Abstract

One of the most popular European spas in the latter half of the eighteenth century was Bad Pyrmont. Though the spa is often depicted as a predominantly female space, male monarchs and diplomats were also prominent among Bad Pyrmont’s guests. Taking Carolyn James’ and Glenda Sluga’s statement that ‘Not all diplomatic sociability was about the salon, but all diplomacy still turned around the utility of sociability’ as a point of departure, this article examines the interplay between sociability and diplomacy at the spa, seen through the letters of a Danish noblewoman and wife to aminister from several stays at the spa between 1789 and 1794. Charlotte Schimmelmann, who is also known as a salonnière in Danish historiography, met with diplomats from other European states at the spa. I argue that Charlotte Schimmelmann’s participation in the spa’s sociability and rituals enabled her to interact with political figures and create a network of European contacts. Her role as an informal diplomatic agent and adviser included gathering information in advance of the Danish crown prince’s visit to Bad Pyrmont in 1794, as well as dining with the royals during the visit. Through the experiences of an elite woman, the article demonstrates that the spa was a diplomatic space, and that both men and women participated in its informal, diplomatic sociability.

摘要

十八世纪下半叶欧洲最受欢迎的水疗中心之一是巴特皮尔蒙特。尽管水疗中心经常被描述为主要是女性的空间，但在巴特皮尔蒙特的客人中，男性君主和外交官也很突出。以 Carolyn James 和 Glenda Sluga 的声明“并非所有的外交社交都与沙龙有关，但所有外交仍然围绕社交的效用”作为出发点，本文研究了社交与水疗中心外交之间的相互作用，见1789 年至 1794 年间，一位丹麦贵妇和妻子写信给水疗中心的几次住宿提供服务。 Charlotte Schimmelmann，也被称为沙龙丹麦历史学家，在温泉会见了来自其他欧洲国家的外交官。我认为 Charlotte Schimmelmann 参与水疗中心的社交活动和仪式使她能够与政治人物互动并建立一个欧洲人脉网络。她作为非正式外交代表和顾问的角色包括在丹麦王储于 1794 年访问巴特皮尔蒙特之前收集信息，以及在访问期间与皇室成员共进晚餐。通过一位精英女性的经历，文章表明水疗中心是一个外交空间，男性和女性都参与了其非正式的外交社交活动。