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, 1608–1618
* 1611–1618: Freiin Katharina v. Kollowrath-L.Chief Court Mistress to Eleonora Gonzaga (1598–1655), 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. MetternichChief Court Mistress to Maria Anna of Spain, 1631–1646
* 1630–1638: Victoria de Toledo y Colona * 1643–1646: Marquesa Flores d’AvilaChief Court Mistress to Maria Leopoldine of Austria, 1648–1649
* 1648–1649: Gräfin Anna Eleonora v. Wolkenstein 1648–1649Chief Court Mistress to Eleonora Gonzaga (1630–1686), Eleonora Gonzaga, 1651–1686
* 1651–1658: Gräfin Maria Elisabeth v. WagenspergChief Court Mistress to Maria Theresa of Austria, 1740–1780
* 1740–1754: Marie Karoline von Fuchs-MollardChief Court Mistress to Empress Elisabeth of Austria, 1854–1898
* 1854–1862: Sophie Esterházy * 1862– : Pauline von Königsegg * Maria Welser, Gräfin von Welsersheimb Freiin zu GumpensteinDenmark
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'' (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''. 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 statskalenderChief Court Mistress to Christina of Saxony, 1481–1513
* 1490–1496: Sidsel Lunge * 1503–1516: Anne MeinstrupChief Court Mistress to Isabella of Austria, 1515–1523
* 1516–1517: Anne Meinstrup * 1517–1523: Sigbrit WillomsChief Court Mistress to Sophie of Pomerania, 1523–1533
* 1526–1533: Anne MeinstrupChief 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 1572–1631
* 1572–1584: Inger Oxe * 1584–1592: Beate Clausdatter BilleChief Court Mistress to Anne Catherine of Brandenburg 1597–1612
* 1597–1612: Beate HuitfeldtChief Court Mistress to Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg 1648–1685
* Lucie von Løschebrand * 1657–1685: Maria Elisabeth von HaxthausenChief 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 SchlaberndorfChief Court Mistress to Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow 1699–1721
* 1699–1716: Abel Cathrine BuchwaldChief Court Mistress to Anne Sophie Reventlow 1721–1743
* Fru von GrabowChief Court Mistress to Sophie Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach 1721–1770
* Beate Henriette af Reuss-LobensteinChief Court Mistress to Louise 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 * 1772–1784: Margrethe von der Lühe * 1784–1793: Sophie Louise Holck-WinterfeldtChief Court Mistress to Caroline Matilda of Great Britain 1766–1775
* 1766–1768: Louise von Plessen * 1768–1768: Anne Sofie von Berckentin * 1768–1770: Margrethe von der Lühe * 1770–1772: Charlotte Elisabeth Henriette Holstein * 1772–1775: Cathrine Charlotte von der HorstChief Court Mistress to Marie of Hesse-Kassel 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 RosenørnChief Court Mistress to Louise of Hesse-Kassel 1863–1898
* 1864–1876: Ida Marie Bille * 1876–1888: Julia Adelaide Harriet Raben-Levetzau * 1888–1898: Louise Bille-Brahe (first term)Chief Court Mistress to Louise of Sweden 1906–1926
* 1906–1910: Louise Bille-Brahe (second term)Chief Court Mistress to Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin 1912–1952
* 1912–1935: Louise Grevenkop-Castenskiold * 1935–1952: Inger WedellGermany
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 1708–1713
* Countess von Wittgenstein ValendarChief Court Mistress to Sophia Dorothea of Hanover 1713–1757
* Sophie von Kameke * Susanna Magdalena Finck von FinckensteinChief Court Mistress to Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel-Bevern 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 KannenbergChief Court Mistress to Frederika Louisa of Hesse-Darmstadt 1786–1805
*Chief Court Mistress to Louise of Mecklenburg-Strelitz 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 1840–1873
* Wilhelmine van Reede-GinkelChief Court Mistress to Augusta of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach 1861–1891
* Gabriele von BülowChief Court Mistress to Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein 1888–1918
* Therese von BrockdorffThe 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), was named ''hofmesterees'' ('Court mistress') or ''dame d'honneur''. The principal female office holder in the royal court of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the 19th century was named '':nl:Grootmeesteres (hofhouding), Grootmeesteres'' ('Grand Mistress').Chief Court Mistress to Wilhelmine of Prussia, Queen of the Netherlands, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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 SerooskerkenChief Court Mistress to Juliana of the Netherlands, 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, 1814–1818
* 1817–1818: Karen Wedel-JarlsbergChief Court Mistress to Désirée Clary, 1823–1861
* 1825–1844: Karen Wedel-JarlsbergChief Court Mistress to Josephine of Leuchtenberg, 1844–1876
* 1844–1845: Karen Wedel-Jarlsberg * 1846–1859: Fanny LøvenskioldChief Court Mistress to Louise of the Netherlands, 1859–1871
* 1859–1871: Juliane Cathrine Wilhelmine Wedel JarlsbergChief Court Mistress to Sophia of Nassau, 1872–1905
* 1873–1887: Alette Due * 1887–1905: Elise LøvenskioldChief Court Mistress to Maud of Wales, 1905–1938
* 1906–1925: Marie Magdalena Rustad * 1925–1927: Emma Stang * 1927–1938: Borghild AnkerRussia
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 1713–1725
* Matryona Balk * Agrippina Petrovna Volkonskaia * 1727-1727: Varvara Michajlovna Arsen'evaChief Court Mistress to Anna of Russia 1730–1740
* 1730-1740: Tatyana Borisovna Golitsyna, spouse of Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn (Field Marshal)Chief Court Mistress to Elizabeth of Russia 1741–1762
* 1741-1750: Tatyana Borisovna Golitsyna, spouse of Mikhail Mikhailovich Golitsyn (Field Marshal) * 1760-1762: Anna VorontsovaChief Court Mistress to Catherine II of Russia 1762–1796
* 1762-1775: Anna Vorontsova * 1776-1788: Maria RumyantsevaChief Court Mistress to Maria Feodorovna (Sophie Dorothea of Württemberg) 1796–1828
* 1796-1804: Anna MatyushkinaChief Court Mistress to Elizabeth Alexeievna (Louise of Baden) 1801–1826
* 1823-1825: Alexandra BranitskayaChief Court Mistress to Alexandra Feodorovna (Charlotte of Prussia) 1825–1860
* 1825-1838: Alexandra BranitskayaChief Court Mistress to Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse and by Rhine) 1855–1880
* 1855–1863: Yekaterina Saltykov (in position since 1840)Chief Court Mistress to Maria Feodorovna (Dagmar of Denmark) 1881–1917
* 1881–1881: Princess Julia Kurakina (in position since 1866) * 1881–1888: Princess Hélene Kotchoubey * 1888–1906: Countess Anna StroganoffChief Court Mistress to Alexandra Feodorovna (Alix of Hesse) 1894–1917
* 1894–1910: Maria Golitzyna * 1910–1917: Elizaveta NarishkinaSweden
In Sweden, the Chief Court Mistress is the second highest-ranking official of the royal household, preceded only by the Marshal of the Realm (Sweden), Marshal of the Realm. She ranks immediately below the members of the Swedish Royal Family, royal family, the speaker of the Parliament of Sweden, speaker of the Parliament and the Prime Minister of Sweden, prime minister, 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 of Sweden, 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, 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 HogenskildChief Court Mistress to Karin Månsdotter 1567–1568
* 1567–1569: Elin AndersdotterChief Court Mistress to Catherine Jagellon 1568–1583
* 1568–1583: Karin GyllenstiernaChief Court Mistress to Gunilla Bielke 1585–1597
* 1587–1592: Kerstin OxenstiernaChief Court Mistress to Christina of Holstein-Gottorp 1604–1625
* 1604–1608: Carin Ulfsdotter Snakeborg * 1608–1612: Gunilla Jönsdotter Struss * 1612–1619: Carin KyleChief 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 * 1634–1639: Elisabeth Gyllenstierna * 1639–1640: Christina Posse *''1640–1649: Vacant'' * 1649–1655: Görvel PosseChief Court Mistress to Christina, Queen of Sweden, Christina 1632–1654
During the reign of Christina, the office was often shared by several people. * 1633–1634: Ebba Leijonhufvud * 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 ''(jointly with Barbro Fleming)''Chief Court Mistress to Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, 1654–1715
* 1655–1660: Elisabet Carlsdotter Gyllenhielm * 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, 1680–1693
* 1680–1693: Maria Elisabeth StenbockChief Court Mistress to Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden, Ulrika Eleonora 1718–1741
* 1717–1736: Katarina Ebba Horn af Åminne * 1736–1741: Hedvig Elisabet Strömfelt (equivalent position to the Crown princess in 1744–1751)Chief Court Mistress to Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, 1751–1782
* 1751–1751: Hedvig Elisabet Strömfelt * 1751–1754: Ulla Tessin * 1754–1761: Ulrica Catharina Stromberg * 1761–1765: Ulrika Juliana Gyllenstierna * 1765–1771: Brita Stina Sparre * 1771–1782: Fredrika Eleonora von DübenChief Court Mistress to Sophia Magdalena of Denmark, 1771–1813
* 1771–1777: Anna Maria Hjärne * 1777–1780: Ulrika Strömfelt * 1780–1795: Charlotta Sparre * 1795–1813: Hedvig Eva De la GardieChief Court Mistress to Frederica of Baden, 1797–1809
* 1795–1805: Hedvig Catharina Piper * 1805–1810: Lovisa Sophia von FersenChief Court Mistress to Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp, 1809–1818
* 1809–1810: Lovisa Sophia von Fersen * 1811–1818: Christina Charlotta Stjerneld * 1818–1818: Caroline Lewenhaupt * 1818–1818: Charlotta Aurora De GeerChief Court Mistresss to Désirée Clary, 1823–1861
* 1823–1829: Marcelle Tascher de la Pagerie * 1829–1844: Vilhelmina GyldenstolpeChief Court Mistress to Josephine of Leuchtenberg, 1844–1876
* 1844–1866: Charlotta SkjöldebrandChief Court Mistress to Louise of the Netherlands, 1859–1872
* 1859–1860: Stefanie Hamilton * 1860–1869: Wilhelmina Bonde * 1871–1872: Anne-Malène WachtmeisterChief Court Mistress to Sophia of Nassau, 1872–1907
* 1872–1879: Elisabet Augusta Piper * 1880–1890: Malvina De la Gardie * 1890–1907: Ebba ÅkerhielmChief Court Mistress to Victoria of Baden, 1907–1931
* 1907–1908: ''Vacant'' * 1908–1931: Augusta LewenhauptSee also
* Mistress of the Robes, British equivalent * Camarera mayor de Palacio, Spanish equivalent * Première dame d'honneur, French equivalent * Surintendante de la Maison de la Reine, French equivalentReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT: Court titles Royal households Danish courtiers German courtiers Swedish courtiers Austrian courtiers Austrian monarchy Danish monarchy Swedish monarchy