Slottsburg, Charlotte

Born May 29, 1760 in Stockholm. The only child in the family of hairdresser Andreas Slottberg ( Andreas Slottberg , born 1723) and dancer Lovisa Charlotte Schubardt ( Lovisa Charlotta Schubardt , born 1737). Her father's last name was actually Slottberg , but the spelling Slottsberg was always used by Charlotte. Charlotte's mother and aunt on the maternal side - Anna ( Anna Margareta Schubart , b. 1740) and Sabina ( Sabina Juliana Schubart , b. 1748) were dancers, and in October 1771 were registered in Sweden as members of the ballet of the French theater . It is believed that it was from her mother and aunts that she received her primary education.

Ballerina

She began dancing as a ballerina in 1773 in the same theater where her mother and aunts worked. In the same year, the Royal Swedish Ballet was created and Charlotte moved into it with another Swedish ballerina - . She made her debut in the role of Hymen in the famous Swedish opera Thetis och Pelée with and . This was followed by many other roles that she played on the stage of the Royal Ballet. She was one of the first local dancers when foreign dancers dominated the Swedish ballet. She was a favorite partner of the French dancer , who performed in Sweden. She was appointed the main ballerina of the theater in the season of 1786-1787 and worked in it until 1789. She was considered the leading ballet dancer in Sweden in the years 1770-1780.

Courtesan

Charlotte Slottsberg was also known as a courtesan , she had several wealthy lovers, from whom she received financial support. Already in 1774, at the age of fourteen, she was the mistress of the Austrian ambassador Count Joseph Clemens von Kaunitz-Rietberg . Among her other famous lovers were statesmen Count and , as well as some other representatives of the aristocratic circles and the diplomatic world.

Since 1777, Charlotte was the mistress of Prince Charles (future King Charles XIII ), the brother of King Gustav III , who became the most famous of all her lovers. Their romance intermittently lasted about twenty years, was considered scandalous, gave rise to many negative rumors about Karl. Charlotte Slottsberg was never allowed to visit the royal court or occupy any official lover position because of her reputation as a courtesan. Prince Karl also had other lovers at the same time, nevertheless he called Charlotte "the beloved sultana of the harem."

Charlotte Slottsberg is credited with influencing the Duke of Charles, which caused hostility towards her. They said that she was interested in his culture, inspired to write plays, supported him when Karl became depressed. In 1790, according to rumors, she was offered a cash allowance from King Gustav III in exchange for a refusal of relations with Charles. Be that as it may, since 1795 their relationship has become more restrained, and from 1797 it ended.

Personal life

Thanks to her connections, Charlotte acquired a significant fortune. She lived in Stockholm in a luxuriously furnished apartment. She also had a manor in Järva . She was in love with the cavalryman Adolf Heitmüller ( Adolf Fredrik Heitmüller ), but in 1799 she married fleet officer captain Adolph Granholm ( Adolph Granholm ).

Charlotte Slottsberg died on May 29, 1800 in Stockholm from a heart attack after a miscarriage. She was solemnly buried in the Stockholm church Jacobs kyrka .

Until now, some of her letters have been preserved. It is mentioned in the book "Mistresses of Swedish Royalty" , ISBN 9781155371221 , ISBN 1155371224 .

• Gunilla Roempke. Vristens makt - dansös i mätressernas tidevarv. Stockholm: Stockholm Fischer & company. ISBN 91-7054-734-3 .
• Anna Ivarsdotter Johnsson , Leif Jonsson . Musiken i Sverige, Frihetstiden och Gustaviansk tid 1720-1810.

• Ballet in Stockholm during the later 18th century
• The encyclopedia of world ballet