Hedwig of Holstein
| Hedwig of Holstein | |
|---|---|
.jpg) 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 | |
| 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, but she is believed to have been born in early 1260s. Unlike many other medieval brides, she was almost adult when she married King Magnus III in 1276. By marrying Hedwig, Magnus prevented his brother Valdemar from obtaining help from Holstein against him. Her father Gerhard I received an annual salary of 600 marks.[8][9]
Many previous ties existed between Magnus' and Hedwig's families, as his father Birger Jarl had married Hedwig's aunt Matilda of Holstein in 1261, and Magnus' niece Ingeborg had married Hedwig's brother Gerhard II in 1275.[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.[11] She founded the Franciscan 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, and withdrew to her estate Dåvö in Västmanland, which had been given to her as dower.[13] 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.[citation needed]
The death of Queen Hedwig was not recorded in the annals. She was still alive in early 1324 but dead by early 1326.[14]
The tomb of Magnus Ladulås in Riddarholm Church was investigated in 1914–1920 and two female skeletons were found buried with him, and were identified as Queen Hedwig and her daughter Richeza. Their skulls were found to be artificially deformed. Queen Hedwig had undergone bandaging and deformation as a girl in her native Holstein, where the custom was practised at the time. She also performed it on her daughter, but the custom did not continue after that in Sweden or Denmark.[15]
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:[16]
- Ingeborg, born c. 1279. Married King Eric VI of Denmark, Erik Menved.
- Birger, born c. 1280, King of Sweden.
- Eric, born c. 1282, Duke of Södermanland in 1302 and Halland etc. c. 1305. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköping Castle while imprisoned by his brother, King Birger.
- Valdemar, Duke of Finland in 1302 and Öland 1310. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköping Castle while imprisoned by his brother King Birger.
- Richeza, abbess of the convent of St. Clara at Stockholm. Died after 1347.
Notes[edit]
- ^ Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783, p. 390.
- ^ Lagerqvist & Åberg in Kings and Rulers of Sweden ISBN 91-87064-35-9 pp. 20–21
- ^ Article in Nordstjernan 2013-12-11
- ^ Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopedia 1993 p. 108
- ^ Biographical data Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine from Nordic Academic Press pp. 1&3
- ^ The Chronicle of Duke Erik: by Eva Osterberg ISBN 9789185509577 pp. 67, 240, 252, 258 & 260
- ^ Lars O. Lagerqvist & Nils Åberg in Kings and Rulers of Sweden ISBN 91-87064-35-9, 2002 pp. 20 & 21
- ^ Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783, p. 135.
- ^ a b "Helvig Holsteinilainen". Kansallisbiografia. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|julkaisija=ignored (help) - ^ Philip Line, p.137
- ^ Philip Line, p. 390
- ^ Philip Line, p. 376
- ^ Philip Line, p. 302
- ^ Hildebrand, Emil (1903). Sveriges historia intill tjugonde seklet. Harvard University. Stockholm. p. 179.
- ^ Folke Henschen (1966). The Human Skull: A Cultural History. Thames & Hudson. p. 82-83.
- ^ 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
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- Swedish queen mothers
- Swedish queens
- 1260 births
- 1324 deaths
- House of Schauenburg
- Burials at Riddarholmen Church
- House of Bjelbo
- 13th-century Swedish people
- 14th-century Swedish people
- 14th-century Swedish women
- 13th-century Swedish women
- 13th-century German women
- 13th-century German nobility
- Daughters of counts