Marie Antoinette Sontag: "The uncrowned empress of Korea"

The Russian Legation in Seoul circa 1900 / Robert Neff Collection

By Robert Neff

According to a Korean almanac published in 1895, in the 12th month of the lunar year (Jan. 16 to Feb. 14, 1896):

"The wild goose stands with its face to the north and the magpie builds for itself a nest shelter. The crow of the pheasant is heard on the hillside; hens feed on milk and the lake's stomach becomes solid."

What did this mean? Like horoscopes, the interpretation of the almanac's pearls of wisdom depended upon the perspective, gullibility and need of the reader ― its accuracy varied from reader to reader. It is unlikely, however, that the almanac predicted that on the cold morning of Feb. 11, 1896, the winds of politics in Korea would suddenly change when the monarch and crown prince found refuge in the Russian Legation in Seoul.

Nor did it predict that this was the day when Marie Antoinette Sontag started on the path to becoming "the uncrowned empress of Korea." According to Dr. Sylvia Braesel, during King Gojong's year-long stay at the Russian Legation, he "came to appreciate the nurturing care and cooking skills of Ms. Sontag. She introduced him to such Western conventions as popular at breakfast, and her sweets and pastry creations were highly sought after at the court, gradually replacing the indigenous specialties." Sontag is frequently credited with introducing coffee into Korean society ― although this isn't quite true. King Gojong may have developed a taste for coffee while in the Russian Legation but he undoubtedly was familiar with coffee many years prior as coffee was served to foreign guests at the palace in the 1880s.

As each month passed in the Russian Legation, Sontag's influence over the Korean monarch grew ― not because of her pastries and coffee but for her ability to get things done. Of course, her growing influence did not pass unnoticed nor did it grant her immunity from rumors and exaggerations.

In October 1896 ― a year after the murder/assassination of Queen Min ― rumors began to circulate in Seoul "that a very near relative of Madame Waeber, the wife of the Russian Minister" was to marry the Korean monarch. Sontag was not a "very near relative" but she was more than likely the subject of these rumors. When the editor of the Rising Sun & Nagasaki Express was informed of these rumors, he was ― judging from the tone of his writing ― decidedly skeptical and merely declared it "a curious story certainly."

While King Gojong did not marry the spinster, he did "award her attentions richly with land and with his favor."

In January 1897, Yun Chi-ho, a Korean official, noted in his diary that "His Majesty made his bounties flow as water at the expense of the already starving treasury. He gave 5,000 yen to Sontag who is a great friend of Lady [Eom], the favorite mistress of the king."

The following month, when Gojong and his court left the Russian Legation and took up residence at Deoksu Palace, Sontag was made the "imperial mistress of court ceremonies." At first, this appointment was not well-received by the Korean court ― especially those who profited from the court's extravagances.

In August 1900, Horace N. Allen, the American representative to Korea, attended a breakfast given at the palace in honor of Emperor Gojong's birthday. The breakfast cost, according to Sontag, nearly $2,000 and was followed by dancing girls ― neither Sontag nor Allen elaborated on the latter expensive entertainment.

Soon, however, Sontag's influence (or meddling, depending on your perspective) was apparent at these functions.

Erwin Baelz, a German doctor living in Japan, visited Seoul in April 1903 and was entertained by Sontag at her residence. Baelz described her as "a vigorous woman of about sixty, an Alsatian by birth, who manages the Emperor's European household with a strong hand. She has saved him a great deal of expense. It is said that the cost of an imperial banquet used to be 100 yen per guest and that now for an entertainment on the same scale, the cost is only 16 yen. (This inclusive of champagne and all extras.)"

He also noted that she had "actually planned and supervised the new buildings for the imperial gardens" at the palace but Baelz seemed somewhat unimpressed when he wrote, "architecturally considered, they are not particularly fine."

A month later, Gertrude Bell visited Sontag whom she described as "an old Russian" who "is the King's housekeeper." Despite her familiarity with titles and etiquette, Bell seemed unaware or unwilling to acknowledge Gojong as an emperor. According to Bell, the elderly Russian woman was "enchanted" to see her and told her all about the money she saved for the emperor which was then "thrown out of [the] window tenfold forthwith" by the emperor's wasteful spending.

In 1905, Emma Kroebel (a temporary replacement for Sontag) also described the excesses at the palace claiming "truffle pastries, oysters and caviar have already become something quite ordinary, and French champagne flows here often more abundantly than at similar parties back home."

Sontag had a very good grasp of the Korean language as well as palace politics. She watched and controlled everything. According to Kroebel:

"She sits in state, concealed from the eyes of the guests behind a traditional Korean screen or an ornate curtain, from which point she controls everything. A nod from her suffices to mobilize the entire retinue of imperial servants whose assistance is usually offered on such occasions."

It was Kroebel who declared Sontag to be the "uncrowned Empress of Korea." And, like the Korean emperor, Sontag appreciated the finest things in life ― she could afford them. In March 1898, it was reported she owned several buildings in Seoul. Later visitors remarked that her home was filled with gifts from the emperor, valuable ancient pottery, artifacts and her dinner table was filled with delicacies.

She was also quite generous. Elizabeth Greathouse ― who was of similar age to Sontag ― was a frequent benefactor of this generosity. In her diary, Greathouse wrote:

"Ms. Sontag sent me a nice box of Russian candy a day or so ago, and now comes such a nice small foreign cake and a very fine old bottle of brandy celebrated for its value for invalids, to strengthen and aid a weak person, am recommended to use a small portion three times a day, till I feel some good effects from it, then [my son] will supply me with more of the same kind."

Judging from her diaries, Greathouse was frequently invalid and sought strength in "very fine old bottle[s] of brandy" as well as Korean "makgeolli," which was given to her by the priests in the temples outside of Seoul.

Not only was Sontag affluent but she also possessed great political power. According to Braesel:

"Sontag was kept informed about the predilections of the imperial family as well as the moods of powerful ministers, the continued court intrigues and cabals ― and thus was herself an important source if one attained her favor."

It was her role in politics (Korean and international) that would eventually cause the "uncrowned empress of Korea" to leave the peninsula ― which we will examine in the next article.

I would like to thank Dr. Sylvia Braesel for her invaluable assistance and for her article:

"Marie Antoinette Sontag (1838-1922) 'Uncrowned Empress of Korea,'" Transactions, Royal Asiatic Society, Korea Branch, Vol. 89, 2014.

Dr. Braesel's book, "Photos of a diplomatic life between Europe and East Asia: Carl von Waeber (1841-1910)," is now being translated and should be published in Seoul within a couple of months.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.