Ebba Sparre
Encyclopedia
Ebba Larsdotter Sparre was a Swedish lady-in-waiting
and noble
. She is known as the intimate friend of Queen Christina of Sweden
.
Ebba Sparre was the daughter of statesman and marschal Lars Eriksson Sparre and Märta Banér and grandchild of chancillor Erik Larsson Sparre.
Sparre was a celebrated beauty at the royal court and nicknamed La belle comtesse (French for : "The beautiful countess"). She frequently played the part of Venus
in the amateur ballet
s performed by the nobility at court. Her intimate relationship with Queen Christina gave rise to the speculation that they were lovers. This has however never been confirmed, and the truth is unknown.
Most of Christina's spare time was spent with 'la belle comtesse' - and she often called attention to her beauty. She introduced her to the English ambassador Whitelocke as her 'bed-fellow', assuring him that Sparre's intellect was as striking as her body. When Christina left Sweden she continued to write passionate love-letters to Sparre, in which she told her that she would always love her. However, such emotional letters were relatively common at that time, and Christina would use the same style when writing to women she had never met, but whose writings she admired.
Ebba was engaged to Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna
but broke the engagement to marry Count Jakob Kasimir De la Gardie, brother of the queen's favourite Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie
, on the initiative of Christina. They married in 1652. The marriage was unhappy. Sparre was the only female favourite of Christina, and they kept in touch after Christina left Sweden.
In 1661, Christina invited Sparre to visit her in Hamburg
, and she also wished to see her during her visit to Sweden, but this was prevented by Sparre's family.
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 noble
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
. She is known as the intimate friend of Queen Christina of Sweden
Christina of Sweden
Christina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
.
Ebba Sparre was the daughter of statesman and marschal Lars Eriksson Sparre and Märta Banér and grandchild of chancillor Erik Larsson Sparre.
Sparre was a celebrated beauty at the royal court and nicknamed La belle comtesse (French for : "The beautiful countess"). She frequently played the part of Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
in the amateur ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
s performed by the nobility at court. Her intimate relationship with Queen Christina gave rise to the speculation that they were lovers. This has however never been confirmed, and the truth is unknown.
Most of Christina's spare time was spent with 'la belle comtesse' - and she often called attention to her beauty. She introduced her to the English ambassador Whitelocke as her 'bed-fellow', assuring him that Sparre's intellect was as striking as her body. When Christina left Sweden she continued to write passionate love-letters to Sparre, in which she told her that she would always love her. However, such emotional letters were relatively common at that time, and Christina would use the same style when writing to women she had never met, but whose writings she admired.
Ebba was engaged to Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna
Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna
Count Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna , Swedish statesman, was the son of Axel Oxenstierna’s cousin, Gabriel Bengtsson Oxenstierna . Married to Magdalena Stenbock.- Career :...
but broke the engagement to marry Count Jakob Kasimir De la Gardie, brother of the queen's favourite Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie
Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie
Count Magnus Gabriel De la Gardie was a Swedish statesman and military man. He became a member of the Swedish Privy Council in 1647 and came to be the holder of three of the five offices counted as the Great Officers of the Realm, namely Lord High Treasurer, Lord High Chancellor and Lord High...
, on the initiative of Christina. They married in 1652. The marriage was unhappy. Sparre was the only female favourite of Christina, and they kept in touch after Christina left Sweden.
In 1661, Christina invited Sparre to visit her in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, and she also wished to see her during her visit to Sweden, but this was prevented by Sparre's family.