The Duchess, the court and the political space

Duchess Charlotte (1759-1818), Queen of Sweden from 1809, has been remembered for the political notes she kept in French for more than forty years. The translation, known as the Diary of Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte, has become a standard work on the Gustavian era. Historians constantly use it as a source for people and events at court. Less well known is that the diary is part of an extensive collection of letters, accounts and manuscripts written by the Duchess. Together, this collection opens up new perspectives on the conditions of court life and the Duchess's political role. Was she really the neutral observer of political life that she wanted posterity to believe? The doctoral thesis discusses court society based on recent theories, with particular attention to the opportunities for women and men. It focuses on the international nature of the court, its social practices and values. It was a world of court politics: a social gathering with political dimensions, where even everyday life could have national political dignity.