Queens through the Swedish history

Sigrid storråda (end of 10^thcentury)

According to Saxo and the Icelandic sagas Sigrid Storråda was the daughter of Skogla Torste and the wife of King Erik Segersäll. About the year of 990 she was rejected by her husband and she returned to her properties in Västergötland.

In 995 she became a widow (At this time she was about thirty five years old). The following years two men, Harald Grenske (A small king from Norway) and Vsevolod (A small king from Russia) proposed to her. Sigrid didn't think much of them and therefore decided to teach her admirer a lesson. It's said that she drunk both of the men under the table, put them in a house, locked the door and set it on fire. Needless to say this deed had a somewhat cooling effect on her admirers and soon she got married to a more noble man, Olav Tryggvasson of Norway.

However, this marriage didn't last very long as she didn't accept the christian faith. According to the tradition the marriage come to an end due to a box on the ear (Is this really the right word for it?), something which Olav soon would regret deeply.

Sigrid soon got married to Sven Tveskägg of Denmark and to get revenge on Olav she talked her husband, son and Olof (later to be called Olof Skötkonung into a war against the king of norway. As a result Olav Tryggvasson was killed at the batle of Svolder.

There is some dispute over the existence of Sigrid. Some historians says that she is only a myth from the Icelandic sagas. Instead Erik Segersäll was supposed to have married a Slavonic Princess named Gunhild which later married Sven Tveskägg.

Estrid

According to the old tales Estrid is said to have married Erik Segersälls son Olof Skötkonung in the 11:th century. We do not know anything about her family or where she came, but we can, on good grounds, assume that she was the daughter of a Obotrik prince and native of Mecklenburg. About 1007 she gave birth to the son Anund Jakob which was to become King of Sweden. In 1022 she became a widow.

Gyda

An unknown faktor in the history of swedish queens. Either she was married to, or the daughter of, King Anund Jakob.

Astrid

Astrid was a widow after Ragnvald Ulfsson (from Skara). According to some sources she was married to Emund Gamle (in 1040), which in turn was a half brother to Anund Jakob.

Ingamodher

Ingamodher was the oldest child to Emund Gamle and Astrid. At the end of 1050 she married Stenkil which was Jarl of Västergötland. From 1061 and forward he was also the king of Sweden.

Elin of Skövde (Sankta Helena)

Elin was of noble lineage. She became a widow in early years remained unmarried after this. According to the legend she was innocently accused of having tried to murder her son in law, Björn Järnsida. As a result of this she was killed by his friends at Götene kyrka in 1135. As she was killed despite the fact that she was innocent, she was declared a saint. According to some resources she was married to Inge den äldre.

Ingegerd Haradsdotter

Ingegerd is the first swedish queen which with certainty is known to have existed. She was the daughter to Harald Hårdråde of Norway. Her first marriage was with Olof Svensson Hunger of Denmark. She was therefore queen of Denmark in the period of 1086-95. After the death of her husband she got married to Hallstens oldest son Filip which was elected to King of Sweden 1110. Ingegerd died in the year of 1120.

Ragnhild (Sankta Ragnhild)

Ragnhild was probably married to king Inge dy. In 1110 she got on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. She died when she reached home and she was burried in Tälje (nowadays Södertälje) and became the patron of this town.

Ingegerd Av Reval

Ingegerd is one of the swedish queens that we know very little about. One source states that she could have been married to king Ragnvald Knaphövde. If this was the case she couldn't have been the queen of sweden for more than one day as the king was murdered on his Eriksgata.

Ulfhild

Ulfhild was the daughter of the norwegian Jarl Håkon Finnsson. She married (in 1117) Inge dy. She tricked Inge to poision his brother (Filip and Inge ruled Sweden together) and after that she poisoned Inge himself.

1130 she remarried, this time to king Nils of Denmark. Soon thereafter he died under mysterious circumstances. She returned to Sweden, and married Sverker dä. Ulfhild died a natural death 1148 (about fifty years old). 1143 She founded Alvastra and Nydala kloster.

Rikissa

Rikissa was the daughter of king Boleslav III of Poland. She was married three times, first with Magnus den Starke of Sweden, the second time with Prince Volodar Gljebovitj of Minsk and the third time with king Sverker dä of Sweden. With Sverker she got the son Burislev. She is said to have been a woman of unusual beauty.

Kristina

Kristina was the daughter of prince Björn Järnsida of Denmark. According to the 'knystlinga saga' Kristina was was married to Erik den helige. They had four children, of which Knut become the king of Sweden. According to another tale Erik was married to the daughter of Prince Izizlaus of Russia. Kristina became a widow in 1160 when her husband was killed in a battle at the trefaldighetskyrkan in Västra Aros (Uppsala). She died in 1170.

Kristina Stigsdotter

Stigsdotter was the daughter of the danish magnate Stig Hvidalade and duke Knut Lavards daughter Margareta. According to Knytlingasagan Kristina was married to king Karl Sverkersson. Saxo mentions that Jarl Guttorm fetched Kristina to Sweden 1163. She gave birth to the son Sverker which later would become the king of Sweden.

Benedikta (Bengta)

Benedikta belonged to a Själländsk family of magnates and was the daughter to marsken Ebbe Sunesson Hvide. In the beginning of the 1180:th she got married to Sverker Karlsson which become king 1196. She died only 35 years old.

Ingegerd Birgersdotter

She was the daughter of one of the most powerfull nonroyal men in Swedish history, riksjarlen Birger Brosa. He was the grandson of the oldest known member of the folkunga family. Somewhere around 1200 Ingegerd was married to Sverker Karlsson and she gave him the son Johan. 1210 she tried to make peace in a argue between the king and some members of the folkunga family. She failed and the result was the battle of Gestilren 1210. Here Sverker was killed. Ingegerd died 1230.

Rikissa

Rikissa was the daughter of Valdemar I of Denmark and the sister of Valdemar Sejr. She was married to Erik Knutsson the first king to be crowned in Sweden. At the time of the death of Erik she bore the son (surprise!) Erik. She died in 1220 only 30 years old. She was buried in S:t Bents church in Ringsted.

Katarina Sunesdotter

Katarina was the daughter of the Jarl Sune Folkesson and the princess Elin. 1244 she married king Erik läspe och halte. The marriage didn't result in any children. Katarina became a widow in the year 1250. She died in Gudhems kloster, 1252.

Helena Pedersdotter

Helena was the daughter of the landowner and member of the national counsel Peder Strange. About 1229 she was married to Knut Holmgersson Långe and become thereby the queen of Sweden. Knut died 1234 and Helena got remarried to the knight Filip Larsson of Runby. She died in 1255.

Sofia

Sofia was the daughter of Erik Plogpenning of Denmark and Jutta of Sachsen. 1260 she was married to Valdemar Birgersson which was the oldest son of Birger Jarl and the sister of Erik den läspe och halte.

1272 Valdemar took Jutta as his mistress and she became pregnant, something which caused lot of grief in the royal family. To make amends for his deceit he went on a pilgrimage to Rome. 1275 he was forced to abdicate and two years later Sofia returned to Denmark where she died 1286.

Helvig Av Holstein

Helvig was the daughter of Count Gerhard I of Holstein and was married to Magnus Ladulås in 1275. 1280 Helvig staid in a kloster while a battle between the king and some rebellious great men went on outside. The following year she was crowned at Söderköping and in 1290 she became a widow. She died 1324 at the age of 70. She outlived her three sons, Birger, Erik and Valdemar.

Märta av Danmark

Märta was the daughter of Erik Klipping of Denmark and Agnes av Brandenburg. In the year 1298 she was married to king Birger Magnusson of Sweden and gave birth to the son Magnus. She was crowned in Söderköping 1302.

In connection with Håltuna leken 1306, when the king was taken prisoner by his brothers the dukes Erik and Valdemar, Märta was thrown in to prison. The seven year old crown prince was taken to the queens brother, the king of Denmark. Prince Magnus returned to Sweden after Nyköpings Gästabud 1317 (where king Birger imprisoned his brothers at Nyköpingshus). According to Eriksskrönikan the man (or rather, woman) behind this was Märta. 1318 Märta fled to Denmark. Her son was executed two years later. She became a widow in 1321 and died 1341.

Blanche av Namur (Blanka)

Blanka was the daughter of count Jean I of Namur. In 1335 she married Magnus Eriksson, a happy marriage. She gave birth to two sons Erik and Håkan. In the end of the 1350 Blanka and her oldest son Erik disagreed about how things should be run as he got increasingly hungry for power.

When Erik later on was killed by the plague along with his family, Blanka was accused of murder on her own son. She was also accused of being unfaithfull to her husband. One of her stronger enemeies was the holy Birgitta.

The reason why this women was accused of this crime i still in darkness, but some evidence indicates that the accusations was the result of envy. Blanka was a woman of great beauty and intelligence. She was also a very powerfull woman as she knew how to use her wits and other assets to get what she wanted. She died in 1360.

Beatrix av Brandenburg

Beatrix was the daughter of the count Ludvig av Brandenburg. Ludvig was the son of kaiser Ludvig Bayraren and Margareta of Denmark. 1356 Beatrix married Erik Magnusson, but her marriage was shortlived. She died in 1359 in the plague.

Ricardis of Schwerin

Ricardis was the daughter of count Otto of Schwerin. 1365 she married Albrekt of Mecklenburg and got two children, Erik and Ricardis. Ricardis died in 1377.

Margareta

Margareta was the daugther of Valdemar Atterdag and his wife Helvig. 1359 She was betrothed (only six year old!) to king Håkan of Norway which was the son of Magnus Eriksson.

Håkan was elected king of sweden in 1362 and the following year he married Margareta. 1365 King håkan was forced to abdicate and leave room for Albrekt of Mecklenburg. Albrekt was in turn defeated by Troops loyal to Margareta at the battle of Falköping 1389. Margareta then became the ruler of Sweden. The Kalmar Union was signed 1397. She then died of the plague in 1412.

Filippa of England

Filippa was the daughter of prince Henrik of Bolingbroke (later on king Henrik IV of England) and Maria Bohun. 1406 she was betrothed (only 13 years old) to Erik of Pommern which was a sisters-daughters-son to Margareta. Doing so she became the queen of the union Sweden, Norway and Denmark. She was crowned in 1412. Filippa is said to have possessed several qualitys which made her very suitable as a queen. Among other things she was very wise and knew how to rule with both force and intelligence. Something which Filippa showed when her husband went abroad for several years. She was also the leader of the defence of Köpenhamn (Copenhagen) against a Hansa fleet in 1428.

She is also said to have been compassionate to the poorer people in society and she did what she could do to help them in their poverty.

Dorotea of Hohenzollern-Brandenburg

Dorotea was the daughter of the count Hans of Brandenburg. She was betrothed to Kristofer of Bayern (king over the union Sweden, Denmark and Norway). She hade the countys Örebro, Närke and Värmland as a morning gift. 1448 she became a widow. Only one year later she got married to Kristian I of Denmark. As she got married the swedish counsel refused her the right to her countys. When Kristian was elected king over the union she was reinstated as the ruler of the above mentioned countys. But after five years they withdrew their permission.

As a result she filed a complaint and began the legal process of trying to get her properties back. During her work she even managed to get Sten Sture dä banished by the Pope Sixtus IV in the year 1481. When she was widowed for the second time she managed to get the countys of Schleswig-Holstein insted of the ones she lost in Sweden.

With her second husband she got two sons, Hans and Fredrik and one daughter, Margareta. Dorotea died in 1495.

Katarina Gumsehuvud

Katarina was the duaghter of Karl Ormson Gumsehuvud (member of the national counsel). 1438 she got married to the constable of the realm Karl Knutsson Bonde which the same year reached the title regent. 1448 Karl Knutsson Bonde was elected to king of Sweden, Katarina then became Queen of Sweden. Two years later she died and she was buried in the church of Vadstena.

Ingeborg Tott

Ingeborg was the daughter of �ke Axelsson Tott (member of hte danish national counsel). 1467 she got married to Sten Sture d„ which was elected regent after Karl Knutsson Bondes death. 1497 Sten sture retired and left room for king Hans. Ingeborg died childless 1503 (Sten sture got illegitimate daughter with the name Birgitta).

Kristina of Kur-Sachsen

Kristina was the daughter of the elector Ernst of Sachsen. 1478 she got married to Kristian I oldest son Hans which became king of Denmark in 1481, King of Norway in 1483 and last but not least king of Sweden 1497. 1499 Kristina was crowned i the minster of Uppsala.

Her most famous deed is the heroic defense of Stockholm against the swedish attacks (remember, this was during the breakup period of the union!). She managed to withstand the attacks from Oct. 1501 to May 1502 when she had to give up due to lack of food and other supplies. After the surrender she was held captive for one and a half year.

Beside this accomplishment she was big patron of literatur, art and she also founded several franciscan monasteries.

She became a widow in 1513 and she died in 1521.

Mätta Ivarsdotter

Mätta was the daughter of the danish knight Iver Jenson Dyre. Her first marriage was with Ander Von Bergen (member of the Norwegian national counsel). Her second Marriage was with Knut Alfsson (Member of the norwegian national counsel). 1502 She became a widow for the second time. She met her third husband, Svante Nilsson Sture, at Stegeborgs Castle. She married 1504 and she got Hörningsholm as her morning gift.

Mätta soon became an influential power in the national counsel. In important questions the great men rather went to her than to her husband. As allways when someone is influental and powerfull they get enemies of equal rank. Among them where here step son Sten Sture dy shich did what he could to take Hörningholm away from her.

Mätta became a widow in 1512 and 1516 she returned to Denmark where she died in 1527.

Kristina Gyllenstierna

Kristina was the daughter of Nils Eriksson Gyllenstierna (member of the swedish national counsel). Originally she intendes to marry Nils Gädda, but he died in 1508 and instead she married with Sten Sture dy. They married in 1511 and Sten Sture was elected regent the following year.

From the age of 21 she took part in the national counsel and showed a remarkable knoledge and maturity . She became a widow in 1520 (only 26 years old) as Sten sture died of the damages he had got at the battle of Bogesund.

In may the same year she manned the Stockholm and defended Stockholm, with success, against the danish troops under command of Kristian II.

In September she had to capitulate and surrendered Stockholm to the Danish king. This was the beginning of the infamous 'Stockholms blodbad'. She was imprisoned at Stockholm Castle where she staid until Nov. 1521 when she was brought to Denmark. 1524 she could return to sweden, country which now where ruled by the swedish king Gustav Vasa.

In order to try her luck once more as ruler of Sweden she had a rather reserved attitude towards this king, which happened to be the son of her half sister Cecilia of Eka, a fact that meant that the Sture family no longer ruled Sweden.

In 1525 a settlement was done between Kristina and Vasa and Kristina no longer took part in the ruling of sweden. She married Johan Turesson Tre Rosor (a member of the national counsel) in 1527. He died in 1566. In total she had two sons: Svante (with Sten Sture as father) and Gustaf (With Johan as father). In Januari 1559 she died at hörningholms castle.

Elisabet av Habsburg

Elisabet was the daughter of Filip of Kastillien and his wife Johanna of Aragonien.

In 1514 Elisabet was betrothed to the king Kristina II of Denmark-Norway and she was crowned the following year. 1520 she got to stockholm where she was crowned to queen of Sweden in Stockholm Cathedral. Her status as queen of sweden was shortlived as Kristian (in sweden called Kristian Tyrann) was overthrown the following year by king Gustav Vasa. He was also forced to abdicate from the throne of Denmark two years later.

Elisabet was a loyal and faithfull wife (despite the fact that Kristian had a mistress) and followed her husband in exile to Holland. Elisabet died in Gent 1526.

Katarina of Sachsen-Lauenburg

Katarina was the daughter of the duke Magnus I of Sachsen-Lauenburg och Katarina of Braunschweig-Wolfenböttel. She married Gustav Vasa in Sept. 1531. She died 1535, according to a rumour she was killed by her somewhat aggressive husband. The marriage was of a strictly political nature, as her husband he had strong friends in her father and mother.

Katarina gave birth to Erik and she was burried in uppsala minster.

Margareta Leijonhufvud

Margareta was the daughter of Erik Abrahamsson Leijonhufvud (which was killed in Stockholms blodbad, 1520). 1536 she married Gustav Vasa. With him she bore ten children in a marriage which is considered happy. She became the mother of two kings, Johan III and Karl IX. She died in 1551.

Katarina Stenbock

Daughter of Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock (Member of the national Counsel) and Britta LeijonHufvud (sister to queen Margareta). Katarina got married in 1552 (just about 16 years old) to Gustav Vasa (37 years older). She was thereby forced to leave her fiance Gustaf Johansson Tre Rosor.

As she was so young and of close family the catholic church didn't want the marriage to go through. The Archbishop refused to marry the couple. The marriage was therefor condutecd by the bishop in Linköping. The marriage was on the hole a happy oe, allthough childless.

As a morning gift Katarina received the castle of Strömsholm. She died 1621 at the age of 86. She was burried in the minster of uppsala.

Karin Månsdotter

Karin was the daughter of soldier with the name Måns. In early age she became an orphan and at the age of 14 she started to work for Gert Cantor which was Hovmusicus. 1565 she became chambermaid for king Erik:s half sister Elisabet and nursed her child, Agda Persdotter.

The following year Karin gave birth to Eriks Daughter Sigrid. As his ambition to marry a lady from the more noble classes of society had failed he got a permission to get his bride from any class of society. 1567 Karin and Erik married and the counsel had to fac the facts and acknowledge the marriage. The following summer Karin was crowned. Shortly afterwards Erik was rejected from the throne and was imprisoned, first the royal castle in Stockholm and thereafter in åbo, Kastellholm and Gripsholm castle.

From the summer of 1573 to her death she lived at the demesne of the crown of Liuksiala (east of Tammerfors). At the death of her husband she received this county as a gift.

Karin gave birth to four children, Sigrid, Gustav, Henrik and Arnold. She died in 1612 and was burried in åbo Cathedral.

Katarina Jagellonica

Katarina was the daughter of Sigismund I of Poland and his wife Bona Sforza. in 1562 Katarina and the duke Johan (Brother to king Erik) got marrid, a marriage which was not blessed by king Erik. As a result Johan and katarina was thrown in to jail (well, that depends on point of view I guess) at Gripsholms Castle. During their prison period Katarina gave birth to Isabella and Sigismund.

King Eriks reaction to the marriage is a bit of a mystery as the need for tighter connections with Poland was of a great importance. Even Gustav Vasa thought about this in his time.

1566 Tsar Ivan in Russia demanded that Katarina Jagellonica would be extradited to him. King Erik liked the idea but As he was forced to abdicate in 1568 he didn't get the chance to realize the extradiction.

in 1569 Johan was crowned king of Sweden and Katarina Jagellonica was crowned Queen.

As queen Katarina tried to reestablish the catholic church in sweden. As she had good contact with (among other) Cardinal Hosius and her husband was interested in the new reforms which had been carried out in the catholic churc, she made good progress. Her death in 1583 marked the end of the attempt to reestablish the catholic church in Sweden. She was burried in Uppsala Minster.

Gunilla Bielke

Gunilla was the daughter of Johan Axelsson Bielke (member of the national counsel), cousin to Johan III. 1582 Gunilla, 14 years old, became Maid of honour to Katarina Jagellonica. One eyear after the death of Katarina King Johan proposed to Gunilla which said no. As the story said, her heart was with Per Jonsson Liljesparre. But in the end she was convinced by her family that a marriage to a king was far better than a marriage of love...

Unfortunately the royal family considered the marriage to be an misalliance which sharpened the already tense relations between the royal family members. When the wedding was celebrated in Vadstena Castle (Feb. 1585) duke Karl (Johans Brother) refused to come.

Despite her youth Gunilla had a powerfull influence on her husband. In 1590 she spoke before the king for the imprisoned and dismissed members of the national conunsel. In 1597 she became a widow and she died (not yet 30!) in 1597. Duke Johan of Östergötland was her only Child.

Anna of Habsburg -Steiermark

Anna was the daughter of the archduke Karl of Habsburg-Steiermark and Maria av Bayern. In 1592 she married Sigismund of Poland which at the death of Johan III became king of Sweden. Anna was crowned in Uppsala minster 1594. She gave birth to four shildren, Anna, Maria, Katarina, Vladislav (Later king of Poland) and Kristofer. She died only 24 years old 1598 in Krakow.

Kristina av Holstein Gottorp

Kristina was the daughter of duke Adolf of Holstein Gottorp and Kristina av Hessen. In 1592 she married to duke Karl (which was a widower after Maria av Pfalz). 1599 Karl became king of Sweden, but kristina wasn't crowned Queen of Sweden until 1604. The crowning took place in Upssala Minster.

1611 Karl IX died, Katarina thereby became a member of the regency until the son Gustav Adolf could be crowned king of Sweden.

She died in 1625. She got 4 children, Gustav Adolf, Karl Filip, Kristina and Maria Elisabet.

Kristina is said to have been a forcefull and energetic woman. Gustav Adolf had a tremendous respect for his mother and she is probably the reason why Gustav Adolf didn't marry his beloved Ebba Brahe. She is said to have written the famous verse 'Det ena du vill, det andra du skall, så plägar det gå i dylika fall' on Ebbas Bedroom window. The verse is a bit hard to translate but something like this: 'This you want, but that you shall, so is the way in these cases' (Not a professional translation by any means, but hey, I am just an amateur!

Maria Eleonora of Hohenzollern-Brandenburg

Maria was the daughter of the elector Johan Sigismund of Brandenburg and Anna of Preussen. At the orders of the queen dowager, Kristina, Gustav II adolf went to Germany to propose to Maria Eleonora. Her brother Georg Vilhelm, which succeeded his father in 1619 and which in turn stood under the influence of Preussens feudal lord Sigismund of Poland, opposed the marriage. This in turn led Gustav to more or less abduct the future queen and she was smuggled out to Sweden from Preussen. Her marriage was declared 25 of Nov. 1620 and she was crowned queen of Sweden three days later.

In 1626 she gave birth to her only child which became adult, the daughter (surprise! Kristina). After the breakout of the war she visited her husband in Germany and was with him at the big banquettes och balls which was held there.

When her husband died she is said to have been very unhappy, and during the rest of her life she preserved the memory of him in amore or less pathetic way. 1636 her parental right to Kristina was taken away from here and she was taken to Gripsholms castle.

1640 she fled to Gotland where she got on board a Danish warship which took her to Denmark. In Denmark she became the guest of Kristian IV at Nyköbing Castle. Her intentions where to go to Germany, but as her brother refused to accept her she didn't reach Brandenburg until her nephew Fredrik Wilhelm, which succeeded his father in 1640, gave his permission in 1644.

But soon she started to long for Sweden again and after the Westfaliska freden she returned. Before she died in 1655 she had endured one last sorrow, her daughters (kristina) abdication from the Swedish Throne. Maria is said to have been beautifull, learned and blessed with an interest in the noble arts. She was burried in Riddarholmskyrkan.

Kristina

Kristina was the daughter of Gustav II Adolf and Maria Eleonora of Hohenzollern-Brandenburg. She saw her father for the last time in 1630 when she was four years old. Two years later at the age of 6 she became queen of Sweden. The regency was led by Axel Oxenstierna (which is famous for have quoted the classical truth: My son, if you only knew with how litle knowledge this world is run...). In 1644 she was declared legally competent and she was now the ruler of the kingdom.

As time went by Axel Oxenstierna and Kristina went farther and farther apart until they brooke completely. She now choosed her own aqquintances and began to get her own favourites and she started to lead a splendid life at the courtiers. She invited guest from near and far. Allthough her political life left much to be desired, she did take in a lot of external influences from scientist, famous writers and the like.

As she grew older she showed more and more dislike at the thought of marrying. She had been bethrotted to count Karl Gustav of Pfalz since her youth but when he proposed to her she refused.

But in 1649 Karl Gustav got his revenge, he was offered the throne after Kristina. This as she leaned more and more to the catholic faith rather than the lutheran. One of the persons which is said to have influenced her in this respect was the famous philosopher Descartes which had been her guest for som time. In 1652 she received jesuitian confessors at the royal castle of Stockholm, which at the time was quite unacceptable.

Her decission to convert to the catholic faith forced her to resign from the throne. She did this in Uppsala, the 6:th of Jun. 1654. The year afte she left for Innsbruck, where she offcially converted to the catholic faith. The same year she went to Rome, where she got a new name: Alexandra, after the pope Alexander VII. She spent 1656 in France and 1660 she visited Sweden. her last visit to Sweden was made in 1667 after which she withdraw to Rome permanently where she founded Accademia Reale. Accademia Reale wa an institution with the mission to purify the Italian Language and for good taste.

Kristina died the 9:th of Apr. 1689. She is burried in S:t Peterchurh in Rome.

Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein Gottorp

Hedvig was the daughter of duke Fredrik III of Holstein Gottorp and Maria Elisabeth of Sachsen. 1654 she got married to King Karl X Gustav of Sweden and she was crowned queen. In 1660 she became a widow and became a member of the regency for her son, king Karl XI.

She saw her son grew up, and die, and she also became a member in the regency for her grandchild, King Karl XII. She died the 24:th Nov. 1715, 79 years old.

Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark

Ulrika was the daughter of Fredrik III of Denmark and Sofie Amalie of Lünenburg. 1675 Karl IX asked for her hand for the first time. When the war against Denmark broke out, the marriage proposal was (quite naturally!) redrawn, but the princess still considered herself betrothed to the swedish king and she refused to discuss any other suggestions.

At he peace negotiations in Lund 1679 the question of marriage was raised again, and the following year the wedding was celebrated at Skottorps herrgård.

Ulrika Eleonora gave birth to seven children, Hedvig Sofia, Karl, Gustav, Ulrik, Frederik, Karl Gustav och Ulrika. Of these seven children only three survived to to become adults.

1693 the queen died, 37 years old, at Karlbergs castle.

Ulrika Eleonora is said to have been a wise, wellbalanced person. She was interested in the noble arts, and she was very religious. She founded Kungsholmens poorhouse, Drottningshuset at Johannes Church and a house for orphans in Karlberg.

The relationsship between Karl XI and Ulrika was to begin with rather tense. The kings natural shyness is considered to have much to do with this. After a while the marriage turned out to be a happy one. Karl XI showed her confidence by giving her a place in a regency if he where to die. After her death he is said to have morned greatly.

Ulrika Eleonora

Ulrika was the daughter of Karl XI and Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark. When Karl XII was away for two she ruled Sweden between 1712-1713. 1715 she married hereditary prince Fredrik of Hessen. She became Queen at her brothers death in 1718, but in 1720 she resigned her post in honour of her husband.

When Fredrik went abroad 1731 she became the head of the national board. She also headed the national board during Fredriks ilness in 1738.

She died in 1741 on the 25:th Nov. She didnt get any children.

Lovisa Ulrika of Preussen

Lovisa was the duaghter of Fredrik Wilhelm of Preussen and Sofia Dorotea of Hannover. She was also the sister of Fredrik the Great, Bachs friend and patron.

Lovisa was married par procuration in Berlin to Crown prince Adolf Fredrik. The wedding was celebrated the following year at Drottningholms castle.

Lovisa had a dominating role in the royal life at the time and she was famous for her banquettes and balls which had many, in their time, famous personalities as guests.

When Adolf Fredrik became king in 1751 the political life in Sweden was quite unstable as the party in power (hatt partiet) had failed their promises to strengthen the power for the king. As a Result Lovisa started to plan an coup d'état with the newly established 'hovpartiet'. The plans waas discovered in 1756 and the persons involved where executed, except for the queen which got a strong note from the government. In 1771 Adolf Fredrik died. In 1778 Lovisa splitted with her son Gustav III when she spread rumours about whether his son really was his son or not.

She lived her last days more or less alone, and she died in 1782.

Sofia Magdalena of Denmark

Sofia was the duaghter of Frederik V of Denmark and Louise of England. At the age of five (1751) the was bethrotted to the sucessor to the throne in Sweden, Gustav. In 1766 she was married par procuration with Gustav at Christiansborg in Köpenhamn. After Adolf Fredriks death 1771 Gustav III became King of Sweden and the following year Sofia was crowned to queen.

1778 She gave birth to Gustav Adolf, successor to the throne. 1792 she became a widow when her husband was murdered.

As a widow she lived a withdrawn life and spent much effort on charity. She was also forced to se her son king Gustav IV Adolf resign his crown before she died 1813 at 21:st of Aug.

Sofia Magdalena of Denmark

Sofia was the duaghter of Frederik V of Denmark and Louise of England. At the age of five (1751) the was bethrotted to the sucessor to the throne in Sweden, Gustav. In 1766 she was married par procuration with Gustav at Christiansborg in Köpenhamn. After Adolf Fredriks death 1771 Gustav III became King of Sweden and the following year Sofia was crowned to queen.

1778 She gave birth to Gustav Adolf, successor to the throne. 1792 she became a widow when her husband was murdered.

As a widow she lived a withdrawn life and spent much effort on charity. She was also forced to se her son king Gustav IV Adolf resign his crown before she died 1813 at 21:st of Aug.

Fredrika Dorotea Vihelmina of Baden

Fredrika was the daughter of hereditary prince Karl Ludvig of Baden and Amalia Fredrika of Hessen-Darmstadt. 1797 she married Gustav IV Adolf par procuration in Stralsund. The relationship between man and wife was to begin with rather chilly. But after a trip abroad between 1803 and 1805 it's said to have lightened up considerably.

After her husbands dethroning she shared his imprisonment and she followed him in exile. In 1812 the marriage was dissolved. The rumour that Fredrika the same year had married in a so called 'morganatiskt' marriage with a Swiss with the name de Polier is not confirmed.

Lovisa died 183 on the 25:th of Nov. on a trip to Italy.

Hedvig Elisabet Charlotta of Holstein-Gottorp

Hedvig was the daughter of the prince bishop of Lübeck, duke Fredrik August of Holstein-gottorp, and Ulrika Fredrika of Hessen-Kasseln.

On initiativ of Gustav III she was married to the kings brother, duke Karl. In 1809 Karl XIII took the throne the year after the royal family adopted Jean Baptist Bernadotte (to the dismay of the queen, as she wanted Gustav IV Adolf:s son Gustav as a king).

She became a Widow in 1818 and died the same year at Rosensbergs Castle. The marriage between Karl XIII and Charlotta was not a happy one, mostly because Karl (as most of his predecessors) had many mistresses.

It'said that Charlotta was of good character. She was gifted as a writer and her memoars is considered to be of top quality.

Desideria (Désirée Clary)

Desideria was the daughter to the merchant Francois Clary and Rose somis. 1794 Desideria got engaged with Napoleon Bonarparte. Two years later the engagement was broken by Napoleon and Desideria became fiance to general Duphot (Something which she later on denied!). Duphot got killed in a street fight and on the summer 1798 Désirée got married to Jean Baptiset Bernadotte. After a brilliant career (as well in the army as in the civilian life) Bernadotte was brought to Sweden to become king.

Désirée became crownprincess. In 1811, 9:th Jan. she arrived to Sweden, but as she disliked the cold weather in Sweden she soon returned to France.

She became queen of Sweden in 1818, ut she didn't go to Sweden until 1823. She was crowned 1829 and became a widow in 1844. She lived her last year of her life in a withdrawn and isolated way. Many times she stried to get back to Paris. In 1853 she came as far as Karlskrona, where she regretted her decision and went back to Stockholm. In 1860, 17:th of Dec. she died 83 years old at Stockholms Castle after a visit to the opera.

Josefina of Leuchtenberg

Josefina was the daughter of prince Eugéne de Beauharnais, vice king of Italy and Augusta Amalia of Bayern.

1822 she was bethrotted to Crownprince Oscar of Sweden and Norway in Eichstedt, Germany. The following year she married him par porcuration in München. Soon thereafter Josefina wnet to Stockholm to get crowned queen of Sweden and Norway.

Josefina became a widow in 1859 and she died in 1876, 7:th of Jun.

She founded Josefina hemmet (for nursing of poor and handicapped in the catholic church), the institution for nursing of the 'defenseless and fallen', the institution for education of women and the society for 'tender and moral maternity wellfare'. She got five children, Carl, Gustaf, Oscar, Eugénie and August. The marriage between Josefina and Oscar seems to have beeen a bit stormy now and then as Oscar had his mistress Emilie Hägqvist.

Lovisa of Nederländerna

Lovisa was the daughter of prince Fredrik of Nederländerna and Louise of Preussen. 1850 she married with crownprince Carl of Sweden and Norway. At Oscar I:s death in 1859 Carl and Lovisa became King and queen of Sweden. The following year Lovisa was crowned queen in Stockholm and Trondheim.

Lovisa died in 1871 at the 30:th of Mar. As she was a woman of the people in heart and she was patron of the poor she was much loved by the people.

She founded and protected crownprincess Lovisas hospital for children, femöresföreningen (a society meant to found childrens homes in the north part of the country), Lotten Wennbergs fond, Queen Lovisas understödsförening, Allmänna institutet för dövstumma och blinda, tysta skolan, and many, many more institutions. She also founded similar institutions in Norway.

Sofia of Nassau

Sofia was the daughter of duke Wilhelm of Nassau and Pauline of Württemberg, The 6:th of Jun. 1857 she married in Biebrich with Crownprince Oscar of Sweden. 1872 she became queen of Sweden and Norway whereafter the crowning took place the following year.

Queen Sofia was strong person with religious interest. 1877 she went under a large operation which forced her to withdraw from the public life for some time. 1907 she became a widow and 1913 she died on the 30:th Dec. at Stockholms castle.

She spent a lot of effort on charity, she founded 'hemmet för frigivna kvinnor', Sophiahemmet and Kung Oscars och Sofias Guldbröllopshem. She got four children, the sons Gustaf, Oscar, Carl and Eugen.

Victoria of Baden

Victoria was the daughter of great duke of Fredrik of Baden. and Louise of Preussen. 1881 she married crownprince Gustaf of Sweden in Karlsruhe. At Oscar II death 1907 Gustav V and Victoria king and queen of Sweden.

As she had a poor health she often had to get out of Stockholm. 1906-1919 she lived three to four months each year at Solliden, Öland. After 1919 she spent long periods on Capri. During the first worldwar she once was at the castle in Karlsruhe when it was attacked by french bombers.

At the end of the war she was forced to flee Karlsruhe and eventually she ended up at the castle of Mainau which she became the owner of after her parents deaths. 1919 She returned to Sweden where she kept herself occupied by her interest in art and literature.

1926 she moved to Villa Svezia in Rome where she died in 1931. Queen Victoria was a talented person in art and Literature ad she hade a high work moral. At the breakout of war 1914 she founded the queen vicotira centralkommité in order to organize the work to help the suffering people. She also founded Drottning Victorias Vilohem near soliden. She worked for the red cross and for the defense of Sweden.

She gave birth to three sons: Gustaf Adolf, Vilhelm and Erik.

Silvia

Daughter to the German Businessman Walther Sommerlath and his wife Alice (born de toledo). 1976 at the 19:th of Jun. she got married to King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Silvia has given birth to three children, Victoria Ingrid Alice Désirée (crownprincess, Dutchess of Västergötland, date of birth: 14:th Jul. 1977), Carl Philip Edmund Bertil (Prince of Sweden, Duke of Värmland, date of birth: 13:th May. 1979) and Madeleine Thérése Amelie Josephine (princess of Sweden, dutchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, date of birth: 10:th Jun. 1982).

frazze@ludd.luth.se