Marie Grubbe
Encyclopedia
Marie Grubbe was a Danish noble who drew a lot of attention by her love life. She has been the inspiration for books, plays and operas.
(1638–1704), viceroy of Norway
, the son of King Frederick III of Denmark
, in 1660-70, the noble Palle Dyre (d. 1707) in 1673-91, and to the coachman Søren Sørensen Møller in 1691.
As the heir of her father, she was arranged to marry the illegitimate son of the king by her relative Regitze, widow of the illegitimate son of king Christian IV of Denmark
and Karen Andersdatter
, and followed him to Oslo
in Norway in 1664. She had relationships with her husband's secretary
Joachim Lambert, the Frenchman Blanquefort and her brother-in-law
Stygge Høeg. In 1667, the spouses separated: as adultery was punishable by death, she thanked her spouse for her life. She was divorce
d by permission of the king in 1670, and was allowed to remarry and keep her fortune. In 1673, her father arranged a new marriage. In 1690, when she had a relationship with the younger coachman, her father asked the king for permission to desinherit her and have her locked up for the rest of her life. The king asked her spouse for his wishes, and he answered that he only wished for a divorce. she was put under house arrest
until the divorce was completed, was desinherited and lost her right to marry in Denmark. She then married her lover in Holsten
in Germany
instead. The couple lived in poverty until they were given a home on Falster
by the Queen dowager
Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel. After the death of the queen dowager (1714), she lived on charity. She once said to Ludvig Holberg
, that she was happier with her third spouse than with any other.
. She has inspired the books Kysse-Marie by Juliane Preisler (1994), Blichers Brudstykker af en Landsbydegns Dagbog by Steen Steensen (1824), Fru Marie Grubbe by J.P. Jacobsen, (1876) and
Hønse-Grethes Familie by H.C. Andersen (1869), the opera Marie Grubbe by Ebbe Hamerik
(1940) and a play by Sven Lange. In 1989/1990, a three-episode TV mini-series with the title Marie Grubbe has been produced in GDR-Polish-Hungarian-Danish co-production, directed by Christian Steinke, starring Austrian actress Mijou Kovacs as Marie Grubbe.
Biography
Daughter of a statesman, noble Erik Grubbe (1605–92) and Maren Juul (1608–47). She was married to Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of LaurvigUlrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig
Ulrik Frederik Gyldenløve, Count of Laurvig was a statesman and the leading Norwegian general in the Scanian War, whose Norway-related portion is conventionally named "the Gyldenløve War", after him...
(1638–1704), viceroy of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, the son of King Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III of Denmark
Frederick III was king of Denmark and Norway from 1648 until his death. He instituted absolute monarchy in Denmark and Norway in 1660, confirmed by law in 1665 as the first in western historiography. He was born the second-eldest son of Christian IV of Denmark and Anne Catherine of Brandenburg...
, in 1660-70, the noble Palle Dyre (d. 1707) in 1673-91, and to the coachman Søren Sørensen Møller in 1691.
As the heir of her father, she was arranged to marry the illegitimate son of the king by her relative Regitze, widow of the illegitimate son of king Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV of Denmark
Christian IV was the king of Denmark-Norway from 1588 until his death. With a reign of more than 59 years, he is the longest-reigning monarch of Denmark, and he is frequently remembered as one of the most popular, ambitious and proactive Danish kings, having initiated many reforms and projects...
and Karen Andersdatter
Karen Andersdatter
Karen Andersdatter was a Danish county administrator, a lover of King Christian IV of Denmark from 1613 until 1615/16, and the mother of one of his three acknowledged, illegitimate sons, Hans Ulrik Gyldenløve.- Biography :...
, and followed him to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in Norway in 1664. She had relationships with her husband's secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
Joachim Lambert, the Frenchman Blanquefort and her brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
Stygge Høeg. In 1667, the spouses separated: as adultery was punishable by death, she thanked her spouse for her life. She was divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
d by permission of the king in 1670, and was allowed to remarry and keep her fortune. In 1673, her father arranged a new marriage. In 1690, when she had a relationship with the younger coachman, her father asked the king for permission to desinherit her and have her locked up for the rest of her life. The king asked her spouse for his wishes, and he answered that he only wished for a divorce. she was put under house arrest
House arrest
In justice and law, house arrest is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to his or her residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all...
until the divorce was completed, was desinherited and lost her right to marry in Denmark. She then married her lover in Holsten
Holsten
Holsten Brewery is a brewing company founded in 1879 in what is now Hamburg's Altona-Nord quarter. The group now has seven breweries in Germany. Its nationally distributed premium brand is the pale lager Holsten Pilsener...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
instead. The couple lived in poverty until they were given a home on Falster
Falster
Falster is an island in south-eastern Denmark with an area of 514 km² and 43,398 inhabitants as of 1 January 2010. Located in the Baltic sea, it is part of Region Sjælland and is administered by Guldborgsund Municipality...
by the Queen dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel. After the death of the queen dowager (1714), she lived on charity. She once said to Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
, that she was happier with her third spouse than with any other.
In culture
Marie Grubbe has inspired many artists since Ludvig HolbergLudvig Holberg
Ludvig Holberg, Baron of Holberg was a writer, essayist, philosopher, historian and playwright born in Bergen, Norway, during the time of the Dano-Norwegian double monarchy, who spent most of his adult life in Denmark. He was influenced by Humanism, the Enlightenment and the Baroque...
. She has inspired the books Kysse-Marie by Juliane Preisler (1994), Blichers Brudstykker af en Landsbydegns Dagbog by Steen Steensen (1824), Fru Marie Grubbe by J.P. Jacobsen, (1876) and
Hønse-Grethes Familie by H.C. Andersen (1869), the opera Marie Grubbe by Ebbe Hamerik
Ebbe Hamerik
Ebbe Hamerik was a Danish composer. Born in Copenhagen, he was the son of composer Asger Hamerik. He died at the age of 52 in Kattegat....
(1940) and a play by Sven Lange. In 1989/1990, a three-episode TV mini-series with the title Marie Grubbe has been produced in GDR-Polish-Hungarian-Danish co-production, directed by Christian Steinke, starring Austrian actress Mijou Kovacs as Marie Grubbe.