- Anna Karolina Orzelska
Anna Karolina Orzelska (b.
23 November 1707 - d.Avignon ,27 September 1769 ), was a famous adventuress and Polish "szlachcianka" (noblewomen), the illegitimate daughter of August II the Strong, Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, byHenriette Rénard .Life
The King-Elector August II the Strong met Henriette Rénard in
Warsaw on 1706, where her father André Rénard, a wine merchant fromLyon , had a saloon. Most historians agree that at first, Henriette,didn't know the true identity of her lover. As a result of the liaison, in November 1707 a daughter was born, Anna Karolina. August did not learn of her existence until a year and half later. Henriette married the Paris businessmanFrançois Drian shortly after Anna Karolina's birth and moved to France, where she grown up.For a long time, the girl lived in
Paris with her mother in complete obscurity without the support of her father. However, in 1723, her half-brother, the later CountFrederick Augustus Rutowsky , found her. Anna Karolina follow him in his return to the Dresden court, where the sixteen-year-old beauty was presented to the King. On19 September 1724 , August the Strong officially acknowledged Anna Karolina as his daughter and gave her the title of "Countess Orzelska" (Polish: "Hrabiny Orzelskiej", German: "Gräfin Orzelska").Anna Karolina became one of Augustus's most beloved children, not only because of her exceptional beauty, but also because of her improbable and extraordinary resemblance to her father. Without formal intellectual training, she nevertheless proved to be an excellent addition in the court life.
The court of August the Strong had the worst reputation in Europe and encouraged the Countess's behavior, which was considered scandalous according to the official moral of the time. Contemporaries noted her tendency to drink, smoke tobacco, and have numerous affairs. Anna excelled in
riding ,hunting , anddancing . The Countess frequently appeared in men's clothing and even in military uniform. Some sources alleged that August the Strong made his own daughter his favorite; however, this cannot be proved.In 1728, while King
Frederick Wilhelm I of Prussia was visiting Dresden, the Countess Orzelska met his son, the Crown Prince Karl-Frederick (the futureFrederick II the Great ). She became the first (and, probably, the only) mistress of Frederick's life. In early 1729, Orzelska secretly arrived inBerlin in order to spend time with the Prussian heir. He dedicated verses and musical works of his own composition to her. Some believe that Orzelska, during her liaison with Frederick, carried out the tasks of "reconnaissance" nature.In 1730, the Countess obtained from her father 300,000
thaler s as adowry and married with the Prince Karl Ludwig Frederick of Schelswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Beck -younger brother of the reigning Duke Frederick Wilhelm II- in the city ofDresden , on10 August of that year. They had one son, Karl Frederick (b. Dresden,5 January 1732 - d. Strassburg,21 February 1772 ), future General Major of theSaxon Army .However, after three years of marriage (1733), Orzelska requested a divorce; from this moment, the couple began to live separately: Karl Ludwig in
Königsberg and Anna Karolina inVenice . Inclined to adventure, the Countess participated, until the last days of her life, in a variety of questionable activities.She died in the French city of
Avignon , aged sixty-two.References
Gallery
ee also
*
History of Poland (1569-1795)
*Saxon Garden
*Wilanów Palace
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