Ulla Tessin
Ulrika "Ulla" Lovisa Tessin
Life
Ulla Tessin was born to riksråd marshal count Erik Sparre of Sundby and Christina (Stina) Beata Lillie. She was given private tuition in both modern and Classical language and could speak French, German and Italian.
Marriage
She was engaged in 1725 and married 27 August 1727 to Count Carl Gustaf Tessin. Because her fortune exceeded that of her spouse, he was by law required to grant her both the Tessin Palace as well as the Boo Manor as her dower. The marriage was childless.
The Tessin's were leading members of the interest in
Ulla Tessin accompanied her husband on his diplomatic posts to Vienna (1735–36), Copenhagen and Paris (1739–41) and Berlin (1744). She is described as a socially and artistically gifted socialite, who was admired for her character and easily made contacts which were of use to him during his diplomatic missions. In France, for example, to where she was accompanied also by her niece Charlotta Sparre, she made a success at the royal court of Versailles and became a personal friend of queen Marie Leszczyńska and princess Marie Sophie de Rohan, who offered to share her fortune with her if she settled permanently in France.[2]
Life at court
During the mission of her spouse in Berlin in Prussia, the couple was given the assignment to escort
When Frederick Adolph and Louisa Ulrika became king and queen of Sweden in 1751, Carl Gustaf Tessin was made royal governor of the royal children and Ulla Tessin succeeded
Later life
Ulla Tessin was described as intellectual and educated. Her spouse left the management of the household economy on her; he also supported her interest to study history and botany, and she collected a substantial library. In her correspondence, she expressed her frustration and anger over the passive role imposed on women when the laws and customs of society deprived her of most positions in society: "Does not men have their honor, their sword, their judge's caps, their politics, their horticulture etc? I have to admit I shrug to see something like the French Academy, assembled in full. A true usurpation, it should be composed entirely by women; but the beastly men usurp everything, is surprise me that they leave us the spindle and the sewing needle. Well, we must adjust, until it is our turn to write laws. Then we will have the opportunity to let them see the meaning of the right of the fittest."[4]
Legacy
The correspondence between Ulla Tessin and Louisa Ulrika is kept at
References
- ISBN 91-1-813241-3
- ^ Gustaf Henrik Mellin, Alexander Clemens Wetterling, Johan Elias Cardon: Sveriges märkvärdigaste fruntimmer
- ^ Tessin, 4. Ulrika (Ulla) Lovisa i Nordisk familjebok (andra upplagan, 1919)
- ^ Roger de Robelin Ett fruntimmers bibliotek från frihetstiden – Ulrika Lovisa Sparres boksamling på Åkerö år 1755
- Tessin, 4. Ulrika (Ulla) Lovisa i Nordisk familjebok (andra upplagan, 1919)
- Byström, Tryggve, Svenska komedien 1737–1754: en studie i Stockholmsteaterns historia, Norstedt, Stockholm, 1981