Emerentia von Düben

Who was Emerentia von Düben?

Emerentia von Düben also called Menza, was a Swedish lady-in-waiting, the favourite of Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden. She was known for her influence over Ulrika Eleonora.

Emerentia von Düben was the daughter of organist and composer Gustaf Düben and Emerentia Standaert, she was a great-granddaughter of the German-born Baroque composer Andreas Düben, and a sister of Gustaf von Düben the Younger, Joachim von Düben the Elder, and Anders von Düben. Probably born in Stockholm, Menza was initially employed as a chamber maid at the court of the queen, Ulrika Eleonora. In 1690, she was made responsible for Princess Ulrika Eleonora. In 1707 Menza was ennobled along with her brothers, in 1717 she officially became lady-in-waiting, and in 1719, she was given the title Baroness.

Emerentia von Düben stood by Ulrika's side her entire life as her support and adviser and enjoyed great influence: "For better and for worse nurturing, serving, accompanying and comforting". Menza was described as a religious bigot and was envied, but she was never a subject of slander or scandals. She supported the right of Ulrika Eleonora to the throne before that of Hedvig Sophia of Sweden and her son and encouraged the competition between the two parties. The common belief at court was that the way to Ulrika Eleonora went through Menza, and she received large sums of money from foreign diplomats and supplicants to use her influence. The baroness is not considered to have abused her influence. She did, however, gather a great fortune. She negotiated the marriage between Ulrika Eleonora and Frederick of Hesse for the interest of 30.000 German thaler between 1710 and 1715. In 1714, the Russian agent prince Chilkov was given the task by Peter the Great to issue peace negotiations with Ulrika Eleonora through Menza. During the reign of Ulrika Eleonora in 1718-1720, Menza and her brothers where regarded to exert an undue influence over the affairs of state. According to the Austrian ambassador, Menza had access to the bed chamber of Ulrika Eleonora before that of the queen's consort. In 1720, the Düben siblings supported the idea that Ulrika Eleonora should not abdicate but rather be the co-regent of her consort. Their influence was reportedly one reason as to why a co-regency was not accepted. According to Axel von Fersen the Elder, Ulrika Eleonora neither saw nor felt with any eyes other than Emerentia von Dübens.