Urszula Mayerin
Encyclopedia
Urszula Mayerin was mistress
to King Sigismund III of Poland and a politically influential woman. Her real name might have been Gienger, but it is still a matter of dispute among historians; she signed all her letters as Urszula Meyerin. In German
, her last name means chamberlain (meierin).
in Bavaria
, Germany
in a poor noble
family. She came to Graz
as a child in the 1580s. Mayerin was pretty in her youth, and some time later was chosen by Maria Anna of Bavaria to become mistress
to King Sigismund III of Poland. Maria Anna's own daughter (Anna of Habsburg
) was fiancée to the Polish King, but was unattractive, and the Habsburg
s had bad experiences with two marriages of King Sigismund Augustus of Poland. The girl joined the Anne's court
in Poland as a chamberlain in 1592.
, she acquired knowledge of the Polish
. Despite that she was very unpopular in the Commonwealth, because she was involved in affairs of state. She used her influence on the King to appoint her favourites to state positions. She was contemptuously called King's mistress, minister in a skirt and Jesuit's bigotry. The King's secretary Jan Szczęsny Herburt
called her "obscene favourite
".
Mayerin was a chamberlain of the Queen's court. Though she became the senior governess
to the King's children and supervisor of Royal Nurses, she was not held in high esteem among them (Urszula was especially loathed by a protestant nurse of prince Władysław
, Scottish Mrs. Forbes). After the Queen's death in 1598 she did not leave Poland
as did the other German Queen's ladies. The reason was her great attachment to the King and to young prince Władysław
. Her tender letters to the prince are sometimes interpreted to contain more than a tutor's affection.
When Sigismund III married again in 1605 in Kraków
with a sister of his first wife, Constance of Austria
, Urszula became her "close worries and consolations participant". She traveled in the Queen's carriage, dined with her at the same table, administered the court's treasury, and even assisted with official audiences with the King. Mayerin fostered the King's children and spoke to them mainly in Polish (their own mother communicated with them only in German). She never married and rejected all offers (even her great friend Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł).
As a chamberlain she was very thrifty and dressed mainly in a black Spanish dress. She corresponded with Emperor
Ferdinand II
and the Pope
and received a Golden Rose
for an "exceptionally virtuous life".
During the last year of Sigismund's life he was often seriously ill and Urszula become the real Polish Duke of Lerma, leaving him an increasingly peripheral figure. She signed official state documents instead of the King and received foreign ambassador
s.
Urszula died in 1635 at the Royal Castle
and was buried in the Jesuit Church
in Warsaw
with a solemn burial ceremony, almost like a Queen. Her grave was plundered and destroyed by Swedish and German troops during the Deluge in the 1650s.
, including some by such great artists as Peter Claesz. Soutman
or Christian Melich (Polish court painter
s), were destroyed when the Royal Castle in Warsaw was ransacked and burned down during the Deluge.
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
to King Sigismund III of Poland and a politically influential woman. Her real name might have been Gienger, but it is still a matter of dispute among historians; she signed all her letters as Urszula Meyerin. In 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....
, her last name means chamberlain (meierin).
Early life
Urszula was most likely born near MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, 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...
in a poor 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...
family. She came to Graz
Graz
The more recent population figures do not give the whole picture as only people with principal residence status are counted and people with secondary residence status are not. Most of the people with secondary residence status in Graz are students...
as a child in the 1580s. Mayerin was pretty in her youth, and some time later was chosen by Maria Anna of Bavaria to become mistress
Mistress (lover)
A mistress is a long-term female lover and companion who is not married to her partner; the term is used especially when her partner is married. The relationship generally is stable and at least semi-permanent; however, the couple does not live together openly. Also the relationship is usually,...
to King Sigismund III of Poland. Maria Anna's own daughter (Anna of Habsburg
Anna of Habsburg
Anne of Austria was queen consort of Poland and Sweden by marriage to Sigismund III Vasa, king of Poland and Sweden.-Biography:Anne was a daughter of Charles II of Austria and Maria Anna of Bavaria...
) was fiancée to the Polish King, but was unattractive, and the Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
s had bad experiences with two marriages of King Sigismund Augustus of Poland. The girl joined the Anne's court
Noble court
The court of a monarch, or at some periods an important nobleman, is a term for the extended household and all those who regularly attended on the ruler or central figure...
in Poland as a chamberlain in 1592.
Chamberlain
Urszula had a great influence on the King and Queen. She was a strict religious person. Shortly after her arrival in the Polish-Lithuanian CommonwealthPolish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was a dualistic state of Poland and Lithuania ruled by a common monarch. It was the largest and one of the most populous countries of 16th- and 17th‑century Europe with some and a multi-ethnic population of 11 million at its peak in the early 17th century...
, she acquired knowledge of the Polish
Polish language
Polish is a language of the Lechitic subgroup of West Slavic languages, used throughout Poland and by Polish minorities in other countries...
. Despite that she was very unpopular in the Commonwealth, because she was involved in affairs of state. She used her influence on the King to appoint her favourites to state positions. She was contemptuously called King's mistress, minister in a skirt and Jesuit's bigotry. The King's secretary Jan Szczęsny Herburt
Jan Szczesny Herburt
Jan Szczęsny Herburt , Polish-Lithuanian political writer, diplomat, poseł to the Sejm. Early supporter of kanclerz Jan Zamoyski, took part in many diplomatic missions...
called her "obscene favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
".
Mayerin was a chamberlain of the Queen's court. Though she became the senior governess
Governess
A governess is a girl or woman employed to teach and train children in a private household. In contrast to a nanny or a babysitter, she concentrates on teaching children, not on meeting their physical needs...
to the King's children and supervisor of Royal Nurses, she was not held in high esteem among them (Urszula was especially loathed by a protestant nurse of prince Władysław
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
, Scottish Mrs. Forbes). After the Queen's death in 1598 she did not leave Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
as did the other German Queen's ladies. The reason was her great attachment to the King and to young prince Władysław
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
. Her tender letters to the prince are sometimes interpreted to contain more than a tutor's affection.
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
with a sister of his first wife, Constance of Austria
Constance of Austria
Archduchess Constance of Austria was a Queen consort of Poland.-Biography:...
, Urszula became her "close worries and consolations participant". She traveled in the Queen's carriage, dined with her at the same table, administered the court's treasury, and even assisted with official audiences with the King. Mayerin fostered the King's children and spoke to them mainly in Polish (their own mother communicated with them only in German). She never married and rejected all offers (even her great friend Albrycht Stanisław Radziwiłł).
As a chamberlain she was very thrifty and dressed mainly in a black Spanish dress. She corresponded with Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
and the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
and received a Golden Rose
Golden Rose
The Golden Rose is a gold ornament, which popes of the Catholic Church have traditionally blessed annually. It is occasionally conferred as a token of reverence or affection...
for an "exceptionally virtuous life".
During the last year of Sigismund's life he was often seriously ill and Urszula become the real Polish Duke of Lerma, leaving him an increasingly peripheral figure. She signed official state documents instead of the King and received foreign ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s.
Urszula died in 1635 at the Royal Castle
Royal Castle, Warsaw
The Royal Castle in Warsaw is a castle residency and was the official residence of the Polish monarchs. It is located in the Castle Square, at the entrance to the Warsaw Old Town. The personal offices of the king and the administrative offices of the Royal Court of Poland were located there from...
and was buried in the Jesuit Church
Jesuit Church, Warsaw
Jesuit Church , otherwise the Church of the Gracious Mother of God is an ornate church in Warsaw, Poland. Immediately adjacent to St. John's Cathedral, it is one of the most notable mannerist churches in Poland's capital...
in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
with a solemn burial ceremony, almost like a Queen. Her grave was plundered and destroyed by Swedish and German troops during the Deluge in the 1650s.
Legacy
Urszula Mayerin died male childless. All her effigiesEffigy
An effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
, including some by such great artists as Peter Claesz. Soutman
Pieter Soutman
Pieter Claesz Soutman was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker from Haarlem.- Biography :Soutman was born and died in Haarlem, where he was a contemporary of Frans Hals, Hendrick Gerritsz Pot, and Pieter Claesz, and seems to have been influenced by all three, considering the various...
or Christian Melich (Polish court painter
Court painter
A court painter was an artist who painted for the members of a royal or noble family, sometimes on a fixed salary and on an exclusive basis where the artist was not supposed to undertake other work. Especially in the late Middle Ages, they were often given the office of valet de chambre...
s), were destroyed when the Royal Castle in Warsaw was ransacked and burned down during the Deluge.
See also
- Marina MniszechMarina MniszechMarina Mniszech Marina Mniszech Marina Mniszech (Polish: Maryna Mniszchówna or Maryna Mniszech; Russian: Марина Мнишек (Marina Mnishek); also known as "Marinka the witch" in Russian folklore; c...
- Elżbieta SieniawskaElżbieta SieniawskaElżbieta Helena Sieniawska née Lubomirska was a Polish noble lady, Grand Hetmaness of the Crown and renowned patron of arts. As an influential woman politician in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth during the reign of Augustus II the Strong she was deeply embroiled in the Great Northern War and...
- Izabela Czartoryska