Aurora Wilhelmina Koskull
Encyclopedia
Aurora Wilhelmina Koskull (22 November 1778 – 19 February 1852) was a Swedish lady-in-waiting
and politically active salonist.
She was the daughter of the courtier Baron Otto Anders Koskull and Amalia Beata Silfversparre. Married in 1806 to Count Magnus Fredrik Brahe (1756-1826).
Koskull became one of the first maids-of-honor appointed to the new queen, Frederica of Baden
, in 1797. In 1800, the queen's unmarried ladies-in-waiting were dismissed by the king because of many scandals involving them. Impoverished, Koskull moved in with her aunt, Ulrika Katarina Koskull, and her aunt's husband Count Magnus Fredrik Brahe
.
Koskull was admired as an accomplished singer during her participation in the amateur theatre
society of Princess Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte at Rosersberg Palace
in 1802. She was rumoured to have an affair with Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
, during his stay in Stockholm in 1802–1803; according to Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte, William Frederick said to her, "If she [Koskull] were your daughter, I would marry her!"
In 1806, half a year after the death of her aunt, she married her aunt's widower. She had two children, Ulrika Vilhelmina Brahe (1808-1836) and Magnus Brahe (1810-?). In 1811, she followed her spouse when he was sent as the Swedish envoy to Paris, where she attracted the attention of Napoleon, who called her la belle suédoise. She became a center of the aristocratic life of Stockholm, a position she kept as a widow; it was said that she "with noble dignity took the lead in the most notable salon of the Swedish aristocracy" and her salon was described as "a school, where youth took their knowledge in the art of good mannered socializing"; also in her old age, she was said to keep a "beautiful and majestic appearance". She exerted an influence upon contemporary Swedish policy through her stepson, politician Magnus Brahe
, who reportedly asked her for advice in matters of state.
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
and politically active salonist.
She was the daughter of the courtier Baron Otto Anders Koskull and Amalia Beata Silfversparre. Married in 1806 to Count Magnus Fredrik Brahe (1756-1826).
Koskull became one of the first maids-of-honor appointed to the new queen, Frederica of Baden
Frederica of Baden
Friederike Dorothea Wilhelmina of Baden was Queen consort of Sweden from 1797 to 1809. Daughter of Karl Ludwig of Baden and Amalie of Hesse-Darmstadt, she was the younger sister of Empress Elisabeth Alexeievna , wife of Tsar Alexander I of Russia.-Biography:She was born in Karlsruhe...
, in 1797. In 1800, the queen's unmarried ladies-in-waiting were dismissed by the king because of many scandals involving them. Impoverished, Koskull moved in with her aunt, Ulrika Katarina Koskull, and her aunt's husband Count Magnus Fredrik Brahe
Brahe
Brahe is the name of a Scanian noble family that was influential in both Danish and Swedish history but has its family roots in Swedish origin. The first member of the family is speculated to have been Verner Braghde from Halland. Better documented is Peder Axelsen Brahe who appears in late 14th...
.
Koskull was admired as an accomplished singer during her participation in the amateur theatre
Amateur theatre
Amateur theatre is theatre performed by amateur actors. These actors are not typically members of Actors' Equity groups or Actors' Unions as these organizations exist to protect the professional industry and therefore discourage their members from appearing with companies which are not a signatory...
society of Princess Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte at Rosersberg Palace
Rosersberg Palace
Rosersberg Palace is one of the Royal Palaces of Sweden. Situated on the shores of Lake Mälaren, on the outskirts of Stockholm, it was built in the 1630s by the Oxenstierna family and became a royal palace in 1762, when the state gave it to Duke Karl , the younger brother of Gustav III of Sweden.-...
in 1802. She was rumoured to have an affair with Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh
Prince William, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh was a member of the British Royal Family, a great-grandson of George II and nephew of George III.-Early life:...
, during his stay in Stockholm in 1802–1803; according to Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte, William Frederick said to her, "If she [Koskull] were your daughter, I would marry her!"
In 1806, half a year after the death of her aunt, she married her aunt's widower. She had two children, Ulrika Vilhelmina Brahe (1808-1836) and Magnus Brahe (1810-?). In 1811, she followed her spouse when he was sent as the Swedish envoy to Paris, where she attracted the attention of Napoleon, who called her la belle suédoise. She became a center of the aristocratic life of Stockholm, a position she kept as a widow; it was said that she "with noble dignity took the lead in the most notable salon of the Swedish aristocracy" and her salon was described as "a school, where youth took their knowledge in the art of good mannered socializing"; also in her old age, she was said to keep a "beautiful and majestic appearance". She exerted an influence upon contemporary Swedish policy through her stepson, politician Magnus Brahe
Magnus Brahe (1790-1844)
Nils Magnus Brahe , Swedish statesman and soldier.He was and a descendant of Per Brahe and son of Magnus Fredrik Brahe and Ulrika Katarina Koskull. He fought in the War against Napoleon under the crown prince Bernadotte, with whom, after his accession to the throne as Charles XIV, he was in high...
, who reportedly asked her for advice in matters of state.