Ingrid Ylva
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Lady Ingrid Ylva Sunesdotter of Bjelbo (born c. 1180s, died c. 1250–1255), was a Swedish noblewoman, the wife of Magnus Minnesköld of Bjälbo and the mother of regent Birger jarl and grandmother king Valdemar of Sweden. The exact years of her birth and death are unclear; a traditional year quoted for her death is 26 October 1252; it is also considered, though, that this was the date of her burial, and that she had actually died in 1251.
[edit] Biography
She was, according to the same legends on which her own attestation is based, the daughter of Sune Sik Sverkersson, one of the youngest sons of King Sverker I of Sweden. This semi-legendary knowledge gave her son Birger ancestry in the Sverker dynasty (the royal line which rivalled the Eric dynasty, which Birger's wife descended from), which he used when elevating his own son to the throne of Sweden as heir of both rival dynasties. She was married to Magnus Minnesköld of Bjelbo, possibly his second wife.
Ingrid Ylva was known in her time as a so-called white witch; she was said to be able to master magic, which she used for good purposes and for her family's good fortune. A lot of stories were told about her magical skills. One legend said that once, when Bjälbo was subjected to a surprise attack from the enemies of the family, Ingrid Ylva rushed to the top of the church tower, and, from there, she ripped open a pillow full of feathers which spread across the land, and turned into knights in armour. These magical stories was far from slander; in the 13th century, the witch trials were hundreds of years in the future, magic was not illegal and the ability to master magic was considered a great and admirable skill; there was a clear separation between white and black magic, and not even black magic was yet connected to the Devil or punishable by death, as it would become in the 17th century. Her name was widely known long before her son became regent, and her alleged magical skill was highly admired.
As a widow, in c. 1208–1210, she most likely managed her estates in Bjälbo as the head of the family, due to her sons being minors. She attended the church from her favourite place in the church tower, to which she had once donated a bell; according to tradition, she often lived in this tower during insecure times. In 1234, her son married Princess Ingeborg Eriksdotter of Sweden, and in 1250, he became regent and father of the king. It remains unclear if Ingrid Ylva was still alive at this point, though it is believed that she was. However, she does not seem to have played any part at the royal court, and probably preferred to stay within her estates. She is said to have married again, to an unamed man with whom she had a son, Elof Vingad Pil, while other sources claims she remained unmarried.
She was widely regarded for her ability to foretell the future. On her deathbed she predicted that her line would succeed to the Swedish throne, as long as her head was held high. Because of this, the legend says, her son, the regent, buried her standing upright, inside the tower with which she had had such a close relationship.
[edit] References
- Runeberg.org (Swedish)
- Jan Guillou, "Häxornas försvarare". (Swedish)
