Friederike von Reden

Friederike von Reden (1774–1854), was a German noblewoman, philanthropist and salon-holder. She is known as the Mutter des Hirschberger Tales.

Portrait of Friederike von Reden

Early life

She was born as the daughter of Baron Friedrich Adolf Richard Riedesel zu Eisenbach (1738–1800) and his wife, Friederike Charlotte Louise von Massow (1746–1808).^[1]

Biography

She married minister Friedrich Wilhelm von Reden in 1802. After being widowed in 1815, she became a significant philanthropist. She founded the bible society Buchwalder Bibelgesellschaft, whose president she was. She founded a number of charitable societies active in Silesia. She also hosted a literary salon in her home, Schloss Buchwald [pl], which became a center of the Silesian aristocracy.