Aurora, in her day something like the “It-Girl” of the 17th century, has almost been forgotten today.

What moved this extraordinary woman? Who was this creative artist, muse and patron of the arts, who pursued unconventional paths throughout her life in order to maintain her independence?

As the granddaughter of Hans Christoph Graf von Königsmarck, Aurora was born on 28 April 1662 in Stade on the Elbe and spent a carefree childhood with her sister and two brothers at nearby Schloss Agathenburg.

Her grandfather established the family’s legendary reputation. He was one of the most successful generals to fight for the Swedes during the Thirty Years’ War, winning a decisive victory in 1648. He was elevated to the nobility by the Swedish crown and was also rewarded with 2 million imperial thalers and extensive estates in northern Germany. This makes him one of the richest men in northern Europe and he settles in northern Germany at his country estate Agathenburg – a simple baroque castle with a brick façade and an impressive baroque garden.

Aurora is a bright child with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and diverse artistic talents. She was born into a time of new beginnings, when the daughters of the aristocracy were also expected to enjoy an appropriate education.

After all, conversing with a witty woman is an enriching experience, the advantages of which the aristocratic male world begins to appreciate.

Aurora is a shining light here; not only does she look stunning, she also speaks five languages fluently, paints, writes poetry and is passionate about music. She plays the clavichord and lute and sings brilliantly. “She plays and sings so pleasantly that the muses themselves recoil in shame”, writes Georg Christian Lehms in his encyclopaedia “Teutschlands galante Poetinnen”.

Aurora von Königsmarck is 11 years old when her father dies during a military operation.

With no male authority in the house and belonging to the unloved Swedish occupying forces, things could become uncomfortable for the family in tranquil Stade.

Aurora’s mother decides to move. First to Hamburg, which was already a lively trading city at the time and offered a wide range of cultural activities, in particular the newly founded opera house on Gänsemarkt (incidentally the first municipal opera house on German soil).
Mother Königsmarck immediately rents a box and regularly attends the performances with her daughters.

Mother Königsmarck immediately rents a box and regularly attends the performances with her daughters.

The Königsmarck ladies also took an active part in the numerous balls, masquerades and salons that were customary at the time.

When Aurora was 18 years old, her mother moved back to Sweden. She was born there and hoped to be able to take better care of the family’s remaining estates there.

Sweden has risen to become a great power as a result of the Thirty Years’ War, and the royal court is also keen to rid itself of its reputation as an “uneducated Viking nation”.

As a result, Stockholm experienced a cultural heyday, with artists of all disciplines and from all over the world settling there.

The Königsmarck sisters, introduced to the court immediately after their arrival, also arouse great interest here.

Aurora in particular, who writes poetry and stages a performance with music and dance in honour of Queen Ulrike Leonora, who in turn is so impressed by Aurora’s talents that she nicknames her the “Swedish Nightingale”.

She devotes herself passionately to the art of poetry, takes composition lessons and sets biblical texts to music.

She also makes a name for herself as an “event manager” with excellent connections in aristocratic circles, organising legendary parties for the Swedish royal court.

Unfortunately, her carefree years in Sweden came to an end when her older brother died of a fever at the age of 27, the Königsmarck fortune steadily dwindled and finally her mother died.

Aurora, now 30 years old, decides to return to Hamburg.

Here, her younger brother Philipp Christoph von Königsmarck tries his best to marry his sister off in a manner befitting his station. But although her beauty and sparkling wit make her one of the most sought-after women of her time, she has little desire to marry. She is too fond of her single and largely independent life, which she prefers to devote to art rather than a husband.

Aurora is prominent in Hamburg’s cultural scene, organising readings, concerts and festivities. She is a perfect networker, maintaining relationships with many important aristocratic courts, as well as with numerous diplomats, merchants and artists.

She became a muse and mentor to the composers Johann Mattheson and Reinhard Keiser, writing them texts and letters of recommendation for prestigious positions. Both men dedicated several compositions to her in gratitude.

Aurora enjoyed her free life as an artist and muse and was a welcome guest at the carnival festivities, which were very popular at the time, especially at the Hanoverian court. Ernst August of Hanover also raves about the beautiful Aurora – much to the displeasure of his wife.

But it was here in Hanover that one of the greatest social scandals of the 17th century occurred, and at the same time one of the saddest blows of fate in Aurora’s life.

Her younger brother, the extremely attractive and gallant Count Philipp Christoph von Königsmarck, becomes entangled in a torrid love affair with a childhood friend, the Hanoverian hereditary princess Sophia Dorothea.

Due to political interests, she was married to her cousin Georg Ludwig (later King George I of England) and had a very unhappy marriage.

However, marital bliss was rarely the reason for marital unions in aristocratic circles and it was precisely this union that was under the protection of Elector Ernst August of Hanover, as it was important to prevent further illegitimate descendants in order not to jeopardise the inheritance.

When the lovers Sophia and Phillip make plans to escape and “elope” together, tragedy ensues.

Aurora’s brother does not return from a visit to his lover in Hanover and is henceforth presumed missing.

It is now known that Philipp was murdered on the orders of Ernst August and then presumably disposed of in the river Leine.

A precarious situation for Aurora. On the one hand, deeply emotionally affected by her brother’s mysterious disappearance, on the other, the Königsmarck sisters are unable to inherit their brother’s estate until he is officially declared dead.

In this situation, Aurora makes contact with Philip’s last employer, the Saxon Elector Friedrich August, better known as Augustus the Strong. She travelled to Dresden, hoping to gain new insights and support in the Königsmarck case. However, the visit does not shed any light on the case, as the tacit assumption in Dresden is that Königsmarck died violently.

However, the encounter with Augustus the Strong led to a sparkling love affair. The Elector of Saxony, eight years his junior, set out to turn Dresden into one of the most glamorous residences in Europe. Versailles and the courtly style of the Sun King are his role models: opulent, pompous and splendid.

Under Augustus the Strong, Dresden became the Baroque capital and a centre of Baroque architecture, art and music.

It is therefore not surprising that this aspiring ruler is enraptured by the extremely witty Aurora, who is endowed with numerous talents. He begins to woo her fiercely by every trick in the book.

Aurora eventually becomes his first official mistress. In the absolutist structure of the state, she thus holds a quasi-public office, attends state receptions and becomes a political player with influence and a handsome salary.

But she also knows that she has to act wisely and diplomatically, because a man’s passion can quickly fade.

Aurora therefore manages the diplomatic feat of winning over both Augustus’ wife and his mother.

In Dresden, Maria Aurora is also an event manager again, organising parties and the extremely popular carnival events, accompanying August on trips and making interesting contacts here too.

However, the relationship only lasted two years, ending in 1696 when Aurora was three months pregnant (ironically at the same time as August’s wife).

Aurora became a mother for the first and only time at the age of 34. As an unmarried woman and ex-mistress, she gives birth to her child incognito in Goslar – a sign of far-reaching emancipation at the time.

After a short time, she sends her son Moritz and his nurse to Agathenburg and closes one of her life circles.

Aurora achieves another diplomatic feat by persuading Augustus the Strong to recognise Moritz as her biological son. In doing so, he rehabilitates the mother and child in society, ensures that the son receives an education befitting his station and ultimately elevates him to the rank of count.

Hermann Moritz of Saxony would later enjoy a stellar military career in France at the court of Louis XV, rise to become a French national hero as Maurice de Saxe and be presented with a beautiful Loire chateau for his services.

Moritz is also fond of the ladies and is particularly fond of Parisian actresses. He has an illegitimate daughter, Marie Aurore, with the actress Marie Rinteau. This same Marie Aurore would one day become the grandmother of the writer and feminist George Sand, who in turn honoured her beautiful great-great-grandmother Maria Aurora for her free spirit and independent lifestyle throughout her life.

Aurora, meanwhile, aspires to a career as abbess of the Quedlinburg Abbey. She is not getting any younger and wants to finally settle down. Quedlinburg is an imperial and free imperial monastery, and as abbess it would still be possible for Aurora to lead a free and independent life. What’s more, abbess is a high political office that allows her to travel and secure a good income.

The conditions are favourable: Augustus the Strong is the secular patron of the monastery and Aurora’s long-time friend Anna Dorothea, the reigning abbess, would like to see her as her successor.

Unfortunately, however, the outraged ladies of the convent are too indignant: a “party girl” as head of the convent is too much of a good thing.

But at least Aurora is elected provost, the second-highest office in the abbey hierarchy, which gives her the same freedoms and prestige and is also well remunerated with 4000 Reichstalers a year.

At the age of 38, Maria Aurora is finally independent of male relatives, guardians or lovers and also holds an office that brings her social recognition.

She continued to travel extensively, attending fairs, making contacts and dedicating her life to poetry and music in particular.

She remained in close contact with her old companions, the two Hamburg composers Mattheson and Keiser, and Johann Mattheson visited his mentor in Quedlinburg several times.

As she grew older, Aurora hardly ever left the monastery and her illness and weakness increased. In February 1728, Maria Aurora von Königsmarck finally died in Quedlinburg at the age of 66.

She led an unconventional life, which can be considered emancipated even from today’s perspective. Aurora was also a free-spirited intellectual, a sensitive diplomat and a versatile artist: a poet, musician and composer.

And despite the many losses she had to cope with in her life, she never gave up, but always looked for a way to lead a free and independent life.

What an impressive woman!