Fru Marie Grubbe (1643–1718) was a member of the

Danish nobility Danish nobility is a social class and a former estate in the Kingdom of Denmark. The nobility has official recognition in Denmark, a monarchy. Its legal privileges were abolished with the constitution of 1849. Some of the families still own and ...

who drew a lot of attention by her many extramarital affairs. She has been the inspiration for books, plays and operas.

Biography

Daughter of the statesman and nobleman Erik Grubbe (1605–92) and his wife Maren Juul (1608–47). She was married to Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (1638–1704), Governor-general of Norway, the son of King Frederick III of Denmark, in 1660–70, the noble Palle Dyre (d. 1707) in 1673–91, and to the coachman Søren Sørensen Møller in 1691. As the heir of her father, she was arranged to marry Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig (1638-1704), the illegitimate son of King Frederick III of Denmark by her relative Regitze, widow of the illegitimate son of King

Christian IV of Denmark Christian IV (12 April 1577 – 28 February 1648) was King of Denmark and Norway and Duke of Holstein and Schleswig from 1588 until his death in 1648. His reign of 59 years, 330 days is the longest of Danish monarchs and Scandinavian mon ...

and Karen Andersdatter. The Countess of Laurvig followed her husband to

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...

in 1664. She had extramarital relationships with her husband's

secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

Joachim Lambert, the Frenchman Blanquefort and her brother-in-law Stygge Høeg. In 1667, the spouses separated. As

adultery Adultery (from Latin ''adulterium'') is extramarital sex that is considered objectionable on social, religious, moral, or legal grounds. Although the sexual activities that constitute adultery vary, as well as the social, religious, and legal ...

under Danish law was punishable by death, she thanked her spouse for her life, as he had chosen not to have her killed. She and the Count were divorced by permission of the King in 1670, and the former Countess was allowed to remarry and keep her fortune. In 1673, her father arranged a new marriage with Palle Dyre. In 1690, when she had an extramarital relationship with the younger coachman Søren Sørensen Møller, her father asked the king for permission to

disinherit Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officially ...

his daughter and to have her locked up for the rest of her life. The king asked her spouse for his wishes, and he answered that he only wished for a divorce. She was put under house arrest until the divorce was completed, after which she was disinherited and lost her right to remarry in Denmark. She then married her lover Søren Sørensen Møller in

Holsten Holsten Brewery (Holsten-Brauerei AG) is a brewing company founded in 1879 in what is now Hamburg's Altona-Nord quarter. The group now has seven breweries in Germany. Its nationally distributed premium brand is the pale lager ''Holsten Pilsen ...

in Germany instead. The couple lived in poverty until they were given a lease on Grønsund Ferry House on Falster by the Queen dowager

Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (27 April 1650 – 27 March 1714) was Queen of Denmark and Norway by marriage to King Christian V. Although she did not have much political influence, she was a successful businesswoman in her many estates and prot ...

, which enabled them to make a living from operating the ferry service to Møn and the associated inn. After the death of the queen dowager in 1714, she lived on charity. She once said to

Ludvig Holberg Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg (3 December 1684 – 28 January 1754) was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian dual monarchy. He was influenced by Humanism, ...

, that she was happier with her third spouse than she had been with any other. Some years ago, she was found to have been buried in Allerslev, under the name of Marie Grubbens.

In culture

Marie Grubbe has inspired many artists since

. She has inspired the books ''Kysse-Marie'' by Juliane Preisler (1994), ''Blichers Brudstykker af en Landsbydegns Dagbog'' by Steen Steensen (1824), ''Fru Marie Grubbe'' by

J. P. Jacobsen Jens Peter Jacobsen (7 April 1847 – 30 April 1885) was a Danish novelist, poet, and scientist, in Denmark often just written as "J. P. Jacobsen". He began the naturalist movement in Danish literature and was a part of the Modern Bre ...

, (1876) and ''Hønse-Grethes Familie'' by H. C. Andersen (1869), the opera ''Marie Grubbe'' by

Ebbe Hamerik Ebbe Hamerik (5 September 1898 – 12 August 1951) was a Danish composer. Born in Frederiksberg, he was the son of composer Asger Hamerik. He died at the age of 52 in Kattegat when his sailboat sank and he drowned. Notable operas include ''S ...

(1940) and a play by Sven Lange. In 1989/1990, a three-episode TV mini-series with the title ''Marie Grubbe''
an

''Marie Grubbe'' at The Internet Movie Database has been produced in East Germany, GDR-Polish-Hungarian-Danish co-production, directed by Christian Steinke, starring Austrian actress Mijou Kovacs as Marie Grubbe.

Notes

References

Dansk kvindebiografisk leksikon
(in Danish) {{DEFAULTSORT:Grubbe, Marie 1643 births 1718 deaths 17th-century Danish nobility 18th-century Danish nobility 17th-century Danish people 17th-century Danish women Grubbe family

Biography

In culture

See also

Notes

References