Hedvig Mörner

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Hedvig Mörner af Morlanda (1672–1753) was a Swedish courtier and countess who married Count Claes Ekeblad the Elder. She was a close friend of Queen Ulrika Eleonora and became well known for her political influence. Through her wide network, she could help people gain political offices and affect matters in the Riksdag. She was the daughter of General Baron Hans Georg Mörner and Beata Schulman. Before her marriage, she served as maid of honor to Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark and remained a trusted friend of the future queen. In 1692 she married Claes Ekeblad the Elder.

Hedvig did not rely only on her husband; she built a large personal network in the government and had an independent power base. A substantial amount of correspondence shows how often and effectively she assisted petitioners. In private life she and her sister were known for their interest in gambling.

In 1734 she became involved in a conflict in the Riksdag. Arvid Horn’s opposition sought to secure the field marshal position for Göran Silfverhielm and asked Hedvig, the mother-in-law of Silfverhielm and a personal friend of the queen, to persuade the queen to urge the king to back the idea in parliament. This caused a serious crisis between the king and Horn and is seen as a typical example of Hedvig’s political activity.