Maria Aurora Uggla, married name Ehrengranat (1747–1826), was a Swedish

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 ...

and noble. She was the lady in waiting and confidant of the Swedish Queen,

Sophia Magdalena of Denmark Sophia Magdalena of Denmark ( da, Sophie Magdalene; sv, Sofia Magdalena; 3 July 1746 – 21 August 1813) was Crown Princess of Sweden by her marriage to Gustav III. She was liked by many in the Caps party, believing she was a symbol of virtue a ...

, and later the head of the court of Crown Prince Gustav Adolf.

Life

Maria Aurora Uggla was the daughter of nobleman Clas Fredrik Uggla and Anna Magdalena Hierta. She was appointed as a maid of honor to Sophia Magdalena upon her arrival to Sweden in 1766, and was one of the three ladies to carry the train of Sophia Magdalena in the second marriage ceremony in the Royal Palace, Stockholm, on 4 November 1766. Uggla is described as the trusted favorite and close confidant of Sophia Magdalena: otherwise very reserved and with few friends, the Queen is reported to have given Uggla her trust and followed her advice. The only other lady in waiting the queen is said to have been close to, was Virginia Charlotta Manderström. As a person, Uggla is described as gifted and cultivated, although sometimes sharp. Maria Aurora Uggla was the star of the amateur theater of the royal court and recognized and regarded for her dramatic talent: she and

Caroline Lewenhaupt Caroline may refer to: People * Caroline (given name), a feminine given name * J. C. Caroline (born 1933), American college and National Football League player * Jordan Caroline (born 1996), American (men's) basketball player Places Antarctica * ...

are described as the primadonnas of the amateur theater of the royal court of Gustav III. Already in 1767, she is mentioned to have participated in the performance given at

Ulriksdal Palace Ulriksdal Palace ( sv, Ulriksdals slott) is a royal palace situated on the banks of the Edsviken in the Royal National City Park in Solna Municipality, 6 km north of Stockholm. It was originally called ''Jakobsdal'' for its owner Jacob De ...

to the birthday of Sophia Magdalena. In 1774, she was ordered by the king to instruct

Charlotte Eckerman Beata Charlotta "Charlotte" Eckerman (1759 – 16 January 1790 in Stockholm), was a Swedish opera singer and actress. She was also a very well known courtesan during the Gustavian era, and the official royal mistress of Charles XIII of Sweden fr ...

in the part of Mechtild in the opera ''Birger jarl'' by Gyllenborg and Adlerbeth, after the part had been refused by Elisabeth Olin. Charlotte Eckerman made a great success in the part at the Royal Opera in Stockholm, and was called in by the audience. Prince Charles started to shout: "Miss Uggla! Miss Uggla!", after which the audience applauded also Maria Aurora Uggla in her box as well as the author Gyllenborg for having instructed Eckerman in the part. Uggla was first considered as a messenger when the King decided to reconcile with the Queen in 1775 in order to consummate the marriage, but instead,

Count Adolf Fredrik Munck af Fulkila Adolf Fredrik, Count Munck (Mikkeli, Finland, 28 April 1749 – Massa, Italy, 18 July 1831), was a Swedish and Finnish noble during the Gustavian era. His family name is sometimes inaccurately given as "Munck af Fulkila" because his father usur ...

was chosen, having then a relationship with the Queen's chamber maid Anna Sofia Ramström. After the Queen gave birth to the Crown Prince in 1778, however, there were rumours that the father of the child was Munck. In a conversation with

Hedwig Elizabeth 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 ...

in June 1778, Uggla was quoted as saying:

"In any case, even if we for just a moment were to assume, that the child was truly illegitimate, then what difference would it make to the King? He will still always regard it as his own. And the matter may also very well be meaningless, as long as Sweden is provided with an heir."

Maria Aurora Uggla married noble Colonel lieutenant Karl Adam Ehrengranath in 1778. Gjörwell noted about her at her wedding: "The Queen gave her 20.000 $ in dowry and a pension of 6.000 $ for life. She has so to speak been the only friend of the Queen and the one, to whom Her Majesty has kept an unlimited confidence." In 1778, she was appointed one of the two deputy ''

överhovmästarinna 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 ...

'' or heads of the court of the Crown Prince (in effect sub-royal governess) under

Hedvig Sofia von Rosen Hedvig Sofia von Rosen, née Stenbock (23 June 1734 – 26 December 1809) was a Swedish countess and courtier. She was the ''överhovmästarinna'' (royal governess) of the future Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden in 1778–1781, and for his brother Prince ...

. Uggla, as well as her former colleague Virginia Manderström, continued to be the favorite and close friend of the Queen until her death. At the coup which deposed King Gustav IV Adolf of Sweden, the son of Sophia Magdalena, in 1809, Uggla was the one to first notify Sophia Magdalena of what had happened. In her company, Sophia Magdalena attempted to gain access to her son, but was prevented by guards. When she was prevented from seeing her son, she burst in tears in the arms of Uggla.Gerd Ribbing (1959). Ensam drottning. Sofia Magdalena 1783-1813. Stockholm: Alb. Bonniers Boktryckeri. ISBN Maria Aurora Uggla was present at the deathbed of Sophia Magdalena in 1813.

In fiction

Maria Aurora Uggla is portrayed in the novel ''Drottningens förtrogna'' (The Queens Confidante) by Anna Sparre (1994). She was portrayed by Sanna Mari Patjas in '' The Marriage of Gustav III'', 2001.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Uggla, Maria Aurora 1747 births 1826 deaths Swedish ladies-in-waiting Swedish nobility Royal favourites Governesses to the Swedish monarchy Swedish royal favourites Court of Gustav III