Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht
Encyclopedia
Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht (Stockholm, Sweden, November 28, 1718 – Stockholm, Sweden, June 29, 1763) was a Swedish poet
, feminist
and salon hostess
. She has been called the first self-supporting female writer in Sweden.
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Born in Stockholm
, Nordenflycht was the daughter of the official Anders Andersson Nordbohm, who was ennobled as Nordenflycht, and Christina Rosin. She was given a good education where she early read philosophy
, theology
, Latin
and German
.
In 1734 she was engaged to Johan Tideman, who was sickly. He had an impact on her and was an inspiration to her as a follower of Christopher Polhem
. He died in 1737, before the wedding. She married Jacob Fabricius, military-vicar in Karlskrona
, but he died very soon after the wedding. She withdrew to a cottage to mourn, and there, she wrote her first poems to describe her sorrow.
Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht began her career by a poem dedicated to the throne accession of the king of Prussia
in 1740, and received great encouragement from the court, especially from Queen Louisa Ulrika
, which gave her a lot of support and protected her work, a support she repaid with numerous poems of appreciation to the royal house. She could be regarded as somewhat of a court poet. She became fashionable and supported herself by writing poems on commission. In 1752, she received a pension from the state.
In 1753 she was elected into the Tankebyggarorden, a literary academy in Stockholm based on similar French societies, which published several works which are regarded as the breakthrough of literary classicism in Sweden. She became a leading member of the academy, acted as its hostess and made it the centre of a literary salon
. Her name in the Academy was Uranie, and she was a close friend to Gustaf Philip Creutz
and Gustaf Fredric Gylleborg.
As a feminist, she was a passionate defender of female education. As such, she opposed some of the views of Rousseau
. In 1761, she wrote Fruntimrens försvar (English: "To the Defense of Women") on this topic. In Friarekonsten (English: "The art of proposing"), she warns women, that men's assurances of friendship often turned to a demand of obedience after marriage.
Nordenflycht is said to have been a passionate and emotional person. The sorrows of her private life affected her health and made her sick and depressed, some say suicidal, which is said to have been reflected in her works, which was often of the melancholic kind. The most famous poem of Nordenflycht, Öfver en Hyacint, was a love poem which describes Nordenflycht's love for the young Johan Fischerström; the last poems is about the triangle between Nordenflycht, Fischerström and her friend Cathérine Charlotte De la Gardie
, which took place during the winter of 1762-63. In 1762, she withdrew to a cottage at the estate of De la Gardie; Johan Fischerström became the inspector of the estate and courted De la Gardie, which made the situation unbearable for Hedvig. Her health was also declining. Legend say she committed suicide
, and several versions are given as to how it happened. Other historians, however, find it likely that she suffered from cancer
.
In the national Swedish portrait gallery of Gripsholm, which was opened in the 1820s, she was one of the first six women of the Swedish history who was given a portrait in the collection, alongside with Bridget of Sweden
, Vendela Skytte
, Barbro Stigsdotter (Svinhufvud), Sophia Rosenhane and Sophia Elisabet Brenner
.
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and salon hostess
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
. She has been called the first self-supporting female writer in Sweden.
Biography
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, Nordenflycht was the daughter of the official Anders Andersson Nordbohm, who was ennobled as Nordenflycht, and Christina Rosin. She was given a good education where she early read philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
.
In 1734 she was engaged to Johan Tideman, who was sickly. He had an impact on her and was an inspiration to her as a follower of Christopher Polhem
Christopher Polhem
Christopher Polhammar , better known as , which he took after his ennoblement, was a Swedish scientist, inventor and industrialist. He made significant contributions to the economic and industrial development of Sweden, particularly mining.-Biography:Polhem was born on the island of Gotland...
. He died in 1737, before the wedding. She married Jacob Fabricius, military-vicar in Karlskrona
Karlskrona
Karlskrona is a locality and the seat of Karlskrona Municipality, Blekinge County, Sweden with 35,212 inhabitants in 2010. It is also the capital of Blekinge County. Karlskrona is known as Sweden's only baroque city and is host to Sweden's only remaining naval base and the headquarters of the...
, but he died very soon after the wedding. She withdrew to a cottage to mourn, and there, she wrote her first poems to describe her sorrow.
Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht began her career by a poem dedicated to the throne accession of the king of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
in 1740, and received great encouragement from the court, especially from Queen Louisa Ulrika
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:...
, which gave her a lot of support and protected her work, a support she repaid with numerous poems of appreciation to the royal house. She could be regarded as somewhat of a court poet. She became fashionable and supported herself by writing poems on commission. In 1752, she received a pension from the state.
In 1753 she was elected into the Tankebyggarorden, a literary academy in Stockholm based on similar French societies, which published several works which are regarded as the breakthrough of literary classicism in Sweden. She became a leading member of the academy, acted as its hostess and made it the centre of a literary salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
. Her name in the Academy was Uranie, and she was a close friend to Gustaf Philip Creutz
Gustaf Philip Creutz
Count Gustaf Philip Creutz , was a Swedish statesman, diplomat and poet. He was born in Finland and after concluding his studies at the Royal Academy of Turku he received a post in the Privy Council Chancery at Stockholm in 1751. Here he met Count Gyllenborg, with whom his name is indissolubly...
and Gustaf Fredric Gylleborg.
As a feminist, she was a passionate defender of female education. As such, she opposed some of the views of Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Jean-Jacques Rousseau was a Genevan philosopher, writer, and composer of 18th-century Romanticism. His political philosophy influenced the French Revolution as well as the overall development of modern political, sociological and educational thought.His novel Émile: or, On Education is a treatise...
. In 1761, she wrote Fruntimrens försvar (English: "To the Defense of Women") on this topic. In Friarekonsten (English: "The art of proposing"), she warns women, that men's assurances of friendship often turned to a demand of obedience after marriage.
Nordenflycht is said to have been a passionate and emotional person. The sorrows of her private life affected her health and made her sick and depressed, some say suicidal, which is said to have been reflected in her works, which was often of the melancholic kind. The most famous poem of Nordenflycht, Öfver en Hyacint, was a love poem which describes Nordenflycht's love for the young Johan Fischerström; the last poems is about the triangle between Nordenflycht, Fischerström and her friend Cathérine Charlotte De la Gardie
Cathérine Charlotte De la Gardie
Countess Catherine Charlotte De la Gardie or de La Gardie, also called Catharina Charlotta and Katarina Charlotta, née Taube, , was a Swedish noble...
, which took place during the winter of 1762-63. In 1762, she withdrew to a cottage at the estate of De la Gardie; Johan Fischerström became the inspector of the estate and courted De la Gardie, which made the situation unbearable for Hedvig. Her health was also declining. Legend say she committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
, and several versions are given as to how it happened. Other historians, however, find it likely that she suffered from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
.
In the national Swedish portrait gallery of Gripsholm, which was opened in the 1820s, she was one of the first six women of the Swedish history who was given a portrait in the collection, alongside with Bridget of Sweden
Bridget of Sweden
Bridget of Sweden Bridget of Sweden Bridget of Sweden (1303 – 23 July 1373; also Birgitta of Vadstena, Saint Birgitta , was a mystic and saint, and founder of the Bridgettines nuns and monks after the death of her husband of twenty years...
, Vendela Skytte
Vendela Skytte
Vendela Skytte was a Swedish noblewoman, salonist and writer, Poet and Lady of Letters. She has been used as an example in history to describe an ideal of a well educated woman.- Biography :...
, Barbro Stigsdotter (Svinhufvud), Sophia Rosenhane and Sophia Elisabet Brenner
Sophia Elisabet Brenner
Sophia Elisabet Brenner was a Swedish writer, poet, feminist and salon hostess, and was regarded in her country as a pioneer in each of these fields.- Biography :...
.
Selection of work
- 1743 : "Den sörjande Turturduvan" (The Sorrowing Turtledove)
- 1744 : Qwinligit Tankespel, av en herdinna i Norden (A Woman's Play of Thoughts, by a Shepherdess in the North), in four volumes between 1744 and 1750
- 1744 : Fruentimbers Plikt att upöfwa deras Wett (Women's duty to train their sense)
- 1752 : Våra Försök (Our Efforts), together with the other academy members
- 1761 : Fruntimrens försvar (To the Defense of Women)
- 1762 : Öfwer en hyacinth (Over a hyacinth)
See also
- Anna Maria LenngrenAnna Maria LenngrenAnna Maria Lenngren was a Swedish writer, poet, feminist, translator and salonist. She is one of the best-known Swedish woman poets.-Background:...
- Sophia Elisabet BrennerSophia Elisabet BrennerSophia Elisabet Brenner was a Swedish writer, poet, feminist and salon hostess, and was regarded in her country as a pioneer in each of these fields.- Biography :...
- Catharina AhlgrenCatharina AhlgrenCatharina Ahlgren was a Swedish feminist writer, poet, translator, managing editor, and one of the first identifiable female journalists in Sweden. She is also known for her correspondance with Hedvig Charlotta Nordenflycht. Ahlgren was a leading person in the "Female literary world of the 1750-...
- Hedvig Catharina LiljeHedvig Catharina LiljeHedvig Catharina Lillie, also called Lilje, as married Hedvig Catharina De la Gardie, , was a Swedish noble and salonist. She was politically active during the age of liberty in favour of the Hats and a pro-French policy through her connections and a known political figure of her time...