Hedvig Taube - Later Life

Later Life

Taube was introduced to the new Crown Prince Adolf Fredrik in 1743; on 9 December of that year, she gave birth to Frederick's fourth child and second daughter, Hedvig Amalia, created Countess of Hessenstein, who died in 1752 only nine years old.

The next year (1744), Taube became pregnant again. She died in childbirth and was buried in the church of Strängnäs together with her stillborn daughter. After her death, Frederick made himself a public laughing stock by hiring prostitutes off the streets. In 1745, Taube was replaced as an official royal mistress by the noblewoman Catharina Ebba Horn, who was also officially recognized and given the title of German-Roman countess, but their relationship ended after three years and she has been largely forgotten by history.