The Imprisoned Princess: The Scandalous Life of Sophia Dorothea of Celle

by Catherine Curzon

Overview

When Sophia Dorothea of Celle married her first cousin, the future King George I, she was an unhappy bride. Filled with dreams of romance and privilege, she hated the groom she called “pig snout” and wept at news of her engagement.

In the austere court of Hanover, the vibrant young princess found herself ignored and unwanted. Bewildered by dusty protocol and regarded as a necessary evil by her husband, Sophia Dorothea grew lonely as he gallivanted with his mistress under her nose.

When Sophia Dorothea plunged headlong into a passionate and dangerous affair with Count Phillip Christoph von Königsmarck, the stage was set for disaster. This dashing soldier was as celebrated for his looks as his bravery, and when he and Sophia Dorothea fell in love, they were dicing with death. Watched by a scheming and manipulative countess who had ambitions of her own, it was only a matter of time before scandal gripped the House of Hanover and tore the marriage of the heir to the British throne and his unhappy wife apart.

Divorced and disgraced, Sophia Dorothea was locked away in a gilded cage for 30 years, whilst her lover faced an even darker fate.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473872653
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	07/01/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	263
Sales rank:	600,550
File size:	26 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

CATHERINE CURZON is a royal historian who writes on all matters 18th century at www.madamegilflurt.com. Her work has been featured on HistoryExtra.com, the official website of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as Explore History, All About History, History of Royals, and Jane Austen’s Regency World. She has spoken at venues including Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the Hurlingham Club, the National Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson’s House.

Catherine holds a master’s degree in film and when not dodging the furies of the guillotine, can be found cheering on the mighty Terriers. She lives in Yorkshire atop a ludicrously steep hill.

Table of Contents

Illustrations vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction x

Act 1 Bride 1

A Game of Musical Fiancés 1

A Brother Betrayed 7

Legitimising the Lady 10

The Wicked Woman 14

The Dashing Hero 16

An Ambitious Mistress 22

Sweet Sixteen 25

Daughters and Dowries 29

Coming Home 34

The Road to an Electorate 37

Syphilis and Milk Baths 38

The Count Comes to Hanover 43

The Glorious Revolution 44

Act 2 Lover 49

Meeting Melusine 54

Escaping Clara's Clutches 60

The Diplomatic Stage 66

Codes, Gloves and Cunning 69

The Companionate Bear 75

Enter the Duchess 84

A Long Silence 90

Into Battle 96

The Scheming Mistress 98

The Ninth Electorate 103

A Bad Lot 109

A Trip to Saxony 113

Act 3 Prisoner 115

Death Comes to Hanover 118

The Morning After 123

The Aftermath 129

Divorce 131

A Princess in Prison 138

Ahlden Life 144

The Hardest Parting 147

The Darkest Night 150

Post Mortem 150

Afterword 152

Appendix A A Note on Letters 154

Appendix B The Agreement 158

Bibliography 161

Endnotes 167

Index 179