clioshiddenportraits:Ulrika Stålhammar (1688-1733) and her sisters were left bankrupt and fated to c
clioshiddenportraits:Ulrika Stålhammar (1688-1733) and her sisters were left bankrupt and fated to convenience marriages with the death of their father. Ulrika then ran away from home dressed in her father clothes and eventually enlisted in the Sweden army, under the name of Wilhelm Edstedt. Like that she served for 13 years being promoted to corporal.At the meantime she met Maria Lönnman, a maid for whom she fell in love and ended up marrying. All that would end years later when one of Ulrika sisters discovered her, pressed, Ulrika confessed her “crimes” to the government.As at the 18th century Sweden crossdressing and homosexuality were punishable by death, Ulrika asked for consideration of her service to the crown. Helping as background influence, she came from a city with a well known story of a woman, also called Ulrika, who led her people in the absence of men under the war. These factors plus the couple statements vowing never have had sex, but just a “pure love”, somehow worked into freeing both after short imprisonment. Ulrika and Maria lived separated after that but exchanged love letters till the end. -- source link
#18th century#king frederik#lgbt#lgbt history