they would storm him at the Gustav III's Pavilion as the

Women's March on Versailles The Women's March on Versailles, also known as the October March, the October Days or simply the March on Versailles, was one of the earliest and most significant events of the French Revolution. The march began among women in the marketplaces ...

. He replied to their demonstration by writing and performing a play in which Johanna von Lantingshausen was publicly mocked. According to

Elis Schröderheim Elis Schröderheim (26 March 1747, Stockholm – 30 August 1795), was a Swedish official, politician and a member of the Swedish Academy 1786-1795 (chair nr 12) as well as member nr 233 of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. He was an influentia ...

, this demonstration made Gustav III lose his former friends, and to spend more time with his male favorites such as

Georg Johan De Besche Georg Johan De Besche (1754–1814) was a Swedish courtier, colonel, governor and a favorite of Gustav III of Sweden. Georg Johan De Besche was the son of Johan Jacob De Besche and Anna Catharina Hilchen. He never married. He became page to Gustav ...

, in which he indulged in ill-reputed orgies with prostitutes. The demonstration also led to a conflict with the Queen in the autumn of 1790. That autumn, the King chose to remain in the summer residence of

Drottningholm Palace The Drottningholm Palace ( sv, Drottningholms slott) is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. Drottningholm is near the capital Stockholm. Built on the island Lovön (in Ekerö Municipality of Stockholm County), it is one of Swede ...

well in to the autumn because of the social boycott. Finally, the Queen returned to the capital without his consent, which made him accuse her of having been manipulated by the oppositional of the female courtiers to participate in the political demonstration and refusing him the company of her ladies-in-waiting by leaving. This conflict ended by a demonstration of power from the monarch: he wished to set an example, and Jeanna von Lantingshausen was chosen to play this part as the leader of the whole demonstration. In 1790, Gustav III had her officially banished from court and all places in which it was possible for her to come in contact with members of the royal house, such as the

Royal Swedish Opera Royal Swedish Opera ( sv, Kungliga Operan) is an opera and ballet company based in Stockholm, Sweden. Location and environment The building is located in the center of Sweden's capital Stockholm in the borough of Norrmalm, on the eastern side ...

. Johanna von Lantingshausen asked for a formal instruction to be sent and read to her by an official, and this instruction was thereafter read to her in her by police official

Nils Henric Liljensparre Nils Henric Aschan Liljensparre, born ''Sivers'' (22 July 1738, Norrköping - 5 January 1814, Stockholm), was a Swedish police officer. He is most known for conducting the investigation of the regicide of king Gustav III of Sweden in 1792. Lilje ...

, who read it to her in her salon where she had her guests gathered as witnesses. This event is mentioned in many contemporary memoirs, letters and diaries and regarded as a scandal, particularly as it was read by Liljensparre, who normally arrested prostitutes, and it contributed to the unpopularity and aristocratic opposition toward Gustav III during his last years as monarch. Her banishment lasted until the death of Gustav III.

In fiction

Jeanna von Lantingshausen is portrayed in the novel ''Pottungen'' (Chamber pot child) by Anna Laestadius Larsson from 2014, where she, alongside

Ulrika Pasch Ulrika "Ulla" Fredrica Pasch (10 July 1735 in Stockholm – 2 April 1796 in Stockholm), was a Swedish rococo painter and miniaturist, and a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts. Biography Education and early career Ulrika Pasch was ...

Anna Maria Lenngren Anna Maria Lenngren, née ''Malmstedt'' (June 18, 1754 – March 8, 1817), was one of the most famous poets in Swedish history. Her father and brother were also poets. One of her best-known poems is ''Några ord till min kära dotter, ifall jag ...

Ulrika Widström Ulrika Carolina Widström (24 November 1764, in Stockholm – 19 February 1841), was a Swedish poet and translator. Early life and education She was born to the organ manufacturer Peter Forsberg and Katarina Maria Grip. She was educated in bot ...

Marianne Ehrenström Mariana "Marianne" Maximiliana Christiana Carolina Lovisa Ehrenström, née ''Pollet'' (9 December 1773 – 4 January 1867), was a Swedish writer, singer, painter, pianist, culture personality, memoir writer and lady-in-waiting. She was a mem ...

and

Sophie von Fersen Countess Eva Sophie Piper, née Eva Sophie von Fersen (30 March 1757 – 2 February 1816, Löfstad Slott), was a Swedish countess and lady in waiting. She was the daughter of count Axel von Fersen the Elder and Hedvig Catharina von Fersen and t ...

, becomes a member in a

Blue Stockings Society The Blue Stockings Society, an informal women's social and educational movement in England in the mid-18th century, emphasised education and mutual cooperation. Elizabeth Montagu, Elizabeth Vesey and others founded it in the early 1750s as a ...

organized by

Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp Hedwig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp ( sv, Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta; 22 March 1759 – 20 June 1818) was Queen of Sweden and Norway as the consort of King Charles XIII and II. She was also a famed diarist, memoirist and wit. She is k ...

References

* Gerd Ribbing (1958). Gustav III:s hustru. Sofia Magdalena. Stockholm: Alb. Bonniers Boktryckeri. ISBN * Gerd Ribbing (1959). Ensam drottning. Sofia Magdalena 1783-1813. Stockholm: Alb. Bonniers Boktryckeri. ISBN * Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta; Bonde Carl Carlson (1903). Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok. 2, 1783-1788. Stockholm: Norstedt. Libris 8207713 * Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta; Bonde Carl Carlson (1907). Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok. 3, 1789-1792. Stockholm: Norstedt. Libris 8207714 * Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon. 1906 {{DEFAULTSORT:Lantingshausen, Jeanna von 1753 births 1809 deaths Swedish ladies-in-waiting Swedish nobility Court of Gustav III