Anna Constantia von Brockdorff (later known as the Countess of Comel) (1680-1765) was for several years the mistress of Augustus II the Strong.
Augustus II der Starke (the Strong) (1670-1733) was a prominent person:
** Elector of Saxony 1694-1733
** King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania 1697-1706 & 1709-1733
** The husband of Christiane Eberhardine (1671-1727) (married 1693-1727)
** A man of two religions: at first he was a Lutheran 1670-1697. But later, when he wanted to be chosen as the King of Poland, he became a Catholic 1697-1733
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They meet each other in Dresden in 1704. At that time, Anna Constantia is married and she lives with her husband in Dresden.
One night, her house is on fire. Everybody must get out. Anna is standing in the street directing the effort to stop the fire.
Augustus also lives in Dresden. When the fire breaks out, the church bells are ringing to sound the alarm. When he hears the bells ringing, he gets up and walks to the place to see if he can do anything to help.
When he arrives, he sees Anna standing in the street directing the effort to stop the fire. He is impressed. She sees him and she likes him. This is how they meet each other for the first time: at the moment when her house is on fire. Apparently, two hearts are also on fire in that moment.
Augustus is married and he already has a mistress. But this does not stop him from taking an interest in Anna. He wants her to become his mistress.
She does not say yes. She does not say no. She says she is ready to become his mistress on certain conditions:
# 1. Since she is married, he must help her to get a divorce
# 2. He must pay a substantial salary to her every year
# 3. If she becomes pregnant and if she gives birth to a child, he must recognise the child
# 4. If his wife dies before him, he must take Anna as his wife.
The conditions are written down. This is in effect a marriage contract. When he signs the document, she saves it and places it in a secret location.
The purpose of this document is to make sure that he does not dump her or to make sure that if he does dump her she will not be left with nothing. In 1705, Augustus dumps his previous mistress and Anna is presented as his official mistress.
In 1706, she is given an official title. She is the Countess of Comel. Over the following years, Augustus and Anna have three children:
** 1708 = a daughter is born:
Augustus Anna Constantia
** 1709 = a daughter is born:
Friederike Alexandrine
** 1712 = a son is born:
Frederick Augustus
In the beginning, the relationship is close and warm. But after a while, the relationship is not so close and not so warm.
Anna is well-educated. She is independent and outgoing. It is not enough for her to be a mistress. She has opinions about political affairs.
Many members of his court do not like her. They are jealous, because she has an important position. They are looking for a way to get rid of her.
The most dangerous and powerful opponent is Jacob Heinrich von Flemming (1667-1728), who is the political advisor of Augustus
What can her enemies do? How can they make Augustus send her away? They concoct a plan. They talk to Augustus. They say:
“Since you are the King of Poland, you should have a Polish mistress. We have the right person for you.”
Who is the right person? Her name is Maria Magdalena Dönhoff (Denhoff) (1685-1730).
At first, the plan does not work, but after a while, Augustus decides that the Polish mistress is quite interesting. In 1713, Maria Magdalena is accepted as the new mistress (for six years, until 1719), while Anna is out.
Anna is placed under house arrest in Pillnitz Castle, which Augustus had actually given to her in 1706. But she does not stay long.
In 1715, she manages to escape and she travels to Berlin. But when she gets there, she is arrested by the Prussian police.
The Prussian authorities are prepared to hand her over to Augustus, but they have one condition: Prussian soldiers, who have deserted the Prussian army and who have escaped to Saxony, must be returned to Prussia.
How many deserters?
1,000 deserters for one mistress!
Augustus has a new mistress, who is obedient. He does not want to have more trouble with Anna.
In 1716, she is placed under house arrest in Burg Stolpen. This old castle will be her home for the rest of her life.
In 1733, when Augustus dies, she hopes she will be released. But it does not happen. Why not? Because the son of Augustus does not want to change the policy of his father.
Anna is held as a prisoner in Burg Stolpen for 49 years. In 1765, when she dies, she is 84. Almost 85 years old.
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She had a plan. She made Augustus sign a contract. She did everything she could to secure her future. It seemed like a good plan. But in the end it did not work, because Augustus did not honour the contract which he signed.
He gave her a title, but later he took it back. He gave her an official position, but later he took it back.
As a woman, she had no legal standing. As a woman, she did not have a chance to win a case when her opponent was the elector of Saxony and the King of Poland.
REFERENCES
# 1. Film and video
August der Starke und die Liebe
This docudrama was shown on German television (ZDF) in 2010. It is an episode of the series Die Deutschen (S02, E06). Run time: 43 minutes.
Anna Constantia von Cosel: Aufstieg und Fall einer Mätresse
This docudrama was shown on German television (ARD) in 2026. Run time: 45 minutes
# 2. Items available online
Anna Belfrage,
“The travails of a constant mistress,”
Stolen Moments
10 September 2010
Amy Eloise Kelly,
“Countess Cosel: The imprisoned love of King Augustus II of Saxony,”
History of Royal Women: The Royal Mistress Series
03 April 2021
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The Saxon and Polish politician
Jacob Heinrich von Flemming
(1667-1728)
He advised his master Augustus II der Starke
to get rid of Anna Constantia
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The German-Polish aristocrat
Maria Magdalena Dönhoff
(1685-1730)
She was the mistress of Augustus II der Starke
for six years (1713-1719)
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Burg Stolpen is an old castle located
ca. 27 kilometres east of Dresden.
Anna Constantia von Cosel was held
as a prisoner in this place
for 49 years (1716-1765)
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