Official Mistress
Around the end of the century, Augustus the Strong, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, had met the vivacious and beautiful Princess Lubomirska, and after the dissolution of her marriage, he used Ursula's relations with the Cardinal-Primate to meet her.
In 1700 she became Augustus's official mistress (Mätresse), replacing Countess Maximiliane Hiserle of Chodau, known to history as Countess Esterle. Augustus the Strong sent Ursula to Saxony and presented her to the Dresden court. The courtiers were impressed by the beautiful, charming and high-spirited princess. On 21 August 1704 she gave birth a son, Johann Georg, later the Chevalier de Saxe, who was named for the king-elector's father.
Only five days after her son's birth, on 26 August 1704, Ursula was created Reichsfürstin (“Princess of the Empire” or “Imperial Princess”) of Teschen by Emperor Leopold I. This title was only honorific, because only national Princes had seats and votes in the Reichstag.
Read more about this topic: Ursula Katharina Of Altenbockum
Famous quotes containing the words official and/or mistress:
“I know one husband and wife who, whatever the official reasons given to the court for the break up of their marriage, were really divorced because the husband believed that nobody ought to read while he was talking and the wife that nobody ought to talk while she was reading.”
—Vera Brittain (1893–1970)
“Mrs. de Winter: Mrs. Danvers must be furious with me.
Maxim de Winter: Oh, hang Mrs. Danvers! Why on earth should you be frightened of her? You behave more like an upstairs maid or something, not like the mistress of the house at all.
Mrs. de Winter: Yes, I know I do. But I feel so uncomfortable. I try my best every day, but it’s very difficult with people looking you up and down as if you were a prize cow.”
—Robert E. Sherwood (1896–1955)