Maria Skytte af Duderhof (died 1703) was a Swedish Baroness and Countess known for her unconventional lifestyle. She was the daughter of Baron

Bengt Skytte Bengt Skytte (1614–1683) was a Swedish courtier and diplomat. He was a follower of Comenius and proposed a pansophic city, "Sophopolis". Early life He was the son of Johan Skytte and Maria Näf (Neaf) and brother of Vendela Skytte. He matricula ...

and Christina

Sparre Sparre (variously spelled ''Sperra, Sper, Spar'') is a Scandinavian surname - originally borne by a noble family - and can refer to: * Aage Jepsen Sparre, Danish priest * Arvid Gustavsson Sparre (1245 - 1317), Lord of Ekholmen, Sweden * Axel Spar ...

and the niece of

Vendela Skytte Vendela Skytte (or Wendela Skytte) (8 December 1608 – 18 August 1629) was a Swedish noblewoman, salonist and writer, poet and Lady of Letters. During her lifetime, she became an ideal and role model for a learned female scholar. Biography ...

Gustav Skytte Gustav Adolf Skytte af Duderhof (1637 – 21 April 1663) was a Swedish nobleman. He became a pirate and plundered ships in the Baltic Sea in the years 1657 to 1662. Biography Skytte was born at Strömsrum Manor in the parish of Ålems at Mön ...

and

Christina Anna Skytte Christina Anna Skytte (9 November 1643 – 21 January 1677) was a Swedish baroness and pirate. Life Christina Anna Skytte was born in the parish of Ålems at Mönsterås Municipality, Mönsterås in Kalmar County, Sweden. Her parents were Anna ...

were her cousins. She was born sometime between 1636 and 1639. In 1664, she entered a long-term relationship with

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 Adam Banér Gustav, Gustaf or Gustave may refer to: *Gustav (name), a male given name of Old Swedish origin Art, entertainment, and media * ''Primeval'' (film), a 2007 American horror film * ''Gustav'' (film series), a Hungarian series of animated short cart ...

(1631-1681), the same year Banér married Katarina Lillie (1643-1667). Skytte lived openly with Banér, which was formally a crime and caused a national scandal which made them both infamous. When she accompanied him openly during his journeys around the country, they were put on trial. Maria Skytte was accused of having disguised herself as a male, which was also a crime, when she secretly visited him. This has attracted attention in gender studies, and Maria Skytte and

Greta Benzelia Greta may refer to: *Greta (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name Places * Greta Bridge, village in County Durham, England * Greta, New South Wales, town in Australia ** Greta railway station ** Greta Army Camp, form ...

have been regarded as examples of females posing as males when wishing to hide their identities. Banér was forced to swear before the court

hovrätt The courts of appeal in Sweden and in Finland'','' also known as Hovrätt ( fi, 'Hovioikeus', Swedish: Hovrätt) (literally "Royal Court") deal with appeals against decisions of the district courts. They also are responsible for supervi ...

en that he had not consummated his relationship with Skytte sexually, after which he was warned and exiled from the royal court. After Banér was widowed in 1667 Skytte married him. The marriage was first declared invalid and Banér was exiled from the country for six years, but the couple managed to have it legalized. Maria Skytte was portrayed in the novel '' Fribytaren på Östersjön'' by Viktor Rydberg.

References

* Banér, Gustaf Adam i Herman Hofberg, Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon (andra upplagan, 1906) * Gustaf Elgenstierna, Den introducerade svenska adelns ättartavlor. 1925-36 * Borgström Eva, red (2002). Makalösa kvinnor: könsöverskridare i myt och verklighet. Stockholm: Alfabeta/Anamma. Libris 8707902. (inb.) * Gustaf Adam (Johansson) Banér, urn:sbl:19036, Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (art av G. WlTTROCK.), hämtad 2014-04-21. {{DEFAULTSORT:Skytte, Maria 1630s births 1703 deaths 17th-century Swedish people Swedish countesses 17th-century women People of the Swedish Empire 17th-century Swedish women