| Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 May 1679 Germany |
| Died | 27 June 1704 Denmark |
| Cause of death | childbirth |
| Occupation | Lady in waiting, royal mistress |
| Known for | Bigamy with Frederick IV of Denmark |
| Spouse | Frederick IV of Denmark (by bigamy) |
| Children | Frederik Gyldenløve (1704-1705) |
Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg (4 May 1679 – 27 June 1704) was a Danish (originally German) noble (countess) and lady in waiting. She was the royal mistress and later the first morganatic spouse of King Frederick IV of Denmark in a bigamous marriage.
Elisabeth Helene von Vieregg was the daughter of Adam Otto von Vieregg til Weitendorff from Mecklenburg, a minister in Prussia, and from 1698 to 1706, the Prussian ambassador in Copenhagen in Denmark. Elisabeth Helene was made lady-in-waiting to Princess Sophie Hedevig of Denmark, and entered in to a relationship with Frederick, who became King the same year (1699).
The relationship was initially a secret, but was discovered in 1701 after a letter from her father, defending their relationship, was made public. On 6 September 1703, she was given the estate Antvorskov and the title Countess of Antvorskov and secretly married to Frederick, who thereby committed bigamy. The church authorities had not forbidden the king to engage in polygamy, as there were doctrines based on biblical polygamy of Hebrew patriarchs. She gave birth to a son, Frederik Gyldenløve (1704–1705), and died in childbirth. She was given an elabourate public funeral by Frederick. After her death, she was replaced as royal mistress by her lady in waiting, Charlotte Helene von Schindel.
Children :