We are not amused

The stately lady above is one Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp born this day 1636, and with a name like that you have to be heroic. Hedvig was married off to Charles X of Sweden for political reasons in 1654 at the age of 18, so her name became even longer. By all accounts she was a very strong willed and determined woman, whose temper was one to be feared. Her husband was absent for most of their marriage, off warring against the Poles, and the Danes. so Hedvig became the symbol of the monarchy at home in Sweden. After her husband's death in 1660 she became regent during the reign of her son, and later regent again during the reign of her grandson. She was never overly interested in politics, and it was not as a political force that she was to make her mark in Swedish history. She was the symbol of power, much like the Queen of England today is a symbol, and this was in the 1680's! And she was quite a symbol, in spite of her numerous lovers, and gambling addiction she managed to keep a reputation for great virtue among her people. I guess the tabloid press was a little slow on the uptake in 17th century Sweden. She had such a strong personality that when her son Charles XI married, he still referred to Hedvig as "The Queen," and the real queen as "his wife." Foreign ambassadors would always pay respects to Hedvig first then to the actual queen later. She stayed as the Dowager Queen of the Realm until her death in 1715. Lording over the court, building lovely palaces, and playing cards late into the night. But, for being a symbol of virtue, and keeping the fractious court together in trying times (i.e. the Great Northern War), Hedvig-Eleonora (October 23rd, 1636- November 15th, 1715, at the age of 79), you are my hero of the day.