Magdalena Stenbock was born to Count Erik Stenbock, a descendant to Queen Catherine Stenbock, and Catharina von Schwerin. In 1667, she married riksråd count Bengt Gabrielsson Oxenstierna, who was appointed Council President in 1680. Her family belonged to the most powerful in Sweden, and she had a strong position at court through her connections: her stepmother Occa Johanna von Riperda served as Mistress of the Robes in 1671-80, her sister, Hedvig Eleonora Stenbock, served as maid of honor to the queen, and her three nieces also served as maid of honors, among them Beata Sparre, who became influential in her own right.
