Ulla Tessin

Ulrika "Ulla" Lovisa Tessin née Sparre (23 May 1711 – 14 December 1768) was a Swedish courtier, letter writer and dilettante artist.

Ulla Tessin was born to riksråd marshal count Erik Sparre af Sundby and Christina (Stina) Beata Lillie. She was given private tuition in both modern and Classical language and could speak French, German and Italian. She was engaged in 1725 and married 27 august 1727 to Count Carl Gustaf Tessin. Because her fortune exceeded that of her spouse, he was by law required to grant her both the Tessin Palace as well as the Boo Manor as her dower. The marriage was childless.

The Tessin's were leading members of the interest in amateur theater within the Swedish aristocracy which attracted the interest for theater that lay the foundation of the first profession Swedish language theater in Bollhuset in 1737. On 1 February 1732, for example, they directed and acted in the French play Dom Japhlet d'Arménie by Paul Scarron, which was performed by noble amateur actors for the royal court at Bollhuset.

Ulla Tessin accompanied her spouse on his diplomatic posts to Vienna (1735–36), Copenhagen and Paris (1739–41) and Berlin (1744). She is described as a socially and artistically gifted socialite, who where admired for her character and easily created contacts which were of use to her spouse during his diplomatic missions. In France, for example, to where she was accompanied also by her niece Charlotta Sparre, she made a success at the royal court of Versailles and became a personal friend of queen Marie Leszczyńska and princess Marie Sophie de Rohan, who offered to share her fortune with her if she settled permanently in France.

During the mission of her spouse in Berlin in Prussia, the couple was given the assignment to escort Louisa Ulrika of Prussia, the intended bride of crown prince Frederick Adolph of Sweden, from Prussia to her wedding in Sweden. Both she and her spouse became the favorites of Louisa Ulrika during her tenure as crown princess of Sweden, and belonged to her intimate circle of friends. Ulla Tessin was made a Dame of the L’Ordre de l’Harmonie, and Carl Gustaf Tessin became the political partner of Louisa Ulrika.

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