| Eva Helena Löwen | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1743 |
| Died | 1813 |
| Other names | Eva Helena Ribbing |
| Spouse | Count Fredrik Ribbing Baron Gustaf Macklean |
| Children | Adolph Ribbing |
Eva Helena Löwen (1743–1813), was a politically active Swedish noble socialite and royal favourite. She was active as a French agent in Sweden.
Löwen was child of Axel Löwen and Eva Horn af Ekebyholm and grandchild of Arvid Horn, married to Count Fredrik Ribbing in 1764 and to Baron Gustaf Macklean in 1796. She was the mother of Adolph Ribbing, one of the conspirators behind the murder of King Gustav III of Sweden.
Löwen was a leading figure in Stockholm society in the 1760s, described as a celebrated beauty, the capitals “Queen of fashion” and talked about for her love adventures. Crown prince Gustav was claimed to be “in love” with her, although this was not a sexual but a platonic love. She was also a friend of the queen, Louisa Ulrika of Prussia.
She is one of the confirmed names mentioned on a list from the last years of the age of liberty, consistent of influential Swedish citizens who received secret allowances from the French Crown in exchange for using their influence to lobby French interests in Swedish politics. Her French allowance consisted of a third of the salary paid to a Swedish member of parliament of this period, and almost equal to that of the President of Svea Hovrätt. Nine names are identified on the list, of which three were women. Another female agent was Christina Sofia Bielke, the mother of Magdalena Rudenschöld: women were often financed to hold salons to benefit French interests.
Löwen was after the revolution of 1772 ”quite favoured” by Gustav III, and could often be seen discussing France with the monarch. In 1778, she took the side of the Queen Dowager against the King when the former accused the latter of having had Adolph Fredrik Munk af Fulkila father the Crown Prince. Löwen was even pointed out as an instigator to the rumour, and although this is not considered to have been true, it caused a break with the monarch, after which she became his enemy and is said to have directed “one thousand sarcasms” toward him. In 1792, her son, Adolph Ribbing, became one of the conspirators participating in the regicide of Gustav III.