# A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Lichtenaw, Wilhelmina, Countess of

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LICHTENAW, WILHELMINA, COUNTESS OF,
The celebrated friend of Frederick William the Second. Her father, whose name was Enke, travelled over the greater part of Europe, as a clever musician on the French horn, and was afterwards received into the royal musical chapel of Berlin. She had two sisters, the eldest of whom, on account of her splendid figure, was engaged at the Italian opera. Count Matuschki eloped with her to Venice, and married her, after which they returned to Berlin, where they lived in a brilliant style, their house becoming the resort of the fashionable world. Her sister, Wilhelmina, when ten years of age, lived with her. The hereditary prince, Frederick William, who visited the house of Count Matuschki, thus accidentally made her acquaintance. She was then thirteen. Her beauty inspired the prince with an enthusiastic love; and when, on some occasion, the two sisters had quarrelled, he considered it most proper to have her sent back to the house of her father. ​However, his growing passion did not suffer him to stop here; he conducted her to Potsdam, to one of his confidants, procured her a governess and the most skilful masters, and came every day himself, to contribute, by his own instruction, to her mental development. Their mutual attachment was pure and disinterested; but when also in Wilhelmina's bosom a strong passion awoke for her amiable benefactor, she was no longer able to resist his protestations of unchangeable love. Notwithstanding, the prince followed other transient inclinations; and, not to be disturbed by Wilhelmina's presence, placed her, under pretext of perfecting her mind and accomplishments, under the guardianship of her sister, (the countess,) in Paris. When six months had elapsed, he decided himself entirely in her favour; yet, for the sake of outward propriety, a marriage was feigned with a certain Retz. After the death of Frederic the First, she was elevated to a higher but more difficult position. To avoid envy and jealousy, was impossible; neither could she live in the same good intelligence with all parties of the court, who differed greatly in their views, In the year 1792 she travelled with the king to Vienna, where she was present at the coronation of Francis the Second; three years later, she visited Italy, and on her return, received the diploma, which gave her the title of Countess Lichtenaw. On her arrival in Berlin, she was introduced as such to the queen; at the same time she received for her establishment five hundred thousand crowns, and the estates to which she had a claim by her title. Besides, she possessed a house in Berlin, (an inheritance of her deceased son, Count von der Mark,) and a beautiful villa in Charlottenburg. Her situation, as well as the king's favour, lasted until his death, in 1797. But as soon as Frederic William had closed his eyes for ever, the scene changed. She was forthwith arrested at Potsdam, and, for four months, strongly secured; during which time her papers were examined, and she herself minutely interrogated. Although no discovery could be made to accuse her of a state crime, she was sent to Fort Glagow, and her property confiscated. Not until after an imprisonment of three years, and an unconditional renunciation of her entire property, was she released, and obtained an annuity of four thousand crowns. In 1811 her estates were partly restored, but the annuity was withdrawn. She afterwards lived in retirement, and died in 1820.
As to the bad influence which, according to the statements of her enemies and misinformed persons, this woman is said to have exercised over the monarch, and, through him, over the Prussian state, and the abuse which she made of her power for the destruction of worthy and the advancement of unworthy statesmen, there is no foundation whatever. Men of undoubted character speak of her with the highest esteem; and she is praised by those who intimately knew her, as a woman of deep sensibility, rare good-nature, correct judgment, and unfeigned self-sacrificing interest in those whom she loved, It is an acknowledged fact, that she never sought distinction or wealth for herself, nor for her nearest relations. Her parents died poor; her youngest sister was married to a merchant; and her two brothers, of whom the one was high-forester, and the other equerry, had never more than a competency to live on, and lost even that during the unfortunate period of the French war.