Hedwig of Holstein

Queen consort of Sweden

Hedwig of Holstein

Queen Hedwig on a seal

Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure| 1276–1290
Coronation| 29 June 1281

Born| c. 1259
Died| c. 1325 (age c. 65-66)
Burial|

Riddarholm Church

Spouse| Magnus III of Sweden
Issue| Ingeborg, Queen of Denmark
Birger, King of Sweden
Eric, Duke of Sudermannia
Valdemar, Duke of Finland
Richeza Magnusdotter
House| House of Schauenburg
Father| Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe
Mother| Elisabeth of Mecklenburg

Hedwig of Holstein[1] or Helvig[2][3][4][5][6](Swedish: Helvig,[7] German: Helwig) (c. 1259 – c. 1325) was Queen of Sweden as the consort of King Magnus III Barnlock. Her parents were Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe (died 1290) and Elisabeth of Mecklenburg (died 1280).

## Biography[edit]

Hedwig's years of birth and death are only approximately known.[8] She married King Magnus III in 1276, and was granted the fief of Dåvö in Munktorp in Västmanland. Magnus succeeded in preventing a Danish-Holstein alliance by marrying her. However, he had obtained a dispensation for their marriage only after the wedding.[9]

Her father was captured during the Folkunge party revolt (Folkungaupproret) by rebellious noblemen in Skara in 1278 and the queen was also targeted. The actions of the rebels were well timed; they coincided with her journey through Sweden. She sought refuge in the convent in the city.[10]

Hedwig was crowned Queen of Sweden in the city of Söderköping on 29 June 1281; this is the first confirmed coronation of a queen consort in Sweden. It included the prayers for her fertility, which was the matter of great importance.[11] She founded the Greyfriars convent (Gråmunkekloster) in Stockholm and several other churches and convents. As a queen, however, she is not very much heard of, despite the fact that she held the position for fourteen years, she lived a discreet life, both as a queen and as a dowager queen. She took a prominent part in processions which accompanied the inauguration of bishops, celebrations of a feast day and the installation of relics, such as the Mass for Saint Erik in 1277.[12]

After the death of her spouse in 1290, Hedwig acted as one of the executors of the will of the King. In 1291, she withdrew to her estate Dåvö in Västmanland. She is not known to have taken any political role, formal or informal, during or after the reign of her spouse. She was described as a noble, loyal and peace-loving mother figure, tormented by the conflicts between her sons. She acted as a foster mother for her son's future bride, Martha of Denmark, who spent a lot of her childhood in Sweden as the future Queen of Sweden after 1290. In 1302, she was present at the coronation of her son.

As dowager queen, she governed Fjärdhundraland, which was given to her as dower.[13]

Queen Hedwig is buried in Riddarholm Church in Stockholm, with her husband and her daughter Richeza.

## Issue[edit]

On 11 November 1276, at Kalmar castle, Hedwig married Magnus III Ladulås of Sweden. They had at least three sons and two daughters:[14]

* Ingeborg Magnusdotter of Sweden, born abt. 1279. Married King Eric VI of Denmark, Erik Menved.
* Birger Magnusson, born abt. 1280, king of Sweden.
* Eric Magnusson, Duke of Södermanland in 1302 and Halland etc. c 1305, born abt. 1282. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköpingshus Castle while imprisoned by his brother, King Birger.
* Valdemar Magnusson, Duke of Finland in 1302 and Öland 1310. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköpingshus castle while imprisoned by his brother King Birger.
* Richeza Magnusdotter of Sweden, abbess of the convent of St. Clara at Stockholm. Died after 1347.

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783, p. 390.
2. ^ Lagerqvist & Åberg in Kings and Rulers of Sweden ISBN 91-87064-35-9 pp. 20–21
3. ^ Article in Nordstjernan 2013-12-11
4. ^ Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopedia 1993 p. 108
5. ^ Biographical data Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine from Nordic Academic Press pp. 1&3
6. ^ The Chronicle of Duke Erik:  by Eva Osterberg ISBN 9789185509577 pp. 67, 240, 252, 258 & 260
7. ^ Lars O. Lagerqvist & Nils Åberg in Kings and Rulers of Sweden ISBN 91-87064-35-9, 2002 pp. 20 & 21
8. ^ Centuries of Selfies p. 106
9. ^ Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783, p. 135.
10. ^ Philip Line,[page needed]
11. ^ Philip Line,[page needed]
12. ^ Philip Line,[page needed]
13. ^ Philip Line,[page needed]
14. ^ Philip Line,[page needed]

## References[edit]

* Dick Harrison: Jarlens Sekel, Ordfront Förlag, 2002
* Nordisk Familjebok, Uggleupplagan, band 11, sida 373, Stockholm 1909
* Åke Ohlmarks: Alla Sveriges drottningar (All the queens of Sweden) (Swedish)
* Svenska Familje-Journalen, band XI, årgång 1872, s. 194

Hedwig of Holstein

Born: 1260 Died: 1324

Swedish royalty
Preceded by

Sofia of Denmark

|  Queen consort of Sweden
1276–1290  | Vacant

Title next held by

Martha of Denmark

* v
* t
* e

Swedish royal consorts

* Sigrid the Haughty/Świętosława*^ (late 10th century)
* Aud Haakonsdottir of Lade (990s–995)
* Estrid of the Obotrites (1000–1022)
* Gunnhildr Sveinsdóttir^ (1022–1050)
* Astrid Njalsdotter (1050–1060)
* Helena (1079–1084)
* Blotstulka (1084–1087)
* Helena (1088–1105)
* Ingegerd of Norway^ (1105–1118)
* Ragnhild Halstensdotter (1105–1117)
* Ulvhild Håkansdotter^ (1117–1125)
* Richeza of Poland (1127–1130)
* Ulvhild Håkansdotter^ (1134–1148)
* Richeza of Poland (1148–1156)
* Christina Björnsdatter (1156–1160)
* Brigida Haraldsdotter (1160–1161)
* Christina Stigsdatter (1163/1164–1167)
* Cecilia Johansdotter (1167–1190)
* Benedicta Ebbesdotter (1196–1199/1200)
* Ingegerd Birgersdotter (1200–1208)
* Richeza of Denmark (1210–1216)
* Helena Pedersdatter Strange (1229–1234)
* Catherine Sunadotter (1243/1244–1250)
* Sophia Eriksdotter (1260–1275)
* Hedwig of Holstein (1276–1290)
* Märta Eriksdotter (1298–1318)
* Blanche of Namur (1335–1363)
* Beatrice of Bavaria (1356–1359)
* Margareta Valdemarsdotter* (1363–1364)
* Richardis of Schwerin (1365–1377)
* Philippa of England*^ (1406–1430)
* Dorothea of Brandenburg*^ (1445–1448)
* Karin Karlsdotter (1448)
* Merete Lydekedatter (1448)
* Catherine Karlsdotter (1448–1450)
* Dorothea of Brandenburg*^ (1457–1464)
* Elin Gustavsdotter (1466–1467)
* Christina Abrahamsdotter (1470)
* Ingeborg Tott (1470–1497)
* Christina of Saxony*^ (1497–1501)
* Ingeborg Tott (1501–1503)
* Mette Dyre (1504–1512)
* Christina Gyllenstierna (1512–1520)
* Isabella of Austria*^ (1520–1521)
* Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1531–1533)
* Margaret Leijonhufvud (1536–1551)
* Catherine Stenbock (1552–1560)
* Karin Månsdotter (1567–1568)
* Catherine Jagiellon (1568–1583)
* Gunilla Bielke (1585–1592)
* Anne of Austria (1592–1598)
* Christina of Holstein-Gottorp (1599/1604–1611)
* Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg (1620–1632)
* Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp (1654–1660)
* Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark (1680–1693)
* Frederick of Hesse-Kassel (1718/1719–1720)
* Ulrika Eleonora (1720–1741)
* Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (1751–1771)
* Sophia Magdalena of Denmark (1771–1792)
* Frederica of Baden (1797–1809)
* Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp* (1809–1818)
* Désirée Clary* (1818–1844)
* Josephine of Leuchtenberg* (1844–1859)
* Louise of the Netherlands* (1859–1871)
* Sophia of Nassau* (1872–1907)
* Victoria of Baden (1907–1930)
* Louise Mountbatten (1950–1965)
* Silvia Sommerlath (1976–present)

* * also Queen of Norway
* ^ also Queen of Denmark

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