Margareta Gyllenstierna 2013-04-06 16-20

Margareta Gyllenstierna af Fogelvik (c. 1689 - 26 January 1740), was a politically active Swedish countess, married to

Arvid Horn Count Arvid Bernhard Horn af Ekebyholm (6 April 166418 April 1742) was a Swedish general, diplomat and politician, a member of the noble Horn family. He served twice as President of the Privy Council Chancellery (1710–1719 and 1720–1738) ...

, the President of the Privy Council Chancellery (1710–1719 and 1720–1738) and one of the leading figures of the Swedish

Age of Liberty In Swedish and Finnish history, the Age of Liberty ( sv, frihetstiden; fi, vapauden aika) was a period that saw parliamentary governance, increasing civil rights and the decline of the Swedish Empire that began with Charles XII's death in 1718 ...

Life

Margareta Gyllenstierna was the 6th of 10 children of count Nils Karlsson Gyllenstierna (1648-1720) and Anna Christina Gyllenstierna af Björksund (1657-1715): her year of birth is not stated, but it is likely 1689, as she was born in between her sisters Sidonia (1688-1701) and Charlotta (1690-1695). Being the only child so survive to adulthood, she was the heir of great estates in Småland and Östergötland. She married Horn in his third marriage in 1710. She had five children, two sons and three daughters. During the 1720s and 1730s, Margareta Gyllenstierna and

played a similar role as

Magdalena Stenbock Magdalena Stenbock (14 September 1649 – 24 January 1727), was a politically active Swedish countess and salon holder. She was married to Council President Count Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna. She was recognized as an important contact by forei ...

and

Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna Count Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna (1623–1702) was a Swedish soldier and statesman, who served as Foreign Minister from 1680 to 1697. During this period, he ensured Sweden remained neutral and moved away from its traditional French alliance. ...

in the 1680s and 1690s, and

Christina Piper Christina Piper, née ''Törne'' (1673 in Stockholm – 1752 in Krageholm Castle, Scania), was a Swedish countess, landowner and entrepreneur, married to the statesman and military count Carl Piper. During the tenure of her spouse in office, ...

and

Carl Piper Count Carl Piper (July 29, 1647, Stockholm – May 29, 1716, Schlüsselburg) was a Swedish statesman. He entered the foreign office after completing his academical course at Uppsala, accompanied Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna on his embassage ...

in the 1700s: that of a married couple acting as political colleagues. Gyllestierna was among the influential political spouses who collaborated with the French ambassador

Charles Louis de Biaudos de Casteja Charles-Louis de Biaudos, Count of Castéja (1693-1755) was a French diplomat. He was the French ambassador to Sweden in 1727–1737. He was the second son of Jean de Biaudos, Marquis de Castéja and Marie Midot de Villers. In 1718 he married Jea ...

, who was known to engage female agents in Sweden for France, such as

Charlotta von Liewen Charlotta von Liewen (12 October 1683 – 10 January 1735) was a politically active Swedish countess. She was married to riksråd count Gustaf Bonde (1682–1764) and a collaborated with France. She was the daughter of Bernhard von Liewen ...

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 often mentions her in his reports and refers to her influence of her powerful spouse by describing the political views of Count Horn as the views of the Count and Countess Horn, as if they were one joint politician who shared the position of Arvid Horn. Margareta Gyllenstierna gave Casteja information and analyses about which people who was in a politically favourable position, and she further more accepted supplicants through Casteja. The collaboration between Gyllenstierna and Casteja was broken on her initiative when the policy of Horn clashed with French interests, and she chose the interests of Horn before that of France. She demonstrated her change of attitude by a public demonstration of displeasure when Casteja congratulated her spouse at one of his political achievements. Margareta Gyllenstierna maintained a political correspondence with the queen of France,

Marie Leszczyńska Maria Karolina Zofia Felicja Leszczyńska (; ; 23 June 1703 – 24 June 1768), also known as Marie Leczinska, was Queen of France as the wife of King Louis XV from their marriage on 4 September 1725 until her death in 1768. The daughter of Stanis ...

, and the former Polish queen,

Catherine Opalińska Countess Catherine Opalińska ( pl, Katarzyna Opalińska; 13 October 1680 – 19 March 1747), was by birth member of House of Opaliński, Queen consort of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth twice and Duchess consort of Lorraine through her marr ...

, both of whom were known as acquaintances of Horn since their stay in Sweden in 1709-1714.Norrhem, Svante (2007). Kvinnor vid maktens sida : 1632-1772. (Women alongside power: 1632-1772) Lund: Nordic Academic Press. Libris 10428618. (Swedish)

References

* Norrhem, Svante (2007). Kvinnor vid maktens sida : 1632-1772. (Women alongside power: 1632-1772) Lund: Nordic Academic Press. Libris 10428618. (Swedish) * Gustaf Elgenstierna, Den introducerade svenska adelns ättartavlor. 1925-36. {{DEFAULTSORT:Gyllenstierna, Margareta 1680s births 1740 deaths Swedish countesses Swedish people of the Great Northern War 18th-century Swedish nobility Age of Liberty people

Life

See also

References