Hedwig of Holstein

Hedwig of Holstein

Hedwig of Holstein on a seal
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure	1276–1290
Coronation	29 June 1281

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

Hedwig of Holstein ^[1]^[2] (Swedish: Helvig,^[3]^[4] German: Helwig) (1260–1324) was a Swedish queen consort, spouse of King Magnus III of Sweden. She was the child of Gerhard I, Count of Holstein (died 1290) and Elisabeth of Mecklenburg (died 1280).

1 Biography
2 Children
3 Ancestry
4 Notes
5 References
6 Succession

Biography

Hedwig was married to Magnus Ladulås 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7] 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 St. Erik in 1277.^[8]

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, princess 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 (morning gift).^[9]

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

Children

Hedwig's wedding took place at Kalmar castle the 11 November 1276 with king Magnus III Ladulås of Sweden. They had the following children: ^[10]

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, abbess of the convent of St. Clara at Stockholm. Died after 1347.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Hedwig of Holstein

16. Adolf II, Count of Holstein

8. Adolf III, Count of Holstein

17. Mechthild of Schwarzburg

4. Adolf IV, Count of Holstein

18. Burchard II of Querfurt, Burgrave of Magdeburg

9. Adelheid of Querfurt

18. Mathilde of Gleichen

2. Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe

20. Bernhard II, Lord of Lippe

10. Hermann II, Lord of Lippe

21. Heilwig of Are-Hostaden

5. Hedwig of Lippe

22. Simon, Count of Tecklenburg

11. Oda of Tecklenburg

23. Oda of Berg-Altena

1. Magnus IV of Sweden and VII of Norway

24. Heinrich Borwin I, Prince of Mecklenburg

12. Heinrich Borwin II, Prince of Mecklenburg

25. Matilda, illegitimate daughter of Henry the Lion

6. John I, Prince of Mecklenburg

26. Sverker II of Sweden

13. Christine of Sweden, Princess of Mecklenburg

27. Benedicta Ebbesdatter

3. Elisabeth of Mecklenburg

14. Poppo VII, Count of Henneberg

7. Luitgard of Henneberg

Notes

^ Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783
^ Thomas A. Brady & Christopher Ocker, Politics and reformations: communities, polities, nations, and empires , University of Michigan, 2007, 9004161732
^ Lars O. Lagerqvist & Nils Åberg in Kings and Rulers of Sweden ISBN 91-87064-35-9 2002 pp. 20 & 21
^ Dick Harrison in Jarlens Sekel, Ordfront Förlag, 2002
^ Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783
^ Philip Line,
^ Philip Line,
^ Philip Line,
^ Philip Line,
^ Philip Line,

References

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)
Herman Lindvist: Historien om alla Sveriges drottningar (History of all the queens of Sweden) (Swedish) (2006)
Svenska Familje-Journalen, band XI, årgång 1872, s. 194

Succession

Swedish royalty
Hedwig of Holstein Born: 1260 Died: 1324
Preceded by Sofia of Denmark	Queen consort of Sweden 1276–1290	Succeeded by Martha of Denmark

Swedish Royal Consorts

Silvia Renate Sommerlath (1976–present) Louise Mountbatten (1950–1965) · Victoria of Baden (1907–1930) · Sophia of Nassau* (1872–1907) · Louise of the Netherlands* (1859–1871) · Josephine of Leuchtenberg* (1844–1859) · Désirée Clary* (1818–1844) · Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp* (1809–1818) · Frederica of Baden (1797–1809) · Sophia Magdalena of Denmark (1771–1792) · Louisa Ulrika of Prussia (1751–1771) · Ulrika Eleonora (1720–1741) · Frederick of Hesse-Kassel (1718/1719–1720) · Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark (1680–1693) · Hedvig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp (1654–1660) · Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg (1620–1632) · Christina of Holstein-Gottorp (1599/1604–1611) · Anne of Austria (1592–1598) · Gunilla Bielke (1585–1592) · Catherine Jagellon (1568–1583) · Karin Månsdotter (1567–1568) · Catherine Stenbock (1552–1560) · Margaret Leijonhufvud (1536–1551) · Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1531–1533) · Isabella of Austria^ (1520–1521)* · Christina Gyllenstierna (1512–1520) · Mette Dyre (1504–1512) · Ingeborg Tott (1501–1503) · Christina of Saxony^ (1497–1501)* · Ingeborg Tott (1470–1497) · Christina Abrahamsdotter (1470) · Elin Gustavsdotter (Sture) (1466–1467) · Dorothea of Brandenburg^ (1457–1464)* · Catherine Karlsdotter (1448–1450) · Merete Lydekedatter (1448) · Karin Karlsdotter (1448) · Dorothea of Brandenburg^ (1445–1448)* · Philippa of England^ (1406–1430)* · Richardis of Schwerin (1365–1377) · Margareta Valdemarsdotter* (1363–1364) · Beatrice of Bavaria (1356–1359) · Blanche of Namur (1335–1363) · Märta Eriksdotter (1298–1318) · Hedwig of Holstein (1276–1290) · Sophia Eriksdotter (1260–1275) · Catherine Sunadotter (1243/1244–1250) · Helena Pedersdatter Strange (1229–1234) · Richeza of Denmark (1210–1216) · Ingegerd Birgersdotter (1200–1208) · Benedicta Ebbesdotter (1196–1199/1200) · Cecilia Johansdotter (1167–1190) · Christina Stigsdatter (1163/1164–1167) · Brigida Haraldsdotter (1160–1161) · Christina Björnsdatter (1156–1160) · Richeza of Poland (1148–1156) · Ulvhild Håkansdotter^ (1134–1148) · Richeza of Poland (1127–1130) · Ulvhild Håkansdotter^ (1117–1125) · Ragnhild Halstensdotter (1105–1117) · Ingegerd of Norway^ (1105–1118) · Helena (1088–1105) · Blotstulka (1084–1087) · Helena (1079–1084) · Gyla (1066–1067 & 1075–1079) · Astrid Njalsdotter (1050–1060) · Gunnhildr Sveinsdóttir^ (1022–1050) · Estrid of the Obotrites (1000–1022) · Aud Haakonsdottir of Lade (990s–995) · Świętosława of Poland^ (late 10th century)*

*also Queen of Norway ^also Queen of Denmark

Persondata
Name	Hedwig Of Holstein
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1260
Place of birth
Date of death	1324
Place of death