Adolph Ribbing
Encyclopedia
Adolph Ludvig Ribbing, later called Adolph de Leuven (10 January 1765 in Stockholm - 1 April 1843 in Paris), was a Swedish count and politician. He participated in the regicide
of Gustav III of Sweden
in 1792.
Adolph Ribbing was the son of Fredrik Ribbing and Eva Helena Löwen
. He spent his childhood at the Swedish royal court, as his mother was a popular socialite and the personal friend of both Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
and Gustav III of Sweden
. He received a military education in Berlin
and Paris
and became a member of the Livgardet. In the 1780s, Ribbing came in conflict with the monarch, Gustav III, partially under influence of the ideas then popular in France. His animosity was nurtured when Charlotta Eleonora De Geer, with whom he was in love, was matched by the king with count Hans Henrik von Essen. The engagement was widely disapproved of within the court because of sympathy with the popular Augusta von Fersen
, to whom von Essen had been a long term lover, and Ribbing challenged von Essen to a duel
. Ribbing injured von Essen in the duel, which took place in 1788. The duel caused a scandal and was regarded as a crime against the king. Ribbing was commandeered to serve at the Vaxholm Castle
, which he regarded as an insult and therefore left service. He took part in the parliamentary sessions of 1789, and became acquainted with Claes Fredrik Horn and Jacob Johan Anckarström
in 1792. Ribbing is regarded to have taken a leading role in the planning of the regicide of Gustav III. He was present at the masquerade ball where the assassination took place, but did not take part in it physically. He was pointed out by his accomplices, arrested and made a full confession. Ribbing was sentenced to death in May 1792 and deprived of his rank as a noble, but was pardoned and exiled. He spent the majority of his exile in France under the name de Leuven and was active as a writer. He was at one point the lover of Germaine de Staël. He married Adèle Billard d'Aubigny in 1799. He was the father of Adolphe de Leuven
.
Regicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
of Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
in 1792.
Adolph Ribbing was the son of Fredrik Ribbing and Eva Helena Löwen
Eva Helena Löwen
Eva Helena Löwen , was a politically active Swedish noble socialite and royal favourite. She was active as a French agent in Sweden....
. He spent his childhood at the Swedish royal court, as his mother was a popular socialite and the personal friend of both Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia was Queen of Sweden between 1751 and 1771 as the spouse of King Adolf Frederick of Sweden, and queen mother during the reign of King Gustav III of Sweden.-Background:...
and Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III of Sweden
Gustav III was King of Sweden from 1771 until his death. He was the eldest son of King Adolph Frederick and Queen Louise Ulrica of Sweden, she a sister of Frederick the Great of Prussia....
. He received a military education in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and became a member of the Livgardet. In the 1780s, Ribbing came in conflict with the monarch, Gustav III, partially under influence of the ideas then popular in France. His animosity was nurtured when Charlotta Eleonora De Geer, with whom he was in love, was matched by the king with count Hans Henrik von Essen. The engagement was widely disapproved of within the court because of sympathy with the popular Augusta von Fersen
Augusta von Fersen
Christina Augusta von Fersen, as married Löwenhielm , was a Swedish noble and lady-in-waiting. She is a well-known figure of the Gustavian Age, and is known in history as one of "The Three Graces" at court, and as royal mistress to king Charles XIII of Sweden.-Background:Augusta was the daughter of...
, to whom von Essen had been a long term lover, and Ribbing challenged von Essen to a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
. Ribbing injured von Essen in the duel, which took place in 1788. The duel caused a scandal and was regarded as a crime against the king. Ribbing was commandeered to serve at the Vaxholm Castle
Vaxholm Castle
Vaxholm Castle sits on an island just east of the Swedish village of Vaxholm.The Castle was originally constructed by Gustav Vasa in 1544 to defend Stockholm against shipborne attacks from the east, but most of the current structure dates from 1833-1863. Russian prisoners-of-war were used in part...
, which he regarded as an insult and therefore left service. He took part in the parliamentary sessions of 1789, and became acquainted with Claes Fredrik Horn and Jacob Johan Anckarström
Jacob Johan Anckarström
Jacob Johan Anckarström was a Swedish military officer who was convicted and executed for regicide. He was the son of Jacob Johan Anckarström the Elder. He served as a captain in King Gustav III's regiment between 1778 and 1783...
in 1792. Ribbing is regarded to have taken a leading role in the planning of the regicide of Gustav III. He was present at the masquerade ball where the assassination took place, but did not take part in it physically. He was pointed out by his accomplices, arrested and made a full confession. Ribbing was sentenced to death in May 1792 and deprived of his rank as a noble, but was pardoned and exiled. He spent the majority of his exile in France under the name de Leuven and was active as a writer. He was at one point the lover of Germaine de Staël. He married Adèle Billard d'Aubigny in 1799. He was the father of Adolphe de Leuven
Adolphe de Leuven
Adolphe de Leuven was a French theatre director and a librettist. Also known as Grenvallet, and Count Adolph Ribbing. He was the son of Adolph Ribbing....
.