Queen Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta (1759-1818)

[ElisabethChristine]

Hello all,


I am a historian and my special field is royalty - I am new here though! I am interested in Hedvig Elisabetha Charlotta (the beautiful portrait by Roslin is hopefully appearing on my profile/avatar). Her famous "dagboeker" or "diaries" are renowned in Sweden for their describing the court of Gustav III - written in French originally but were translated in the 30s by Caecila av Klercker. Has anyone ever come across a volume of these diaries - they appear next to scarce. The Swedish "Riksarchivet" or Landarchive have told me they will not likely be translated into any other language. What a pity because Queen Hedvig Elisabetha Charlotta was so remarkable.

Best wishes and it is nice to be here,
Elisabeth-Christine

[Artemisia]

Welcome, ElisabethChristine!
I share your fascination with Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte, especially her relationships with her brother-in-law, Gustav III, and Jean Baptiste Bernadotte. She was truly a fasinating woman, and had she agreed to become regent for Crown Prince Carl Gustav, Swedish history could have been quite different.
I have never come across the complete volumes of her diaries, but I did read some excerpts from her diaries, albeit in French.

[Meraude]

There is a copy of her diary online in a Swedish translation from 1902 at Open Library, Hedvig Elisabeth Charlottas dagbok (Open Library) The translations by Cecilia af Klercker are available at a number of Swedish libraries.

[MagMil]

Lovely posts

[ElisabethChristine]

Thank you very much ladies for your kind welcome and posts :) The Swedish Riksarchivet wrote to me that though the originals were in French, it seems unlikely that a French translation was made in book form. It would be a huge projekt in translation - as her diaries go on to at least ten volumes. Meraude - tack ska du ha för linken med hennes dagboeken i översättning Svenska-Franska! Artemsia - how did you become interested in Hedvig? It is unusual for us outside of Sweden to become interested in her - how nice to meet you.

[Artemisia]

Originally Posted by ElisabethChristine

Artemsia - how did you become interested in Hedvig? It is unusual for us outside of Sweden to become interested in her - how nice to meet you.

Rather accidentally; many years ago I've been researching history (well, mainly family tree) of the House of Bernadotte, and her name surfaced in connection with Jean Baptiste Bernadotte. I started reading about her and became quite interested, especially since Hedvig's character provides one of those ever-interesting "what if" type of questions. What if she agreed to become a Regent? What if she strongly opposed Jean Baptiste? How the history of Sweden would have changed?

[CyrilVladisla]

Coronation dress of Queen Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/490892428110048063

[LadyFinn]

Portrait of Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta, by Adolf Ulrik Wertmuller.
http://www.kungahuset.se/images/18.6...60-stl-540.jpg

[rexhallia]

does anyone know what happened to all her jewelry? :)
i love the tiara that looks like to be in gold with a ruby in the middle.

[CyrilVladisla]

The wedding dress worn by Hedvig Elisabeth at her wedding to Charles, Duke of Sodermanland on June 7, 1773.
fripperiesandfobs: Dress worn by Hedvig... - Long Live Royalty

[LadyFinn]

Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta's entry in Stockholm 1774. Painting by Pehr Hilleström, the painting is at the Nationalmuseum's collections.
https://scontent-hel2-1.xx.fbcdn.net...d4&oe=5E5113AF

[LadyFinn]

Article at the website of the Royal Palaces
A witness of her time: Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta
Throughout her adult life, Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta found herself close to the centre of power. First as a duchess and the sister-in-law of King Gustav III, and then as queen.
A witness of her time_ Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotta - Kungliga slotten