Emerentia von Düben

In the shadow of the Swedish throne, Emerentia von Düben, known as Menza, held a power less official but no less real. As the principal lady-in-waiting and undisputed favourite of Queen Ulrika Eleonora, she became the indispensable channel to the monarch's ear. For decades, from the queen's marriage through her reign and into widowhood, von Düben was a constant presence. Her influence was subtle, born from intimacy and trust rather than formal office, which made it all the more potent. Courtiers and politicians knew that her favor could smooth the path to the queen. While this behind-the-scenes authority drew criticism from those who resented her access, it also provided the queen with a loyal and stable support system in the often-treacherous world of 18th-century court politics. Her life offers a compelling case study in the soft power exercised by women in early modern European courts.