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Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp

Eutin, 22 Mar 1759 – Stockholm, 20 Jun 1818

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 22 Mar 1759

    Born in Eutin

  2. 1797–1798

    2 children are born

  3. 1809–1818

    Queen Consort of Sweden

  4. 20 Jun 1818

    Dies in Stockholm, aged 59

Family

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Parents

Partner

Children · 2

During her lifetime

She lived through 7 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Eutin.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1750s · Hedvig is born in Eutin

In the news1756–1763

Seven Years' War casualties and destruction

During the Seven Years' War, some 160,000 Prussian soldiers died in battle or from disease, devastating the population.

Getting around

Stagecoach Travel at Walking Speed

In the mid-18th century, the stagecoach was the primary mode of travel for those who could afford it, moving at a walking pace of about 4 to 5 kilometers per hour. A trip from Nuremberg to Leipzig typically took around 70 hours, while the journey from Nuremberg to Regensburg required 20 hours.

In Europe1755

Lisbon is destroyed by an earthquake

On All Saints’ Day an earthquake, a tsunami and fires levelled Lisbon and killed tens of thousands; Europe’s thinkers argued over it for decades.

Daily life

Homes with Sanded Floors and Lead Windows

In homes with stone or brick floors, families often scattered sand across the floor and stairs. Windows featured small round glass panes set within lead frames.

What people wore

Women's Caps Served Many Purposes

Most women, regardless of their status, wore a cap as both a fashionable and practical accessory to protect their hair while working near heat or dust.

Music

Everyday singing in homes and workrooms

Singing was a common activity in daily life, often performed without sheet music while working, such as during textile work in spinning rooms, or at church services and social gatherings.

At the table

Beer and coffee substitutes as staples

Ordinary people drank low-alcohol thin beer daily, which was considered nutritious and sometimes served as a soup to children. Coffee was expensive, leading many to drink substitutes like chicory or roasted cereals, a mixture often referred to as Bauernkaffee or Muckefuck.