Dorothea Justina Haxthausen
Dorothea Justina von Haxthausen (1663-1735) was a Danish courtier. She was a lady-in-waiting to the queen of Denmark, Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel, and known as a favorite and confidante of the queen.[1]
Early life
[edit]She was the daughter of Count Anton I of Aldenburg (1633-1680) and his first wife Countess Augusta Johanna von Sayn-Wittgenstein-Hohenstein (1638-1669). Her father married for the second time and became stepdaughter to Charlotte Amélie de la Trémoille.
Personal life
[edit]Countess Dorothea Juliana von Aldenburg married in 1689 German diplomat who served in Denmark, Anton Wolf von Haxthausen. They had one son, Count Christian Friedrich von Haxthausen.
Court life
[edit]She was appointed Obersthofmeisterin to the queen of Denmark in 1695, and like her stepmother, became one of two ladies-in-waiting known as the favorite of the queen, who referred to her as "liebstes Dörtgen" and "Madame la Comtesse".[1] The intimacy of their relationship is illustrated in a letter from the queen in reply to Hauxthausen, who had expressed concern that she would be unable to perform in her office because of her illnesses: "Do not fear that I shall be offended. No matter how ill you are, you shall always be as dear to me, and if God should wish to deprive me of a part of the help, which I would wish to have of your service, so let us both submit to his mighty hand."[1] She is described as an accomplished and loveable personality. She retired from her office for health reasons in 1705.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Danske dronniger; fortaellinger og karakteristikker af Ellen Jorgensen og Johanne Skovgaard, Kobenhavn H. Hagerup, 1910