Count von Fersen

Ferson, Hans Axel, Count von. 1755 - 1810

Hans Axel, Count von Fersen, was the son of a Swedish politician. At an early age, Fersen moved to France where he quickly became a favorite of the French court at Versailles. Marie Antoinette, the French queen, even appointed Fersen the commander of a French regiment. This bit of favoritism fueled rumors that Ferson and the queen were actually lovers.

At the height of these rumors, Fersen was sent to America as senior Aide-de-camp to General Rochambeau. He remained with Rochambeau throughout the army's stay in America and distinguished himself as a soldier and leader during the Siege of Yorktown.

In 1782 he returned to France only to find the country on the brink of revolution. Fiercely loyal to Marie Antoinette, Fersen attempted to organize the escape of the French royal family but was unseccessful.

He then traveled to Austria to convince Emperor Leopold to support the French monarchy. Leopold was uninterested in the idea. Desperate and despairing Fersen returned to Paris under a false identity. Risking great danger, he met briefly with the king and queen to discuss counterrevolutionary plans. Despite his great efforts, the monarchy was doomed and both the king and queen were executed.

Without his friends, there was no reason to remain in France, and so Fersen returned to Sweden to establish his own political career. He eventually became the Earl Marshall of Sweden. After the exile King Gustavus IV in 1809, the Swedish nobility divided between Gustavians, who supported his son as heir to the throne, and those who supported the popular Crown Prince August.

This conflict reached its peak when Crown Prince August fell from his horse and died. A later autopsy would reveal a stroke as the cause of death. At the time, however, rumors of poisoning spread across the country. As a leader of the Gustavian political party, Fersen and his sister were seen as prime suspects. Crowds were shocked and angered when Fersen upheld his duty as Earl Marshall and accompanied the funeral procession despite the rumors.

In a fit of grief and anger, a violent mob arose killing Fersen in the street. A few months after his murder, Fersen was proven innocent in the death of Charles August and was formally buried with all the rights afforded to him as the Earl Marshall of Sweden.