Augusta von Fersen

Augusta von Fersen, "as married Löwenhielm," (1754-1846), was a Swedish noblewoman and lady-in-waiting, a well known figure in the Gustavian court and a royal mistress to Prince Charles.

Augusta was the daughter of Carl von Fersen, granddaughter of Hans von Fersen, niece of Axel von Fersen the Elder and cousin of Axel von Fersen the Younger. She was married to Fredrik Löwenhielm, who spent a lot of his time abroad.

In 1771, Augusta was made lady-in-waiting of the royal court. She became a well known center in social life: she was together with the lady-in-waitings Ulla von Fersen-Höpken, (her sister), and Lovisa Meyerfelt, née Wrede-Sparre, known as one of "The Three Graces" ;the Graces was the Godesses of joy in Greek mythology. Ulla was at one point the object of Prince Fredrik Adolf's affection, and Augusta herself was in the 1770s involved in a relationship with Prince Charles; the realtionship lasted between c. 1771 until 1777 - it was publicly known and accepted, but she was not an official mistress. Their relationship was much talked about when Charles was married to Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp in 1774, and contributated to the distance between Charles and his spouse. She was eventually replaced as a mistress by Charlotte Eckerman and Charlotte Slottsberg. After this, she continued live in "free sexual morals", though her last years was spent in religion.

Children

"Children with Fredrik Löwenhielm:"
*Gustaf Karl Fredrik Löwenhjelm (1771–1856)

"Children with Prince Charles:"
*Carl Löwenhielm (1772-1861)

References

* http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/pc399b874.html
* Ingvar Andersson "Gustavianskt".
* Ulf Sundberg: Kungliga släktband (Lund 2004)
* Svensk biografiskt lexikon