Johann Friedrich Struensee

Most historic royal scandals end up with a lot heads in the guillotine. The situation that the royal physician Johann Struensee created in 1770`s ended similarly but not before changing the very structure of Denmark, a country that he was not even a native of. From being a commoner he rose to de facto King and raised hell for the whole royal court.

He played the classic chess game; wits and seduction were his moves.

 Queen Caroline Mathilde, and Johann Struensee are playing a game of chess while the King has no interest in this and chooses to poke a Macau for fun.

King Christian VII of Denmark was mentally ill, in 1769 Struensee was appointed personal physician to the king. Blunder on the part of appointment; they put an extremely intelligent man with someone who could be manipulated any way he wanted.

First he gained the confidence of the King. He painted a picture in Christian`s head where there was nothing wrong with the maddening thoughts he had, completely opposite of what he was told his entire life. Soon Johann became the King's most trusted adviser. If there was a new law to be passed or created, Johann would have his inconspicuous grasp over it.

Johann was a man of Enlightenment. He secretly believed in principles of Rousseau. These views were considered blasphemous in that era.

While he had Christian in his one hand and he now proceeded to seduce the Queen. Princess Carolina was obviously unhappy with her marriage to the insane Monarch. Johann came into her trust after the successful vaccination of baby crown prince.

By 1771, the queen gave another birth, this time a daughter, Louise Augusta. It was widely accepted that this was Strueensee's daughter.

Under the "Time of Struensee" reforms that were carried out were among the first in the world. He abolished slavery in Danish Colonies, abolished censorship of the press, abolition of noble privileges and "undeserved" revenues for nobles. These reforms were so drastic that Voltaire even wrote the monarch a letter commending them.

By now Johann had got the attention of the country. It was a general knowledge among the nobles that Christian was just a puppet. If Stuensee`s power wasn’t dissolved, the Royal court would soon lose all their privileges. Plus the general public who initially supported started becoming uneasy with the weakness of the Monarch.

A palace coup took place in the early morning of 17 January 1772. Both Johann Struensee and The Queen were arrested in their bedrooms.

Finally The Royal Affair had come to notice.

The Noble consorts made The King sign the Death warrant for Johann. In 1772, Struensee's right hand was cut off; next, after two failed attempts, his head was severed, stuck on a pole and presented to 30,000 bystanders while the Queen was exiled, she died at the age of 23 due to scarlet fever.

This Affair highlighted how a common man controlled one of the most powerful Scandinavian Empire and his downfall induced with a proscriptive relationship.

Like this piece? You can watch the Oscar Nominated danish film based on this, called The Royal Affair. It stars Mads Mikkelson of the Hannibal (tv-serie) fame.