Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt: Difference between revisions
imported>Mellk |
imported>MCE89 Presumptive deletion due to copyright concerns, see Wikipedia:Contributor copyright investigations/84.251.52.231 |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by 3 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|Finnish-Swedish-Russian courtier}} | {{Short description|Finnish-Swedish-Russian courtier (1757–1814)}} | ||
{{For|other members of Armfelt family|Armfelt}} | {{For|other members of Armfelt family|Armfelt}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}} | ||
{{CS1 config|mode=cs1}} | {{CS1 config|mode=cs1}} | ||
{{Infobox military person | {{Infobox military person | ||
| honorific_prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]] [[Hochwohlgeboren#Swedish|The High Well-born | | honorific_prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]] [[Hochwohlgeboren#Swedish|The High Well-born]] | ||
| name = Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt | | name = Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt | ||
| image = Armfelt.png | | image = Armfelt.png | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| serviceyears = 1780–1810 | | serviceyears = 1780–1810 | ||
| rank = [[General of the Infantry (Imperial Russia)|General of the Infantry]] | | rank = [[Finnish nobility|Count]] | ||
[[General of the Infantry (Imperial Russia)|General of the Infantry]] | |||
| servicenumber = | | servicenumber = | ||
| commands = Nyland Infantry Regiment | | commands = Nyland Infantry Regiment | ||
| Line 58: | Line 59: | ||
== Career in the Kingdom of Sweden == | == Career in the Kingdom of Sweden == | ||
Born in [[Tarvasjoki]], [[Finland]], | Born in [[Tarvasjoki]], [[Finland]], into the noble [[Armfelt|Armfelt family]]. Armfelt's father was major general, baron Magnus Vilhelm Armfelt and mother baroness Maria Catharina Wennerstedt. His brother was baron [[August Philip Armfelt]]. He was the great grandson of [[Charles XII of Sweden]]'s general, [[Carl Gustaf Armfeldt]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Armfelt nr 213 |url=https://www.adelsvapen.com/genealogi/Armfelt_nr_213 |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Adelsvapen-Wiki |language=sv}}</ref> | ||
In 1774, Armfelt became an [[ensign (rank)|ensign]] in the guards, but his frivolous behavior involving a duel provoked the displeasure of [[Gustav III of Sweden]]. As a result, he thought it prudent to go abroad 1778. Subsequently, however, in 1780, Armfelt met the king again at [[Spa, Belgium|Spa]] in the [[Austrian Netherlands]] and completely won over the previously disgruntled monarch with his natural amiability, intelligence and social gifts. Henceforth, his fortune was made. At first, he was given the position of ''[[maître des plaisirs]]'' in the Swedish court, but it wasn't long before more serious affairs were entrusted to him. He took part in negotiations with [[Catherine II of Russia]] in 1783, and, during the [[Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)]], he was one of the king's most trusted and active counsellors.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}<ref name=":0" /> | In 1774, Armfelt became an [[ensign (rank)|ensign]] in the guards, but his frivolous behavior involving a duel provoked the displeasure of [[Gustav III of Sweden]]. As a result, he thought it prudent to go abroad 1778. Subsequently, however, in 1780, Armfelt met the king again at [[Spa, Belgium|Spa]] in the [[Austrian Netherlands]] and completely won over the previously disgruntled monarch with his natural amiability, intelligence and social gifts. Henceforth, his fortune was made. At first, he was given the position of ''[[maître des plaisirs]]'' in the Swedish court, but it wasn't long before more serious affairs were entrusted to him. He took part in negotiations with [[Catherine II of Russia]] in 1783, and, during the [[Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)|Russo-Swedish War]] of 1788–1790, he was one of the king's most trusted and active counsellors.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}<ref name=":0" /> | ||
He displayed great valour in the field during this time. In 1788, when [[Denmark|the Danes]] unexpectedly invaded Sweden and threatened [[Gothenburg]], Armfelt organized the [[Dalecarlia]]n levies under the king's direction and led them to victory. He remained absolutely faithful to King Gustav when nearly the whole of the Swedish nobility fell away from him. Armfelt distinguished himself in the later phases of the | He displayed great valour in the field during this time. In 1788, when [[Denmark|the Danes]] unexpectedly invaded Sweden and threatened [[Gothenburg]], Armfelt organized the [[Dalecarlia]]n levies under the king's direction and led them to victory. He remained absolutely faithful to King Gustav when nearly the whole of the Swedish nobility fell away from him. Armfelt distinguished himself in the later phases of the Russo-Swedish War, eventually becoming the Swedish [[plenipotentiary]] who negotiated the war's demise with the [[Treaty of Värälä]] in August 1790. Armfelt had been seriously wounded in the battle of Savitaipale in June 1790. During the reign of Gustav III, his influence was paramount in Sweden, though Armfelt protested against his master's headstrong championship of the [[Bourbons]].{{sfn|Bain|1911}}<ref name=":0" /> | ||
== Diplomacy == | == Diplomacy == | ||
| Line 68: | Line 69: | ||
On his deathbed in 1792, King Gustav III committed the care of his son to Armfelt and appointed him to the [[Privy Council of Sweden|Privy Council]], which was to advise the new regent, the king's younger brother, [[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles]]. Armfelt was also appointed as the [[Governor of Stockholm]], but the new regent was staunchly anti-Gustavian and sent Armfelt to serve as the Swedish ambassador to [[Naples]] to get rid of him.<ref name=":0" />{{better source needed|reason=This is a work of fiction|date=March 2025}} | On his deathbed in 1792, King Gustav III committed the care of his son to Armfelt and appointed him to the [[Privy Council of Sweden|Privy Council]], which was to advise the new regent, the king's younger brother, [[Charles XIII of Sweden|Charles]]. Armfelt was also appointed as the [[Governor of Stockholm]], but the new regent was staunchly anti-Gustavian and sent Armfelt to serve as the Swedish ambassador to [[Naples]] to get rid of him.<ref name=":0" />{{better source needed|reason=This is a work of fiction|date=March 2025}} | ||
From Naples, Armfelt began secret communications with Empress of Russia [[Catherine the Great]], arguing that she should bring about by means of a military intervention a change in the Swedish government in favour of the [[Gustavians]]. The [[Armfelt | From Naples, Armfelt began secret communications with Empress of Russia [[Catherine the Great]], arguing that she should bring about by means of a military intervention a change in the Swedish government in favour of the [[Gustavians]]. The [[Armfelt Conspiracy]], though, was discovered by spies for the regent, who immediately sent a Swedish man-of-war to Naples to seize him. With the assistance of the exiled British [[Caroline of Brunswick|Queen Caroline]], he was just barely able to escape. He fled to Russia, where he was interned at [[Kaluga]] 1794–1797. At home, he was condemned to death as a traitor and his property confiscated. His mistress, [[Magdalena Rudenschöld]], was judged for complicity and [[Pillory|pilloried]] on the Riddarhus Square before being imprisoned for two years in [[Stockholm]].{{sfn|Bain|1911}}<ref name=":0" /> | ||
== Against Napoleon's France == | == Against Napoleon's France == | ||
[[File:Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt av Joseph | [[File:Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt av Joseph Mathias Grassi.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Armfelt by [[Josef Grassi|Joseph Maria Grassi]] 1799–1801. ]] | ||
When [[Gustav IV of Sweden]] attained his majority, Armfelt was completely rehabilitated and sent as Swedish ambassador to [[Vienna]] in 1802, but was obliged to quit the post two years later for sharply attacking the [[Austria-Hungary|Austrian]] government's attitude towards [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. From 1805 to 1807, he was the commander-in-chief of the Swedish forces in [[Swedish Pomerania|Pomerania]], where he displayed great ability and stopped the conquest of the duchy for as long as possible; the [[Great Sortie of Stralsund]] was particularly successful | When [[Gustav IV of Sweden]] attained his majority, Armfelt was completely rehabilitated and sent as Swedish ambassador to [[Vienna]] in 1802, but was obliged to quit the post two years later for sharply attacking the [[Austria-Hungary|Austrian]] government's attitude towards [[Napoleon Bonaparte]]. From 1805 to 1807, he was the commander-in-chief of the Swedish forces in [[Swedish Pomerania|Pomerania]], where he displayed great ability and stopped the conquest of the duchy for as long as possible; the [[Great Sortie of Stralsund]] was particularly successful. On his return home, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Norwegian frontier, where he was stifled in his duties by the constant flow of ''ordres, contre-ordres et désordres'' from his master.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}<ref name=":0" /> | ||
== Imperial Russia and the Grand Duchy of Finland == | == Imperial Russia and the Grand Duchy of Finland == | ||
[[File:Johan Fredrik Aminoff, Johan Albrekt Ehrenström and Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (René Théodore Berthon) - Nationalmuseum - 40074.tif|thumb|Three [[Gustavians]] – [[Johan Fredrik Aminoff]], [[Johan Albrecht Ehrenström]], and Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt – emerged as significant figures in the newly formed Grand Duchy of Finland.]] | [[File:Johan Fredrik Aminoff, Johan Albrekt Ehrenström and Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (René Théodore Berthon) - Nationalmuseum - 40074.tif|thumb|Three [[Gustavians]] – [[Johan Fredrik Aminoff]], [[Johan Albrecht Ehrenström]], and Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt – emerged as significant figures in the newly formed Grand Duchy of Finland.]]Armfelt was firmly opposed to the revolutionaries who overthrew Gustav IV and exiled his family in the [[Coup of 1809]]. He was the most courageous of the deposed king's supporters and resolved afterwards to retire to Finland, which had been ceded to Russia.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> | ||
Armfelt was firmly opposed to the revolutionaries who overthrew Gustav IV and exiled his family in the [[Coup of 1809]]. He was the most courageous of the deposed king's supporters and resolved afterwards to retire to Finland, which had been ceded to Russia.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4 | |||
Armfelt's position greatly improved in Russia. After deposing [[Speransky]] he exercised almost as much influence over Emperor [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] as [[Adam Jerzy Czartoryski|Adam Czartoryski]]. He contributed more than anyone else to Finnish independence with his plan to turn the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] into an autonomous [[Sovereign state|state]] within the [[Russian Empire]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Aminoff |first=Jukka |url=https://kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi/Record/fikka.5496009 |title=Suomen Ruotsi ja Venäjä: Suomi muuttuvien maailmanjärjestysten keskellä |date=2021 |publisher=Readme.fi |others=Readme.fi |isbn=978-952-373-254-4 |location=Helsinki}}</ref> | Armfelt's position greatly improved in Russia. After deposing [[Speransky]] he exercised almost as much influence over Emperor [[Alexander I of Russia|Alexander I]] as [[Adam Jerzy Czartoryski|Adam Czartoryski]]. He contributed more than anyone else to Finnish independence with his plan to turn the [[Grand Duchy of Finland]] into an autonomous [[Sovereign state|state]] within the [[Russian Empire]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Aminoff |first=Jukka |url=https://kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi/Record/fikka.5496009 |title=Suomen Ruotsi ja Venäjä: Suomi muuttuvien maailmanjärjestysten keskellä |date=2021 |publisher=Readme.fi |others=Readme.fi |isbn=978-952-373-254-4 |location=Helsinki}}</ref> | ||
Armfelt, who had been Chancellor of the [[Royal Academy of Turku]] from 1791 to 1792, was again made the chancellor of institution, which had been renamed ''Imperial Academy'', in 1812. He held the position for two years. In 1812, the grateful Emperor raised him to the rank of [[Count]].<ref name=":0" /> | |||
Armfelt, who had been Chancellor of the [[Royal Academy of Turku]] from 1791 to 1792, was again made the chancellor of institution, which had been renamed ''Imperial Academy'', in 1812. He held the position for two years. In 1812, the grateful Emperor raised him to the rank of [[Count]] | |||
He served as the Minister State Secretary of Finland, the Grand Duchy's highest representative, in St Petersburg 1812–14. He was also briefly [[Governor-General of Finland]] in 1813 | He served as the Minister State Secretary of Finland, the Grand Duchy's highest representative, in St Petersburg 1812–14. He was also briefly [[Governor-General of Finland]] in 1813.<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Korhonen |first=Keijo |title=Suomen asiain komitea: Suomen korkeimman hallinnon järjestelyt ja toteuttaminen vuosina 1811–1826 |year=1963 |publisher=Tekijä |url=https://www.finna.fi/Record/jykdok.1900498?sid=3454451083 |place=Turku}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":22">{{Cite book |last=Ramel |first=Stig |url=https://www.finna.fi/Record/arto.000602675 |title=Yrjö Maunu Sprengtporten: maanpetturi ja patriootti |last2=Kuuranne |first2=Iiro |date=2005 |publisher=Otava |others=Otava, kustannusosakeyhtiö |isbn=978-951-1-19074-5 |location=Helsingissä}}</ref> | ||
He died at [[Tsarskoe Selo]] near [[Saint Petersburg]] on 19 August 1814 | He died at [[Tsarskoe Selo]] near [[Saint Petersburg]] on 19 August 1814.{{sfn|Bain|1911}}<ref name=":0" /> | ||
== Titles == | == Titles == | ||
| Line 136: | Line 112: | ||
==Family== | ==Family== | ||
In 1785, Armfelt married Countess [[Hedvig Ulrika De la Gardie]] (1761–1832), daughter of Count Carl Julius De la Gardie and Countess Magdalena Christina Stenbock.<ref name=":1" /> | In 1785, Armfelt married Countess [[Hedvig Ulrika De la Gardie]] (1761–1832), daughter of Count Carl Julius De la Gardie and his wife, Countess Magdalena Christina [[Stenbock]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00487931&tree=LEO|title=Countess Heta Ulriikka De La Gardie: Genealogics|website=www.genealogics.org|accessdate=18 September 2025}}</ref> | ||
They had the following eight children: | They had the following eight children: | ||
# Maria Magdalena Catharina Augusta Armfelt, (1786–1845), | # Countess Maria Magdalena Catharina Augusta Armfelt, (1786–1845), married Count Axel Adolf [[List of Swedish noble families|Piper-Ängsö]] (1778–1827) and had issue; | ||
# Gustaf Fredrik Armfelt | # Baron Gustaf Fredrik Armfelt (1788–1789); | ||
# Carl Armfelt, born and died 1788 | # Baron Carl Armfelt, born and died 1788; | ||
# Magnus Armfelt, born and died 1788 | # Baron Magnus Armfelt, born and died 1788; | ||
# [[Gustaf Magnus Armfelt]], (1792–1856), major-general, | # [[Gustaf Magnus Armfelt|Count Gustaf Magnus Armfelt]], (1792–1856), major-general, married Louise Cuthbert-Brook, Lady of [[Joensuu]] (1801–1865); | ||
# [[Alexander Armfelt]], (1794–1876), captain, Finnish minister secretary of state, privy councillor, | # [[Alexander Armfelt|Count Alexander Armfelt]], (1794–1876), captain, Finnish minister secretary of state, privy councillor, married firstly Baroness Siri [[Oxenstierna]] (1801-1841); married secondly Aline [[Demidov family|Demidov]] (1808-1898) and had issue from both marriages; | ||
# Constantin Armfelt, (1796–1797) | # Baron Constantin Armfelt, (1796–1797); | ||
# Carl Magnus Wilhelm Armfelt, (1797–1878). | # Count Carl Magnus Wilhelm Armfelt, (1797–1878), married Baroness Adelaide Sohvia Vlhelmiina Karoliina von [[Von Stedingk|Stedingk]] (1802–1863; div. 1834); married secondly Ulrika Christina Vilhelmina [[Bohman]] (1818–1892), and had issue from both marriages. | ||
From the affair with the actress Mademoiselle L'Eclair in Paris, Armfelt had an illegitimate son, Maurice L'Eclair (1780–1841). From the affair with [[Princess Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan]], Armfelt had an illegitimate daughter, Adelaide Gustava Aspasie (Vava) Armfelt (1801–1881). Maurice was knighted in 1816 in Sweden as Mauritz Clairfelt and became a general; Vava was adopted in 1812 into the Armfelt family. | From the affair with the actress Mademoiselle L'Eclair in Paris, Armfelt had an illegitimate son, Maurice L'Eclair (1780–1841). From the affair with [[Princess Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan]], Armfelt had an illegitimate daughter, Countess Adelaide Gustava Aspasie (Vava) Armfelt (1801–1881). Maurice was knighted in 1816 in Sweden as Mauritz Clairfelt and became a general; Vava was adopted in 1812 into the Armfelt family. He also had an out of wedlock daughter with Princess Ekaterina Nikolaevna [[Golitsyn family|Galitzina]] (1764–1832), Princess Ekaterina [[Gagarin family|Gagarina]] (1794–1835).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00540239&tree=LEO|title=Princess Jekaterina Sergeievna: Genealogics|website=www.genealogics.org|accessdate=18 September 2025}}</ref> | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| Line 215: | Line 191: | ||
[[Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to the Holy Roman Empire]] | [[Category:Ambassadors of Sweden to the Holy Roman Empire]] | ||
[[Category:Finnish generals]] | [[Category:Finnish generals]] | ||
Latest revision as of 00:56, 29 December 2025
Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:CS1 config Script error: No such module "Infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Count Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (Template:Langx; 31 March 1757 – 19 August 1814)[1] was a Finnish-Swedish count, baron, courtier, general and diplomat who was later in Russian service.[2]
In Finland, he is considered one of the greatest Finnish statesmen. His advice to Alexander I of Russia was of utmost importance for securing the autonomy of the Grand Duchy of Finland.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Career in the Kingdom of Sweden
Born in Tarvasjoki, Finland, into the noble Armfelt family. Armfelt's father was major general, baron Magnus Vilhelm Armfelt and mother baroness Maria Catharina Wennerstedt. His brother was baron August Philip Armfelt. He was the great grandson of Charles XII of Sweden's general, Carl Gustaf Armfeldt.[4][10]
In 1774, Armfelt became an ensign in the guards, but his frivolous behavior involving a duel provoked the displeasure of Gustav III of Sweden. As a result, he thought it prudent to go abroad 1778. Subsequently, however, in 1780, Armfelt met the king again at Spa in the Austrian Netherlands and completely won over the previously disgruntled monarch with his natural amiability, intelligence and social gifts. Henceforth, his fortune was made. At first, he was given the position of maître des plaisirs in the Swedish court, but it wasn't long before more serious affairs were entrusted to him. He took part in negotiations with Catherine II of Russia in 1783, and, during the Russo-Swedish War of 1788–1790, he was one of the king's most trusted and active counsellors.Template:Sfn[4]
He displayed great valour in the field during this time. In 1788, when the Danes unexpectedly invaded Sweden and threatened Gothenburg, Armfelt organized the Dalecarlian levies under the king's direction and led them to victory. He remained absolutely faithful to King Gustav when nearly the whole of the Swedish nobility fell away from him. Armfelt distinguished himself in the later phases of the Russo-Swedish War, eventually becoming the Swedish plenipotentiary who negotiated the war's demise with the Treaty of Värälä in August 1790. Armfelt had been seriously wounded in the battle of Savitaipale in June 1790. During the reign of Gustav III, his influence was paramount in Sweden, though Armfelt protested against his master's headstrong championship of the Bourbons.Template:Sfn[4]
Diplomacy
On his deathbed in 1792, King Gustav III committed the care of his son to Armfelt and appointed him to the Privy Council, which was to advise the new regent, the king's younger brother, Charles. Armfelt was also appointed as the Governor of Stockholm, but the new regent was staunchly anti-Gustavian and sent Armfelt to serve as the Swedish ambassador to Naples to get rid of him.[4]Template:Better source needed
From Naples, Armfelt began secret communications with Empress of Russia Catherine the Great, arguing that she should bring about by means of a military intervention a change in the Swedish government in favour of the Gustavians. The Armfelt Conspiracy, though, was discovered by spies for the regent, who immediately sent a Swedish man-of-war to Naples to seize him. With the assistance of the exiled British Queen Caroline, he was just barely able to escape. He fled to Russia, where he was interned at Kaluga 1794–1797. At home, he was condemned to death as a traitor and his property confiscated. His mistress, Magdalena Rudenschöld, was judged for complicity and pilloried on the Riddarhus Square before being imprisoned for two years in Stockholm.Template:Sfn[4]
Against Napoleon's France
When Gustav IV of Sweden attained his majority, Armfelt was completely rehabilitated and sent as Swedish ambassador to Vienna in 1802, but was obliged to quit the post two years later for sharply attacking the Austrian government's attitude towards Napoleon Bonaparte. From 1805 to 1807, he was the commander-in-chief of the Swedish forces in Pomerania, where he displayed great ability and stopped the conquest of the duchy for as long as possible; the Great Sortie of Stralsund was particularly successful. On his return home, he was appointed commander-in-chief of the Norwegian frontier, where he was stifled in his duties by the constant flow of ordres, contre-ordres et désordres from his master.Template:Sfn[4]
Imperial Russia and the Grand Duchy of Finland
Armfelt was firmly opposed to the revolutionaries who overthrew Gustav IV and exiled his family in the Coup of 1809. He was the most courageous of the deposed king's supporters and resolved afterwards to retire to Finland, which had been ceded to Russia.[4][9]
Armfelt's position greatly improved in Russia. After deposing Speransky he exercised almost as much influence over Emperor Alexander I as Adam Czartoryski. He contributed more than anyone else to Finnish independence with his plan to turn the Grand Duchy of Finland into an autonomous state within the Russian Empire.[4][11]
Armfelt, who had been Chancellor of the Royal Academy of Turku from 1791 to 1792, was again made the chancellor of institution, which had been renamed Imperial Academy, in 1812. He held the position for two years. In 1812, the grateful Emperor raised him to the rank of Count.[4]
He served as the Minister State Secretary of Finland, the Grand Duchy's highest representative, in St Petersburg 1812–14. He was also briefly Governor-General of Finland in 1813.[12][4][13]
He died at Tsarskoe Selo near Saint Petersburg on 19 August 1814.Template:Sfn[4]
Titles
- File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia Count (1812)[7]
- File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Baron (1757)[7]
Honours
- File:Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg File:Flag of Denmark.svg Denmark Order of the Elephant Grand Cross (1787)[7]
- File:Order of the Sword - Ribbon bar.svg File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Order of the Sword Knight (1789)[7]
- File:Order of Saint Anna ribbon bar.svg File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia Order of Saint Anna 1st Class (1789)[7]
- File:Order of Saint Anna ribbon bar.svg File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia Order of Alexander Nevsky Silver Star with diamonds (1789)[7]
- File:Order St. Andrew (Russia) ribbon.svg File:Flag of Russia.svg Russia Order of St. Andrew Silver Cross with diamonds (1789)[7]
- File:Order of the Sword - Ribbon bar.svg File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Order of the Sword Grand Cross (1789)[7]
- File:Order of the Seraphim - Ribbon bar.svg File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Order of the Seraphim Knight (1789)[7]
- File:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden Lord of the Realm[7]
_ribbon.svg){kind=link}
Legacy
Together with Count Georg Magnus Sprengtporten, Armfelt is regarded as one of the fathers of Finnish independence. Because of his unpopularity among the anti-Gustavian Swedish nobility and the fact that he "turned Russian", Armfelt has been a somewhat mysterious and generally unknown character in Swedish history.
Ignorance of Armfelt and his accomplishments persisted for well over a century in Sweden and only recently has a more nuanced, positive approach to Armfelt emerged there. In Finland, he has always been highly regarded as a great patriot and statesman.[4]
Ambassador Ilkka Pastinen, who translated Stig Ramel's book about Armfelt from Swedish to Finnish, describes Armfelt's estate, Joensuu Mansion, as significant for the Finns, comparable to how Mount Vernon, the private home of President George Washington, is significant for Americans. Armfelt supported the American Revolutionary War.[14]
Because Armfelt chose to remain loyal to Finland and its people, rather than its former ruler, he was labeled as a traitor in Sweden and sentenced to death for treason. The Swedish people could not accept at the time the loss of Finland, which had been part of the realm for over 600 years. Their anguish was exacerbated by the fact that the province had been lost to Sweden's archenemy, Russia. Armfelt's death sentence, however, had no actual meaning outside of Sweden as there was never a realistic Swedish attempt launched to recapture Finland. Politicians threatened action mainly to gain favour among the nobles and populace. Already, in 1812, Sweden allied with Russia, and the sentence was annulled.[4][5][6]
Family
In 1785, Armfelt married Countess Hedvig Ulrika De la Gardie (1761–1832), daughter of Count Carl Julius De la Gardie and his wife, Countess Magdalena Christina Stenbock.[5][15]
They had the following eight children:
- Countess Maria Magdalena Catharina Augusta Armfelt, (1786–1845), married Count Axel Adolf Piper-Ängsö (1778–1827) and had issue;
- Baron Gustaf Fredrik Armfelt (1788–1789);
- Baron Carl Armfelt, born and died 1788;
- Baron Magnus Armfelt, born and died 1788;
- Count Gustaf Magnus Armfelt, (1792–1856), major-general, married Louise Cuthbert-Brook, Lady of Joensuu (1801–1865);
- Count Alexander Armfelt, (1794–1876), captain, Finnish minister secretary of state, privy councillor, married firstly Baroness Siri Oxenstierna (1801-1841); married secondly Aline Demidov (1808-1898) and had issue from both marriages;
- Baron Constantin Armfelt, (1796–1797);
- Count Carl Magnus Wilhelm Armfelt, (1797–1878), married Baroness Adelaide Sohvia Vlhelmiina Karoliina von Stedingk (1802–1863; div. 1834); married secondly Ulrika Christina Vilhelmina Bohman (1818–1892), and had issue from both marriages.
From the affair with the actress Mademoiselle L'Eclair in Paris, Armfelt had an illegitimate son, Maurice L'Eclair (1780–1841). From the affair with Princess Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan, Armfelt had an illegitimate daughter, Countess Adelaide Gustava Aspasie (Vava) Armfelt (1801–1881). Maurice was knighted in 1816 in Sweden as Mauritz Clairfelt and became a general; Vava was adopted in 1812 into the Armfelt family. He also had an out of wedlock daughter with Princess Ekaterina Nikolaevna Galitzina (1764–1832), Princess Ekaterina Gagarina (1794–1835).[16]
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ Template:BLF
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Template:Cite thesis
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Attribution:
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Script error: No such module "template wrapper".
Further reading
External links
Script error: No such module "Navbox".
- Pages with script errors
- Pages with broken file links
- Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica
- 1757 births
- 1814 deaths
- People from Tarvasjoki
- Swedish generals
- 18th-century Swedish nobility
- Members of the Swedish Academy
- Politicians from the Russian Empire
- Members of the State Council (Russian Empire)
- Finland under Swedish rule
- Imperial Russian Army generals
- Governors of the Grand Duchy of Finland
- 18th-century Swedish military personnel
- 19th-century Swedish politicians
- 18th-century Finnish military personnel
- People convicted of treason against Sweden
- People sentenced to death in absentia
- Swedish military commanders of the Napoleonic Wars
- People of the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)
- Ambassadors to the Kingdom of Naples
- Gustavian era people
- Finnish people from the Russian Empire
- Court of Gustav III
- Armfelt family
- Lords of the Realm
- Ambassadors of Sweden to the Holy Roman Empire
- Finnish generals