Wilhelmine von Grävenitz

Wilhelmine von Grävenitz was born on 4 February 1684 in Schwerin[1] into the House of Grävenitz, a small German noble family with connections all over the Holy Roman Empire. In particular, Wilhelmine's father Hans Friedrich was the Hofmarschall of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, her sister Eleonore was a confidante of Sophia Louise, Queen of Prussia, and her brother Friedrich Wilhelm was a councilor to Eberhard Louis, Duke of Württemberg. As Friedrich Wilhelm had no roots in Württemberg, his career depended on the Duke's goodwill. To secure his position, he invited Wilhelmine to the court of Württemberg.[2] Friedrich Wilhelm's desire to pair his sister with the Duke was supported by Hofmeister Johann Friedrich von Staffhorst and by Friedrich Wilhelm, Prince of nearby Hohenzollern-Hechingen. Their motives for that support are unknown,[3] though their designs were frustrated when Wilhelmine contracted smallpox and her trip to Württemberg had to be delayed by a year.[4]

Wilheimine finally arrived in Württemberg in 1706, escorted by Staffhorst, and received from him the proper attire and accouterments for appearing at court. At the time, Eberhard Louis was pursuing a Madame von Geyling,[4] but Wilhelmine and the Duke would eventually meet and began a relationship. She would not only replace von Geyling, but the Duke's legitimate wife, Duchess Johanna Elisabeth of Baden-Durlach. Eberhard Louis had no love for his wife and viewed his relationship with Wilhelmine as legitimate, but conducted his romance with her publicly and once forced her to respect another of the Duke's extramarital affairs.[5]