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- BIOGRAPHY
In 1699, aged about eighteen, she married Adolf Magnus, Count von Hoym but divorced him. Then, over a period of nine years, she was the mistress of Friedrich August 'the Strong', Elector of Saxony, and, in 1707, was elevated to the rank of Countess von Cosel. She had three children by Friedrich August and became a political force at the Saxon court.
When Friedrich August became King of Poland, some of his advisors, Fürstenberg and Flemming, considered a mistress from Poland would be better for his connections and influence in Poland. Count Flemming chose for Friedrich August the young and very beautiful Countess Marie Dönhoff, daughter of the Polish Grandmarshal Casimir Ludwig, Count Bielinski; the King immediately fell in love with the Countess Dönhoff.
In 1711, when the Countess von Cosel became aware of the new affaire of King August, she immediately tried to travel from Dresden to Warschau to try to confirm her position. Fearing her energetic temperament and intelligence, Flemming had her escorted back to Dresden. Before King August was to return to Dresden with his new mistress, the Countess von Cosel exiled herself to Halle, which was outside of Saxony and the power of the King-Elector.
She then threatened to publish a written promise of marriage by August and even threatened to shoot the Countess Dönhoff. August asked for help from the Prussians and Countess von Cosel was arrested by the Prussian police in Halle and handed over to Saxony. From 24 December 1716 she was kept in custody in Castle Stolpen. In 1733 she was pardoned by the Elector's son and heir, but remained voluntarily in Castle Stolpen, in the so-called 'Cosel-Tower', until she died.
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