Name Benigna von | ||
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Burial Ducal Crypt of the Jelgava Palace Issue Peter von Biron (1724-1800) Father Wilhelm von Trotta genannt Treyden Died November 5, 1782, Jelgava, Latvia Spouse Ernst Johann von Biron (m. 1723–1772) Parents Wilhelm von Trotta genannt Treyden Children Peter von Biron, Karl Ernst Biron Grandchildren Princess Wilhelmine, Duchess of Sagan Similar People Ernst Johann von Biron, Peter von Biron, Dorothea von Medem, Princess Wilhelmine - Duchess, Princess Dorothea of Courla | ||
Benigna Gottliebe von Trotta genannt Treyden (15 October 1703 – 5 November 1782), was a Duchess consort of Courland. She married the Duke of Courland, Ernst Johann von Biron, on 25 February 1723.
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Biography
Benigna Gottliebe was the daughter of the Baltic nobleman Wilhelm von Trotta gen. Treyden . She was made a lady-in-waiting to the dowager duchess regent of Courland, Anna of Russia, in 1720 and in 1723 married to Anna's adviser Ernst Johann von Biron (Buhren). The marriage was reportedly arranged by Anna in an attempt to conceal her own relationship with Biron. When Anna became Empress of Russia in 1730, the Biron couple both followed her to Russia, retaining their position as adviser and lady in waiting. Benigna is described as haughty and bad tempered and marked with smallpox, but also as a diligent parent and lady in waiting. She spent great amounts of money on clothes and jewelry and also received many costly gifts from Anna. When her husband was made duke of Courland in 1737, she was decorated with the Order of Saint Catherine. She shared her husband's imprisonment in 1740 and returned with him to Courland in 1763, where she spent the rest of her life at the court in Mitau. She is described as a good painter and textile artist, and she and her daughter embroided a tapestry of silk which were displayed in the Jelgava Palace. She also published a book of religious German language poems, published in Moscow in 1777 entitled "Eine grose Kreuztragerin».