Abstract: For almost half a century, Charlotte, duchess of Sudermania (1759-1818), queen of Sweden from 1809 onwards, kept a diary about her political times. Based on her large personal archive, this article shows how her writings were impacted by political events with which the duchess, because of her closeness to the source of power, was personally associated. Drawing on numerous sources, she wanted her writings to influence the judgement posterity would cast on her political times.
