Court Mistress ( da, hofmesterinde; nl, hofmeesteres; german: Hofmeisterin; no, hoffmesterinne; sv, hovmästarinna) or Chief Court Mistress ( da, Overhofmesterinde; ('grand mistress'); ; no, overhoffmesterinne; sv, överhovmästarinna; russian: Обер-гофмейстерина, Ober-gofmeysterina) is or was the title of the senior

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 ...

in the courts of Austria, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden, Imperial Russia, and the German princely and royal courts.

Austria

In 1619, a set organisation was finally established for the Austrian Imperial court which came to be the characteristic organisation of the Austrian-Habsburg court roughly kept from this point onward. The first rank of the female courtiers was the '' Obersthofmeisterin'', who was second in rank after the empress herself, and responsible for all the female courtiers.Nadine Akkerman & Birgit Houben, eds. ''The Politics of Female Households: Ladies-in-Waiting Across Early Modern Europe'' (2013). Whenever absent, she was replaced by the ''Fräuleinhofmeisterin'', normally in charge of the unmarried female courtiers, their conduct and service.

Chief Court Mistress to
Anna of Tyrol Anna of Tyrol (4 October 1585 – 14 December 1618) was by birth an Archduchess of Austria and member of the Tyrolean branch of the House of Habsburg and by marriage Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Queen of Bohemia and Queen of Hungary. The ...
, 1608–1618

* 1611–1618: Freiin Katharina v. Kollowrath-L.

Chief Court Mistress to Eleonora Gonzaga, 1622–1658

* 1621–1624: Gräfin Maria Anna v. Portia * 1624–1637: Gräfin Ursula v. Attems * 1637–1644: Freiin Margarita v. Herberstein * 1647–1647: Gräfin Octavia Strozzi * 1652–1655: Freiin Anna Eleonora v. Metternich

Chief Court Mistress to
Maria Anna of Spain , house = Habsburg , father = Philip III of Spain , mother = Margaret of Austria , birth_date = , birth_place = El Escorial, Spain , death_date = , death_place = Linz, Austria , burial_place = Imperial Crypt , ...
, 1631–1646

* 1630–1638: Victoria de Toledo y Colona * 1643–1646: Marquesa Flores d’Avila

Chief Court Mistress to
Maria Leopoldine of Austria Maria Leopoldine of Austria-Tyrol (6 April 1632 – 7 August 1649), was by birth Archduchess of Austria and member of the Tyrolese branch of the House of Habsburg and by marriage the second spouse of her first cousin, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdina ...
, 1648–1649

* 1648–1649: Gräfin Anna Eleonora v. Wolkenstein 1648–1649

Chief Court Mistress to Eleonora Gonzaga, 1651–1686

* 1651–1658: Gräfin Maria Elisabeth v. Wagensperg

Chief Court Mistress to
Maria Theresa of Austria Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina (german: Maria Theresia; 13 May 1717 – 29 November 1780) was ruler of the Habsburg dominions from 1740 until her death in 1780, and the only woman to hold the position '' suo jure'' (in her own right) ...
, 1740–1780

* 1740–1754: Marie Karoline von Fuchs-Mollard

Chief Court Mistress to Empress Elisabeth of Austria, 1854–1898

* 1854–1862: Sophie Esterházy * 1862– : Pauline von Königsegg * Maria Welser, Gräfin von Welsersheimb Freiin zu Gumpenstein

Denmark

The early modern Danish court was organized according to the German court model, in turn inspired by the Imperial Austrian court model, from the 16th century onward.Fabian Persson (1999). ''Servants of Fortune. The Swedish Court between 1598 and 1721''. Lund: Wallin & Dalholm. . The highest rank female courtier to a female royal was the '' hofmesterinde'' (Court Mistress) from 1694/98 onward named ''

Overhofmesterinde Court Mistress ( da, hofmesterinde; nl, hofmeesteres; german: Hofmeisterin; no, hoffmesterinne; sv, hovmästarinna) or Chief Court Mistress ( da, Overhofmesterinde; ('grand mistress'); ; no, overhoffmesterinne; sv, överhovmästarinna; russia ...

'' (Chief Court Mistres), equivalent to the Mistress of the Robes, normally an elder widow, who supervised the rest of the ladies-in-waiting. When the office was vacant the tasks were taken over by the second in command, the ''

kammarfröken A Maid of the Bedchamber (Danish: ''Kammerfrøken''; German: ''Kammerfräulein''; Russian: ''Kammer-devitsa''; Swedish: ''Kammarfröken'') was a court office for a lady-in-waiting in several European courts. The office was that of maid of hono ...

''. This was also the case when the office of hofmesterinde to the queen was left vacant in 1808–23 and 1839–45, and was handled by Friederiche Amalie Marie Hedevig von der Manfe and Marie Ernestine Wilhelmine von Walterstorf respectively.Kongelig dansk hof- og statskalender

Chief Court Mistress to
Christina of Saxony Christina of Saxony (born Torgau, 25 December 1461 – died Odense, 8 December 1521), was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden as the wife of King John. Life Early life Christina was engaged to John, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, in 1477 ...
, 1481–1513

* 1490–1496: Sidsel Lunge * 1503–1516:

Anne Meinstrup Anne Meinstrup (1475–1535) was a politically active Danish noblewoman, lady-in-waiting and county administrator. Daughter of noble riksråd Henrik Meinstrup (d.1496) and Margrethe Christiansdatter Daa (d. 1497), she was married to nobleriksråd ...

Chief Court Mistress to
Isabella of Austria Isabella of Austria (18 July 1501 – 19 January 1526), also known as Elizabeth, was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden as the wife of King Christian II. She was the daughter of King Philip I and Queen Joanna of Castile and the sister of Empe ...
, 1515–1523

* 1516–1517:

* 1517–1523: Sigbrit Willoms

Chief Court Mistress to
Sophie of Pomerania Sophie of Pomerania (1498–1568) was Queen of Denmark and Norway as the spouse of Frederick I. She is known for her independent rule over her fiefs Lolland and Falster, the castles in Kiel and Plön, and several villages in Holstein as queen ...
, 1523–1533

* 1526–1533:

Chief Court Mistress to Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg, 1534–1571

* 1557–1558: Fru Kirstine. * 1558– : Anne Albertsdatter Glob-Urne.

Chief Court Mistress to
Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (''Sophia''; 4 September 1557 – 14 October 1631) was Queen of Denmark and Norway by marriage to Frederick II of Denmark. She was the mother of King Christian IV of Denmark and Anne of Denmark. She was Regent of Sc ...
1572–1631

* 1572–1584:

Inger Oxe Inger Johansdatter Oxe (c. 1526 - 1591) was a Danish noblewoman and court official. She was Hofmesterinde to the Danish Queen Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow. She was the sister to Peder Oxe Steward of the Realm, daughter of Johan Johansen Oxe and ...

* 1584–1592:

Beate Clausdatter Bille Beate Clausdatter Bille (30 April 1526 – 18 October 1605) was a Danish noblewoman, a member of the royal court, Chief Lady-in-Waiting ( da, Hofmesterinde, corresponding to Mistress of the Robes in the UK) to Queen Sophie from 1584 to 1592, th ...

Chief Court Mistress to
Anne Catherine of Brandenburg Anne Catherine of Brandenburg (26 June 1575 – 8 April 1612) was Queen of Denmark and Norway from 1597 to 1612 as the first spouse of King Christian IV of Denmark. Life Anne Catherine was born in Halle (Saale) and raised in Wolmirstedt. Her ...
1597–1612

* 1597–1612:

Beate Huitfeldt Beate Huitfeldt (Copenhagen, 27 November 1554 – 1626), was a Danish noble and court official. She served as maid of honour to queen of Denmark Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow in 1572–1574, as Principal lady-in-waiting to queen Anne Catherine ...

Chief Court Mistress to Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1648–1685

* Lucie von Løschebrand * 1657–1685: Maria Elisabeth von Haxthausen

Chief Court Mistress to Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel 1670–1714

* 1677–1692: Juliane Elisabeth von Uffeln * 1695–1705: Dorothea Justina Haxthausen * 1705–1707: Sophie Dorothea von Schack von Marschalck * Louise Charlotte von Schlaberndorf

Chief Court Mistress to
Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow (28 August 1667 – 15 March 1721) was Queen of Denmark and Norway as the first spouse of King Frederick IV of Denmark. In 1708–09, she was regent during her husband's trip to Italy. Early life Louise was born in ...
1699–1721

* 1699–1716: Abel Cathrine Buchwald

Chief Court Mistress to
Anne Sophie Reventlow Anne Sophie von Reventlow ( da, Anna Sophie; 16 April 1693 – 7 January 1743) was Queen of Denmark and Norway from 1721 to 1730 as the second wife of Frederick IV of Denmark and Norway. Early life Countess Anna Sophie von Reventlow was born in ...
1721–1743

* Fru von Grabow

Chief Court Mistress to Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 1721–1770

* Beate Henriette af Reuss-Lobenstein

Chief Court Mistress to
Louise of Great Britain Louise of Great Britain (originally Louisa; 1724 – 19 December 1751) was Queen of Denmark and Norway from 1746 until her death, as the first wife of King Frederick V. She was the youngest surviving daughter of King George II of Great Britain ...
1746–1751

* 1746–1751: Christiane Henriette Louise Juel (first term)

Chief Court Mistress to Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel 1752–1796

* 1752–1754: Christiane Henriette Louise Juel (second term) * 1757–1767:

Karen Huitfeldt Karen Huitfeldt, née '' Werenskiold'' (3 June 1700 – 1778) was a Norwegian courtier. She was born at Sarpsborg in Østfold as the daughter of the nobleman Niels Werenschiold til Hafslund (1669–1741) and Elisabeth de Tønsberg (1673–17 ...

* 1772–1784: Margrethe von der Lühe * 1784–1793: Sophie Louise Holck-Winterfeldt

Chief Court Mistress to Caroline Matilda of Great Britain 1766–1775

* 1766–1768:

Louise von Plessen Louise Scheel von Plessen (''née'' Countess Louise von Berckentin; Vienna, 26 April 1725 – Celle, 14 September 1799) was a Danish lady-in-waiting and memoir writer. She wrote the memoirs of her time at the Danish court: ''Mémoires de la cour d ...

* 1768–1768: Anne Sofie von Berckentin * 1768–1770: Margrethe von der Lühe * 1770–1772: Charlotte Elisabeth Henriette Holstein * 1772–1775: Cathrine Charlotte von der Horst

Chief Court Mistress to
Marie of Hesse-Kassel Marie Sophie Frederikke of Hesse-Kassel (28 October 1767 – 21/22 March 1852) was Queen of Denmark and Norway by marriage to Frederick VI. She served as regent of Denmark during the absence of her spouse in 1814–1815. Biography Early life ...
1808–1852

* 1808–1823: ''Vacant'' * 1823–1839: Lucie Charlotte Sehestedt Juul * 1839–1852: ''Vacant''

Chief Court Mistress to Caroline Amalie of Augustenburg 1839–1881

* 1839–1845: ''Vacant'' * 1845–1859: Ingeborg Christiane Rosenørn

Chief Court Mistress to
Louise of Hesse-Kassel da, Louise Wilhelmine Frederikke Caroline Auguste Julie , succession = Queen consort of Denmark , image = Louise of Hesse-Kassel.jpg , reign = 15 November 1863 – 29 September 1898 , spouse = , issue = , house = ...
1863–1898

* 1864–1876:

Ida Marie Bille Ida Marie Bille (1822-1902) was a Danish courtier; ''Overhofmesterinde'' (Mistress of the Robes) to the queen of Denmark, Louise of Hesse-Kassel, from 1864 to 1876. Born to count Preben Bille-Brahe and Johanne Caroline Wilhelmine Falbe and sister ...

* 1876–1888: Julia Adelaide Harriet Raben-Levetzau * 1888–1898: Louise Bille-Brahe (first term)

Chief Court Mistress to
Louise of Sweden Louise Josephine Eugenie of Sweden ( sv, Lovisa Josefina Eugenia; 31 October 1851 – 20 March 1926) was Queen of Denmark from 1906 until 1912 as the spouse of King Frederick VIII. Born into the House of Bernadotte, Louise was the only surviv ...
1906–1926

* 1906–1910: Louise Bille-Brahe (second term)

Chief Court Mistress to
Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (24 December 1879 – 28 December 1952) was Queen of Denmark from 1912 to 1947, as well Queen of Iceland from 1918 to 1944 as the spouse of King Christian X. She was the paternal grandmother of the current rei ...
1912–1952

* 1912–1935: Louise Grevenkop-Castenskiold * 1935–1952: Inger Wedell

Germany

The Austrian court model was the role model for the princely courts in Germany, and the post of Obersthofmeisterin, or only ''hofmeisterin'', existed in the princely (and later royal) German courts as well. The German court model in turn became the role model of the early modern Scandinavian courts of Denmark and Sweden. ; Chief court mistress to the queens of Prussia and empresses of Germany:

Chief Court Mistress to
Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin Sophia Louise of Mecklenburg-Schwerin (Sofie Luise; 6 May 1685 – 29 July 1735) was Queen consort in Prussia by marriage to King Frederick I of Prussia. She was famed for her beauty. Life Sophia Louise was the fourth child of Frederick, Duk ...
1708–1713

* Countess von Wittgenstein Valendar

Chief Court Mistress to
Sophia Dorothea of Hanover Sophia Dorothea of Hanover ( – 28 June 1757) was Queen in Prussia and Electress of Brandenburg during the reign of her husband, King Frederick William I, from 25 February 1713 to 31 May 1740. She was the daughter of King George I of ...
1713–1757

* Sophie von Kameke * Susanna Magdalena Finck von Finckenstein

Chief Court Mistress to
Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern Duchess Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern (8 November 1715 – 13 January 1797) was Queen of Prussia (Queen in Prussia until 1772) and Electress of Brandenburg as the wife of Frederick the Great. She was the longest-serv ...
1740–1797

* 1740–1742: Christiane von Katsch (the same position with the crown princess since 1733) * 1742–1766: Sophie Caroline von Camas * 1766–1797: Charlotte Albertine von Kannenberg

Chief Court Mistress to
Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt Frederica Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt (german: Friederike Luise; 16 October 1751 – 25 February 1805) was Queen of Prussia as the second spouse of King Frederick William II. Life Frederica Louisa was the daughter of Louis IX, Landgrave of He ...
1786–1805

Chief Court Mistress to
Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Duchess Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Luise Auguste Wilhelmine Amalie; 10 March 1776 – 19 July 1810) was Queen of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William III. The couple's happy, though short-lived, marriage produced nine chil ...
1797–1810

* 1797–1810: Sophie Marie von Voß (the same position with the crown princess since 1793)

Chief Court Mistress to
Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria Elisabeth Ludovika of Bavaria (13 November 1801 – 14 December 1873) was Queen of Prussia as the wife of King Frederick William IV. Biography Early life Elisabeth was born in Munich, the daughter of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria and h ...
1840–1873

* Wilhelmine van Reede-Ginkel

Chief Court Mistress to
Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach Princess Augusta Marie Luise Katharina of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach (30 September 1811 – 7 January 1890) was the queen of Prussia and the first German empress as the consort of William I, German Emperor. Early life Augusta was the second daughter ...
1861–1891

* Gabriele von Bülow

Chief Court Mistress to
Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , house = Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Augustenburg , father = Frederick VIII, Duke of Schleswig-Holstein , mother = Princess Adelheid of Hohenlohe-Langenburg , birth_date = , birth_place = Dolzig Palace ...
1888–1918

* Therese von Brockdorff

The Netherlands

In the 16th-century, the principal lady-in-waiting in the courts of the Habsburg governors of the Netherlands, Margaret of Austria and

Mary of Hungary (governor of the Netherlands) Mary of Austria (15 September 1505 – 18 October 1558), also known as Mary of Hungary, was queen of Hungary and Bohemia as the wife of King Louis II, and was later governor of the Habsburg Netherlands. The daughter of Queen Joanna and Ki ...

, was named ''hofmesterees'' ('Court mistress') or ''dame d'honneur''. The principal female office holder in the royal court of the

Kingdom of the Netherlands , national_anthem = ) , image_map = Kingdom of the Netherlands (orthographic projection).svg , map_width = 250px , image_map2 = File:KonDerNed-10-10-10.png , map_caption2 = Map of the four constituent countries shown to scale , capital = ...

in the 19th century was named '' Grootmeesteres'' ('Grand Mistress').

Chief Court Mistress to
Wilhelmine of Prussia, Queen of the Netherlands Friederike Luise Wilhelmine of Prussia (18 November 1774 – 12 October 1837) was the first Queen consort of the Netherlands as the first wife of King William I of the Netherlands. She had a modest public role but acted as a patron of the arts. ...
, 1815–1837

* 1818–1824: Agneta Margaretha Catharina Fagel-Boreel * 1823–1837: Sophie Wilhelmina barones van Heeckeren van Kell (1772–1847)

Chief Court Mistress to
Anna Pavlovna of Russia Anna Pavlovna of Russia (russian: Анна Павловна ; nl, Anna Paulowna ; – 1 March 1865) was a queen of the Netherlands by marriage to king William II of the Netherlands. She was a Russian patriot who upheld a strict royal etiquette ...
, 1840–1865

* 1840–1844: Sophie Wilhelmina barones van Heeckeren van Kell (1772–1847) * 1844–1850: Rose Amour Caroline Aya Gislène(Zézette) Falck, geb. barones De Roisin (1792-1850) * 1850–1852: Johanna Philippina Hermanna barones van Knobelsdorff (1772–1860)

Chief Court Mistress to
Sophie of Württemberg Sophie of Württemberg (Sophie Friederike Matilda; 17 June 1818 – 3 June 1877) was Queen of the Netherlands as the first wife of King William III. Sophie separated from William in 1855 but continued to perform her duties as queen in public. ...
, 1849–1877

* 1849–1858: Anna Maria Margaretha Deutz van Assendelft – Rendorp (1797–1858) * 1858–1878: Alida van der Oudermeulen barones van Wickevoort Crommelin (1806–1883)

Chief Court Mistress to
Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont (Adelheid Emma Wilhelmina Theresia; 2 August 1858 – 20 March 1934) was Queen of the Netherlands and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as the wife of King-Grand Duke William III. An immensely popular member of the Dutch ...
, 1879–1934

* 1879–1894: Leopoldine Marie gravin van Limburg Stirum (1817–1894) * 1894–1909: Wilhelmina Elizabeth Charlotta gravin Van Lynden van Sandenburg (1869–1930)

Chief Court Mistress to
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands Wilhelmina (; Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria; 31 August 1880 – 28 November 1962) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1890 until her abdication in 1948. She reigned for nearly 58 years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World Wa ...
, 1890–1962

* 1909–1938: Agneta Hendrika Groeninx van Zoelen-Van de Poll (1857–1933) * 1924–1938: Gerarda Cornelia barones van Nagell (1878–1946) * 1938–1954: Cornelie Marie, barones van Tuyll van Serooskerken

Chief Court Mistress to
Juliana of the Netherlands Juliana (; Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina; 30 April 1909 – 20 March 2004) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980. Juliana was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. ...
, 1948–2004

* 1954–1957: Adolphine Agneta barones Van Heeckeren van Molecaten-Groeninx van Zoelen (1885–1967)

Norway

During the union of Sweden-Norway in 1814–1905, Sweden and Norway shared the same royal family. At that time, there were two Chief Court Mistress for the same queen: one as Queen of Sweden at the Swedish royal court when she lived in Sweden, and a separate Chief Court Mistress as Queen of Norway at the Norwegian royal court, who served in her post during the visits of the Swedish-Norwegian royal family to Norway. Presently, the ''overhoffmesterinne'' in Norway acts as a vice hostess at the Norwegian royal court when the queen and the other female members of the royal family are absent.

Chief Court Mistress to
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 ...
, 1814–1818

* 1817–1818: Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg

Chief Court Mistress to
Désirée Clary Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary ( sv, Eugenia Bernhardina Desideria; 8 November 1777 – 17 December 1860) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 5 February 1818 to 8 March 1844 as the wife of King Charles XIV John. Charles John was a former Fr ...
, 1823–1861

* 1825–1844: Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg

Chief Court Mistress to
Josephine of Leuchtenberg Joséphine of Leuchtenberg (Joséphine Maximilienne Eugénie Napoléone de Beauharnais; 14 March 1807 – 7 June 1876) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 8 March 1844 to 8 July 1859 as the wife of King Oscar I. She was also Princess of Bologna ...
, 1844–1876

* 1844–1845: Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg * 1846–1859: Fanny Løvenskiold

Chief Court Mistress to
Louise of the Netherlands Louise of the Netherlands (Wilhelmina Frederika Alexandrine Anna Louise; 5 August 1828 – 30 March 1871) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 8 July 1859 until her death in 1871 as the wife of King Charles XV & IV. Youth Princess Louise was bo ...
, 1859–1871

* 1859–1871: Juliane Cathrine Wilhelmine Wedel Jarlsberg

Chief Court Mistress to Sophia of Nassau, 1872–1905

* 1873–1887: Alette Due * 1887–1905: Elise Løvenskiold

Chief Court Mistress to
Maud of Wales Maud of Wales (Maud Charlotte Mary Victoria; 26 November 1869 – 20 November 1938) was the Queen of Norway as the wife of King Haakon VII. The youngest daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, she was known as P ...
, 1905–1938

* 1906–1925: Marie Magdalena Rustad * 1925–1927: Emma Stang * 1927–1938: Borghild Anker

Russia

In 1722, the Russian Imperial court was reorganized in accordance with the reforms of Peter the Great to Westernize Russia, and the old court offices of the Tsarina was replaced with court offices inspired by the German model. Accordingly, the new principal lady in waiting of the Russian empress was named ''Ober-Hofmeisterin''.

Chief Court Mistress to
Catherine I of Russia Catherine I ( rus, Екатери́на I Алексе́евна Миха́йлова, Yekaterína I Alekséyevna Mikháylova; born , ; – ) was the second wife and empress consort of Peter the Great, and Empress Regnant of Russia from 1725 u ...
1713–1725

Matryona Balk Matryona Ivanovna Balk (née Modesta Mons; fl. 1718), was a Tsardom of Russian courtier. She was a lady-in-waiting and confidant of Catherine I of Russia, Ober-Hofmeisterin of Tsarevna Catherine Ivanovna of Russia and sister of Anna Mons. She wa ...

* Agrippina Petrovna Volkonskaia * 1727-1727: Varvara Michajlovna Arsen'eva

Chief Court Mistress to
Anna of Russia Anna Ioannovna (russian: Анна Иоанновна; ), also russified as Anna Ivanovna and sometimes anglicized as Anne, served as regent of the duchy of Courland from 1711 until 1730 and then ruled as Empress of Russia from 1730 to 1740. Much ...
1730–1740

* 1730-1740: Tatyana Borisovna Golitsyna, spouse of Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn (Field Marshal)

Chief Court Mistress to
Elizabeth of Russia Elizabeth Petrovna (russian: Елизаве́та (Елисаве́та) Петро́вна) (), also known as Yelisaveta or Elizaveta, reigned as Empress of Russia from 1741 until her death in 1762. She remains one of the most popular Russian ...
1741–1762

* 1741-1750: Tatyana Borisovna Golitsyna, spouse of Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn (Field Marshal) * 1760-1762:

Anna Vorontsova Countess Anna Karlovna Vorontsova, née Countess Skavronskaya ( – ), was a Russian lady in waiting, salonist and noble, cousin of the Empress Elizabeth of Russia. She was married to Chancellor Count Mikhail Illarionovich Vorontsov. Life She was ...

Chief Court Mistress to
Catherine II of Russia , en, Catherine Alexeievna Romanova, link=yes , house = , father = Christian August, Prince of Anhalt-Zerbst , mother = Joanna Elisabeth of Holstein-Gottorp , birth_date = , birth_name = Princess Sophie of Anha ...
1762–1796

* 1762-1775:

* 1776-1788:

Maria Rumyantseva Countess Maria Andreyevna Rumyantseva née Matveyeva (1699–1788) was a Russian lady in waiting and alleged royal mistress of Tsar Peter the Great. Life She was the daughter of privy councilor of Count Andrey Matveyev (1666–1728) from his ...

Chief Court Mistress to Maria Feodorovna (Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg) 1796–1828

* 1796-1804: Anna Matyushkina

Chief Court Mistress to Elizabeth Alexeievna (Louise of Baden) 1801–1826

* 1823-1825: Alexandra Branitskaya

Chief Court Mistress to Alexandra Feodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia) 1825–1860

* 1825-1838: Alexandra Branitskaya

Chief Court Mistress to
Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse and by Rhine) Maria Alexandrovna ( rus, Мария Александровна), born Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine (8 August 1824 – 3 June 1880), was Empress of Russia as the first wife and political adviser of Emperor Alexander II. She was one of the ...
1855–1880

* 1855–1863: Yekaterina Saltykov (in position since 1840)

Chief Court Mistress to
Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) Maria Feodorovna ( ru , Мария Фёдоровна , translit = Mariya Fyodorovna; 26 November 1847 – 13 October 1928), known before her marriage as Princess Dagmar of Denmark, was Empress of Russia from 1881 to 1894 as spouse of Emperor ...
1881–1917

* 1881–1881: Princess Julia Kurakina (in position since 1866) * 1881–1888: Princess Hélene Kotchoubey * 1888–1906: Countess Anna Stroganoff

Chief Court Mistress to
Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse) german: Alix Viktoria Helene Luise Beatrixrussian: Alexandra Feodorovna Romanova , house = Hesse-Darmstadt , father = Louis IV, Grand Duke of Hesse and by Rhine , mother = Princess Alice of the United Kingdom , birth_name ...
1894–1917

* 1894–1910: Maria Golitzyna * 1910–1917: Elizaveta Narishkina

Sweden

039-Aurora Gyldenstolpe-Svenska teatern 3

In Sweden, the Chief Court Mistress is the second highest-ranking official of the royal household, preceded only by the Marshal of the Realm. She ranks immediately below the members of the

royal family A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term pa ...

, the speaker of the Parliament and the

prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

, and has precedence over former speakers of the Parliament and former prime ministers. The incumbent is Kirstine von Blixen-Finecke, who has served from 2016. The title and position have changed over time. Before the reign of Queen Christina (1632–1654), the title was generally referred to as ''hovmästarinna'' (Court Mistress), but during and after the reign of Christina, it became the custom to have two such Court mistresses subordinate to one ''överhovmästarinna'' (Chief Court Mistress).Fabian Persson (1999). Servants of Fortune. The Swedish court between 1598 and 1721. Lund: Wallin & Dalholm. Only the Queen and the Queen Dowager had a Chief Court Mistress called ''överhovmästarinna'' (the Chief Court Mistress) while the equivalent at the courts of other female members of the royal house was called ''hovmästarinna'' (Court Mistress). The position was the highest a female courtier could have in the Swedish royal court, and the ''överhovmästarinna'' was ranked an

Excellency Excellency is an honorific style given to certain high-level officers of a sovereign state, officials of an international organization, or members of an aristocracy. Once entitled to the title "Excellency", the holder usually retains the r ...

, something unusual for a woman in the 17th century, which placed her immediately after the female members of the royal house in rank. Her role was to uphold etiquette at court, and receive and carry out the instructions of the Queen in the management of the court. She managed the employment of new members to the court of the Queen, and every meeting and letter to the Queen passed through her. She also managed the ceremony of the court presentation, in which nobles were presented to the royal family and thus allowed to show themselves officially at court.Tydén-Jordan Astrid, red (1987). Kungligt klädd, kungligt mode. Stockholm: Bergh. Libris 7401256. She could also represent the Queen on some occasions at court ceremonies and parties as hostess.

Chief Court Mistress to Catherine Stenbock 1552–1621

* 1552–1568:

Anna Hogenskild Anna Klemetsdotter Hogenskild (1513-1590), also known as ''fru Anna till Åkerö'' ('lady Anna of Åkerö') and ''fru Anna till Hedensö'' ('lady Anna of Hedensö'), was a Swedish court official and landowner. She served as '' hovmästarinna'' to qu ...

Chief Court Mistress to
Karin Månsdotter Karin Månsdotter (in English Catherine; 6 November 1550 – 13 September 1612) was first a mistress of King Eric XIV of Sweden and then briefly queen as his wife. Early life Karin was born in Stockholm to a soldier and later prison guard na ...
1567–1568

* 1567–1569:

Elin Andersdotter Elin Andersdotter (died 1569), was a Swedish courtier. She served as Chief Court Mistress to queen Karin Månsdotter of Sweden. She is known for being a leading actor in the 1569 Plot to free and reinstate the imprisoned and deposed king Erik XIV o ...

Chief Court Mistress to
Catherine Jagellon Catherine Jagiellon ( pl, Katarzyna Jagiellonka; sv, Katarina Jagellonica, Lithuanian: ''Kotryna Jogailatė''; 1 November 1526 – 16 September 1583) was a Polish princess and Queen of Sweden as the first wife of King John III. As such, she ...
1568–1583

* 1568–1583:

Karin Gyllenstierna Karin Göransdotter Gyllenstierna (before 1538 - died between 1602 and 1605) was a Swedish courtier. She served as Chief Court Mistress to queen Catherine Jagellon and, after her death, to Princess Anna Vasa of Sweden. Biography Private life Ka ...

Chief Court Mistress to
Gunilla Bielke Gunilla Bielke; Swedish: ''Gunilla Johansdotter Bielke af Åkerö'' (25 June 1568 – 19 July 1597) was Queen of Sweden as the second wife of King John III. Queen Gunilla is acknowledged to have acted as the political adviser to John III and to h ...
1585–1597

* 1587–1592: Kerstin Oxenstierna

Chief Court Mistress to Christina of Holstein-Gottorp 1604–1625

* 1604–1608: Carin Ulfsdotter Snakeborg * 1608–1612: Gunilla Jönsdotter Struss * 1612–1619: Carin Kyle

Chief Court Mistress to Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg 1620–1655

* 1620–1623: Hebbla Eriksdotter Stålarm * Catharina von Schnideck * Regina Catharina von Windisch-Grätz * 1628–1633: Brita Gylta * 1633–1634:

Ebba Leijonhufvud Ebba Mauritzdotter Leijonhufvud, also called Ebba Mauritzdotter Lewenhaupt (1595 – 25 January 1654), Countess of Raseborg, Lady of Käggleholm, Eksjöhovgård and Tullgarn, was a Swedish noble and courtier and member of the Leijonhufvud family. ...

* 1634–1639: Elisabeth Gyllenstierna * 1639–1640: Christina Posse *''1640–1649: Vacant'' * 1649–1655: Görvel Posse

Chief Court Mistress to Christina 1632–1654

During the reign of Christina, the office was often shared by several people. * 1633–1634:

* 1634–1639: Elisabeth Gyllenstierna * 1639–1642: Ebba Ryning ''(jointly with Beata Oxenstierna)'' * 1639–1647: Beata Oxenstierna ''(jointly with Ebba Ryning)'' * 1644–1648: Margareta Brahe ''(jointly with Kerstin Bååt)'' * 1645–1650: Kerstin Bååt ''(jointly with Margareta Brahe)'' * 1650: Barbro Fleming ''(jointly with Maria Sofia De la Gardie)'' * 1651–1654:

Maria Sofia De la Gardie Maria Sofia De la Gardie (1627 – 22 August 1694) was a Swedish noble, countess, courtier, banker and industrialist entrepreneur. She is most known for her industrial enterprises, and she has been referred to as the first female grand entrepr ...

''(jointly with Barbro Fleming)''

Chief Court Mistress to Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, 1654–1715

* 1655–1660:

Elisabet Carlsdotter Gyllenhielm Elizabeth Carlsdotter Gyllenhielm (Swedish: ''Elisabet''; 1622-1682), was the daughter of the Swedish prince Charles Philip, Duke of Södermanland, in his secret marriage with the noble Elizabeth Ribbing. Elizabeth Carlsdotter was born posthumously ...

* 1660–1664: Görwel Bååt * 1664–1671: Görvel Posse * 1671–1686: Occa Maria Johanna von Riperda * 1686–1715: Märta Berendes (equivalent position at the court of the princesses in 1687–1717)

Chief Court Mistress to
Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark (11 September 1656 – 26 July 1693) was Queen of Sweden as the wife of King Charles XI. She is often admired for her generosity and charity. The name ''Ulrike'' is a Danish version of the name; in Swedish she is ...
, 1680–1693

* 1680–1693: Maria Elisabeth Stenbock

Chief Court Mistress to
Ulrika Eleonora Ulrika Eleonora or Ulrica Eleanor (23 January 1688 – 24 November 1741), known as Ulrika Eleonora the Younger, was Queen of Sweden, reigning in her own right from 5 December 1718 until her abdication on 29 February 1720 in favour of her husband ...
1718–1741

* 1717–1736: Katarina Ebba Horn af Åminne * 1736–1741:

Hedvig Elisabet Strömfelt Hedvig Elisabet Strömfelt, née ''Wrangel'' (1687 - 8 March 1751), was a Swedish courtier. She served as överhovmästarinna to two queens of Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden and Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, and as Royal Governess to the royal child ...

(equivalent position to the Crown princess in 1744–1751)

Chief Court Mistress to
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia Louisa Ulrika of Prussia ( sv, Lovisa Ulrika; german: Luise Ulrike) (24 July 1720 – 16 July 1782) was Queen of Sweden from 1751 to 1771 as the wife of King Adolf Frederick. She was queen mother during the reign of King Gustav III. Backg ...
, 1751–1782

* 1751–1751:

* 1751–1754:

Ulla Tessin Ulrika "Ulla" Lovisa Tessin née Sparre (23 May 1711 – 14 December 1768) was a Swedish courtier, letter writer and dilettante artist. Life Ulla Tessin was born to '' riksråd'' marshal count Erik Sparre of Sundby and Christina (Stina) Beata Li ...

* 1754–1761: Ulrica Catharina Stromberg * 1761–1765: Ulrika Juliana Gyllenstierna * 1765–1771: Brita Stina Sparre * 1771–1782:

Fredrika Eleonora von Düben Fredrika Eleonora von Düben (December 17, 1738 – March 1, 1808) was a Swedish dilettante painter and embroidery artist Biography Fredrika Eleonora was born to Baron Joachim von Düben the Younger and Catharina Eleonora Temminck, daughter o ...

Chief Court Mistress to Sophia Magdalena of Denmark, 1771–1813

* 1771–1777: Anna Maria Hjärne * 1777–1780:

Ulrika Strömfelt Ulrika Eleonora Strömfelt (1724–5 April 1780), was a politically active Swedish noble and courtier. She is known for her part in the attempted Coup d'état of queen Louisa Ulrika in 1756. Life Ulrika Strömfelt was the daughter of riksr ...

* 1780–1795: Charlotta Sparre * 1795–1813: Hedvig Eva De la Gardie

Chief Court Mistress to
Frederica of Baden Princess Frederica Dorothea Wilhelmina of Baden (12 March 1781 – 25 September 1826) was Queen of Sweden from 1797 to 1809 as the consort of King Gustav IV Adolf. Life Early life Frederica of Baden was born in Karlsruhe in the Grand Duchy of Ba ...
, 1797–1809

* 1795–1805: Hedvig Catharina Piper * 1805–1810: Lovisa Sophia von Fersen

Chief Court Mistress to
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 ...
, 1809–1818

* 1809–1810: Lovisa Sophia von Fersen * 1811–1818: Christina Charlotta Stjerneld * 1818–1818: Caroline Lewenhaupt * 1818–1818: Charlotta Aurora De Geer

Chief Court Mistresss to
Désirée Clary Bernardine Eugénie Désirée Clary ( sv, Eugenia Bernhardina Desideria; 8 November 1777 – 17 December 1860) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 5 February 1818 to 8 March 1844 as the wife of King Charles XIV John. Charles John was a former Fr ...
, 1823–1861

* 1823–1829: Marcelle Tascher de la Pagerie * 1829–1844: Vilhelmina Gyldenstolpe

Chief Court Mistress to
Josephine of Leuchtenberg Joséphine of Leuchtenberg (Joséphine Maximilienne Eugénie Napoléone de Beauharnais; 14 March 1807 – 7 June 1876) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 8 March 1844 to 8 July 1859 as the wife of King Oscar I. She was also Princess of Bologna ...
, 1844–1876

* 1844–1866: Charlotta Skjöldebrand

Chief Court Mistress to
Louise of the Netherlands Louise of the Netherlands (Wilhelmina Frederika Alexandrine Anna Louise; 5 August 1828 – 30 March 1871) was Queen of Sweden and Norway from 8 July 1859 until her death in 1871 as the wife of King Charles XV & IV. Youth Princess Louise was bo ...
, 1859–1872

* 1859–1860: Stefanie Hamilton * 1860–1869:

Wilhelmina Bonde Wilhelmina "Mina" Sofia Charlotta Bonde, née Lewenhaupt (10 July 1817 – 1899), was a Swedish countess and courtier. She served as överhovmästarinna to the Queen of Sweden, Louise of the Netherlands, from 1860 to 1869. She was also known as '' ...

* 1871–1872: Anne-Malène Wachtmeister

Chief Court Mistress to Sophia of Nassau, 1872–1907

* 1872–1879: Elisabet Augusta Piper * 1880–1890: Malvina De la Gardie * 1890–1907: Ebba Åkerhielm

Chief Court Mistress to
Victoria of Baden Sophie Marie Victoria of Baden (german: Sophie Marie Viktoria; 7 August 1862 – 4 April 1930) was Queen of Sweden from 8 December 1907 until her death in 1930 as the wife of King Gustaf V. She was politically active in a conservative fashion du ...
, 1907–1931

* 1907–1908: ''Vacant'' * 1908–1931: Augusta Lewenhaupt

References

{{DEFAULTSORT: Court titles Royal households Danish courtiers German courtiers Swedish courtiers Austrian courtiers Austrian monarchy Danish monarchy Swedish monarchy