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Queen Ulrica Eleonora’s reign occurred just before the end of the Great Northern War. During the Russian Pillage of 1719–1721 in August of the summer of 1719, the Russian Fleet attacked the capital of Stockholm.

Despite the ongoing attack, Queen Ulrica Eleonora forced her courtiers to attend a previously accepted reception at the British ambassador’s, “being so untouched as if there had been no enemies present for hundreds of miles”, which was considered to be an impressive act of courage.

Her favorite courtier was Emerentia von Düben (1669–1743), her old nurse, who had been ennobled and made lady-in-waiting in 1707 and with whom she had a close relationship all her life.

Düben acted as her advisor, her comfort and her support, and was said to not have abused her influence – they were described as sisters. During her short reign, to secure support for her rule, she ennobled many families.

In a period of fifteen months, she ennobled 181 people, more than any other monarch in Swedish history; one count, two barons and eight lesser noblemen every month. She had seven field marshals where her brother only ever had between three and five.

Queen Ulrica Eleonora was in fact in favour of an absolute monarchy. She had agreed to the new Constitution only to secure the throne from her nephew, and her relations with the council were not good.

She came into conflict with the President of the Privy Council Arvid Horn, who resigned in protest, as well as with his successor Gustaf Cronhielm. Horn criticized her for discussing state affairs with her husband, pressed her as to whether she would respect the constitution and insulted her by making the remark that nothing better was to be expected “under the regiment of a female.” These conflicts had a deleterious effect on the war and state affairs.

Queen Ulrica Eleonora supported the political ambitions of her consort, and from the beginning, she wished for him to become her co-monarch, in the fashion of King William III and Queen Mary II of England, Scotland and Ireland.

However, this was not permitted by the Riksdag. One reason being that co-reigning had been forbidden in Sweden since the 15th century. There was also opposition in the Riksdag to the influence of Emerentia von Düben and her siblings over the affairs of state.

Her difficulty in respecting the constitution and trouble in getting along with the Riksdag, as well as her way of continuously discussing state affairs with her husband, did however make the Riksdag willing to replace her with her husband Prince Friedrich as sole monarch if she abdicated, an idea that had the support of Prince Friedrich.

On February 29, 1720, after having again been denied a co-monarchy, Queen Ulrica Eleonora abdicated in favour of her husband on the condition that she should succeed him if he should die before her. This condition of her abdication in fact granted her place as the heir to the Swedish throne until her death.

This succession was confirmed by the Riksdag. She often spoke of the abdication as the greatest sacrifice of her life. Prince Friedrich succeeded her as King of Sweden on March 24, 1720.