Caroline Jagemann

Jagemann, Caroline (Weimar, 1777-1848, Dresden), a noted actress and singer, was trained in Mannheim under Iffland. In 1797 she was engaged for the Weimar Court Theatre under Goethe's direction, and quickly became the leading actress. She also became, in an equally short time, the mistress of Duke Karl August, who granted her the style Frau von Heygendorff. Goethe praised her abilities in generous terms (‘Sie war auf den Brettern wie geboren und gleich in allem sicher und gewandt und fertig, wie die Ente auf dem Wasser’), but her assertive personality brought her into conflict with him. In 1808 her intrigues induced Goethe to offer his resignation, and in 1817 she succeeded, through her influence with the Duke, in forcing Goethe's departure from the theatre. She remained the Duke's mistress for thirty years, leaving Weimar after his death in 1828. Her greatest strength was in opera, but she created the roles of Thekla in Wallenstein and Elisabeth in Maria Stuart.