Caroline von Schimmelmann, née ''Tugendreich Friedeborn'' (1730–1795), was a Danish countess. Her parentage is unknown, but she was the foster daughter of Heinrich Ernst von Gersdorfs in Dresden, and given a good education by him. She married

Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann Heinrich Carl von Schimmelmann (13 July 1724 – 16 February 1782) was a German-born Danish merchant, banker, politician and nobleman. He was the largest Danish slave owner and slave trader, owning over 1,000 slaves on his plantations in the ...

in 1747. Her spouse had an important role within Danish government from 1762, and the couple became central figures within the Danish aristocracy. The masquerade balls hosted by the Schimmelmann couple in their palace in Copenhagen belonged to the foremost centers of Danish society life in the 1760s, and these balls were later blamed to have encouraged queen Caroline Matilda's adultery with

Struensee Lensgreve Johann Friedrich Struensee (5 August 1737 – 28 April 1772) was a German-Danish physician, philosopher and statesman. He became royal physician to the mentally ill King Christian VII of Denmark and a minister in the Danish governmen ...

: the couple were also noted to have behaved suspiciously at them.August Fjelstrup: Damerne ved Karoline Mathildes Hof, 1909. Schimmelmann belonged to the queen's closest circle of friends, and was decorated with the '' Matildeordenen'' in 1771. Described as an intelligent and kind character, who managed her household and the upbringing of her children with good economic sense, she was also regarded as an attractive woman who looked much younger than her years, and had herself the major Seneca Otto Falkenskjold for a lover. However, the queen's relationship with Struensee made her worried, and her close favor with the queen caused a conflict in the connection between her spouse and

Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff Count Johann Hartwig Ernst von Bernstorff (; 13 May 1712 – 18 February 1772) was a German- Danish statesman and a member of the Bernstorff noble family of Mecklenburg. He was the son of Joachim Engelke ''Freiherr'' von Bernstorff, chamberl ...

. Her spouse was asked to use his wife to influence the queen to end her affair with Struensee, but he refused and commented that the queen was their ruler and did as she pleased. The Schimmelmann couple was not affected by the fall of Struensee and the queen in January 1772, despite Caroline von Schimmelmann's position as the queen's intimate friend, and her spouse made a successful career in the new regime. After his death in 1782, Caroline von Schimmelmann retired as society hostess and spent the rest of her life moving about between the homes of her children. In 1774–75, her son

Ernst Schimmelmann Ernst Heinrich von Schimmelmann (4 December 1747 – 9 February 1831) was a German-born Danish politician, businessman, nobleman and philanthropist. Early life and career Ernst von Schimmelmann was born in Dresden to Baron Heinrich Carl von Sch ...

belonged to the conspirators around

Nathaniel William Wraxall Sir Nathaniel William Wraxall, 1st Baronet (8 April 1751 – 7 November 1831) was an England, English author and politician. Life He was born in Queen Square, Bristol, the son of a Bristol merchant, Nathaniel Wraxall, and his wife Anne, great-n ...

, who planned to install queen Caroline Matilda as regent of Denmark.

References

* August Fjelstrup: Damerne ved Karoline Mathildes Hof, 1909.

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schimmelmann, Caroline von 1730 births 1795 deaths 18th-century Danish people Danish countesses Schimmelmann family