Sophia von Mengden (c. 1760 — 1848) was a major Baltic German landowner.

Born Sophie Elisabeth von Plettenberg,[1] she was the daughter of George Friedrich von Plettenberg and Elisabeth Benigna von Hohen-Astenberg. In 1779 she married Gotthard Johann von Mengden [de] (1752 — 1786).[2]

After the death of her spouse, she became a major landholder with residence in Mitau. She is regarded to have been one of the more significant landowners in Latvia of her time. She moved to London in 1813.[3][4]

Even before abolition of serfdom in Livonia in 1816, in her capacity as the owner of Linde Manor Sophia von Mengden published three law books for her people, namely, "Duties, Works and Hearings of Linde and Birzgale Parishes" (1796), "Soldiers 'or Recruits' Messli" (1805) and "Linde and Birzgale Farmer's or Parish Court" (1805).[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Will of The Right Honorable Sophie Elisabeth Von Plettenberg or Countess Von Mengden, Dowager of The Hague , Holland The National Archives Kew, Richmond
  2. ^ Victoria Joan Moessner The Diaries of Hermann Ludwig von Lowenstern: 1793 to 1803 and 1806 to 1815 Page Publishing, Inc. 471 pages, 2020 ASIN B08NFM4R4W
  3. ^ "BBLD - Mengden, Sophia Elisabeth Gfn. v., geb. v. Plettenberg". bbld.de. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Von Mengden nr 198 - Adelsvapen-Wiki". Adelsvapen.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  5. ^ Arveds Švābe. Rights of Kurzeme Manor (1931)