Melusine von der Schulenburg, Duchess of Kendal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melusine von der Schulenburg
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| Duchess of Kendal Duchess of Munster |
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Portrait of Melusine von der Schulenburg
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| Born | 25 December 1667 Emden, Magdeburg, Germany |
| Died | 10 May 1743 (aged 75) |
| Issue | Luise Sophie von der Schulenburg Melusina von der Schulenburg Margarethe Gertrud von Oeynhausen |
| Father | Gustavus Adolphus Baron von der Schulenberg |
| Mother | Petronella Ottilie von Schwencken |
Ehrengard Melusine von der Schulenburg was a very important person in the life of King George I of Great Britain. She was known as the Duchess of Kendal and the Duchess of Munster. She lived from 1667 to 1743.
Contents
Who Was Melusine?
Melusine von der Schulenburg was a German noblewoman. She became a close companion to King George I. She moved with him to England and gained many important titles.
Her Early Life
Melusine was born on December 25, 1667, in a place called Emden in Germany. Her father was Gustavus Adolphus, Baron von der Schulenburg. He was an important advisor to the Elector of Brandenburg. Her mother was Petronella Ottilie von Schwencken. Melusine also had a famous brother, Marshal Johann Matthias von der Schulenburg. Her middle name, Melusine, might have come from old legends about a magical woman.
A Special Friend to the King
Melusine first worked as a Maid of Honour for Electress Sophia. Later, she became a special friend to Sophia's son, George Louis. George Louis became the Elector of Hanover in 1698. Then, in 1714, he became the King of Great Britain, known as George I.
Titles and Influence
When George became King, Melusine moved with him to England. She received many important titles for life. On July 18, 1716, she became the Duchess of Munster. She also became the Marchioness of Dungannon, Countess of Dungannon, and Baroness Dundalk in Ireland. Later, on March 19, 1719, she was made the Duchess of Kendal in Great Britain. She also became the Countess of Feversham and Baroness Glastonbury.
In 1723, the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles VI, gave her another title: Princess of Eberstein. Some people thought this meant she might have secretly married the King. A famous politician, Robert Walpole, even said she was "as much the queen of England as anyone was." This was because King George's wife, Sophia, had been kept away since 1694.
Melusine was a very thin woman. In Germany, people sometimes called her "the Scarecrow." In England, she was known as "the Maypole." She lived mostly at Kendal House in Isleworth, England. She had a lot of influence with the King. She helped people get important jobs or special titles, sometimes for money. She also sold rights to make things, like copper coins for Ireland. These coins were not very good, which made people like Jonathan Swift complain. She even received a large sum of money for helping a politician, Viscount Bolingbroke, return from being sent away.
Her Children
Melusine had three children with King George I:
- Anna Luise Sophie von der Schulenburg (1692–1773). She later married Ernest August Philipp von dem Bussche-Ippenburg.
- Petronilla Melusina von der Schulenburg (1693–1778). She married Philip Stanhope, who was a leading politician.
- Margarethe Gertrud von Oeynhausen (1701–1726). She married Albrecht Wolfgang, Count of Schaumburg-Lippe.
To keep things private, Anna Luise Sophie and Petronilla Melusina were officially listed as the children of Melusine's sister, Gertrud. Margarethe Gertrud was officially named as the daughter of Melusine's other sister, Sophia Juliane von Oeynhausen.
Later Years and Legacy
After King George I passed away, Melusine kept a raven. She believed this raven was the King himself. She died on May 10, 1743, at the age of 75. She was never officially married, unless she had secretly wed King George I.
See Also
- English royal mistress
