| Catherine Stenbock | |
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| Catherine Stenbock as Queen Dowager | |
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| Tenure | 1552–1560 |
| Coronation | 23 August 1552 |
| Spouse | Gustav I of Sweden |
| House | Stenbock |
| Father | Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock |
| Mother | Brita Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud |
| Born | 22 July 1535 Torpa, Västergötland |
| Died | 13 December 1621 Strömsholm, Västmanland |
| Burial | Uppsala Cathedral |
Catherine Stenbock (Swedish: Katarina Gustavsdotter Stenbock ; born at Torpa, Tranemo Municipality, Västergötland on 22 July 1535 – died at Strömsholm, Västmanland on 13 December 1621) was the third and last consort of King Gustav I of Sweden, and Queen consort of Sweden between 1552 and 1560. She was the daughter of Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock and Brita Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, who was the sister of the King's previous consort, Margareta Leijonhufvud. She was the sister of Ebba Stenbock.
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Like the previous queen, Catherine was engaged when the king decided to marry her, but the engagement was broken so the king could have his way. It is said that she ran away and hid behind a bush in the garden when the king arrived at her parents mansion, and according to old stories, she often talked about her earlier fiancé in her sleep. The marriage was contested by the church and clergy, because of her relation (niece) to the king's former queen. The king, however, responded that the laws of the old testament were only appliable to Jews, and therefore, the wedding could take place.
The marriage was celebrated in the city of Vadstena 22 August 1552 at great expense, at the same time as the plague swept through the country and the city of Turku burned down, and people claimed to see bad omens and evil signs in the sky. The day after, Katarina was crowned Queen, the parties lasted for three days. When the court departed, the city of Vadstena burned down in a great fire, which was seen as another bad omen. The marriage was not a happy one, which was admitted by the king himself; he was even said to contemplate writing a law which would prevent any future marriage between: "Two people, of which one was young and one was old". It is said that the king heard her talking of her former fiance, Gustav Tre Rosor ("Three Roses"), in her sleep, during which she said : "King Gustav is very dear to me, but I will never forget the Rose". The king's health declined during the next years, and she was more a nurse than his wife for the eight years she was queen. In 1554 and in 1556, there were signs that she was pregnant, but no pregnancy was ever officially announced and none was ever confirmed.[1] She visited Finland in 1555, where she stayed until 1556.[1]
After the death of the king, Catherine lived as a widow for 61 years; she was the first Swedish dowager queen given the title "Riksänkedrottning", which means "The Queen Dowager of the Realm". Her estates made her very wealthy and independent as a widow. She lent money to several of the kings following her spouse. She also acted as a mediator in conflicts. She was the first lady of the court in 1560-1568, and was made god mother of king Eric's son with Karin Månsdotter (1568). Karin Hansdotter, Anna Phersönernas moder and Ebba Brahe were all at different times employed at her court. There were reports, that Eric had plans to have his brothers as well as other enemies killed before his wedding to Karin Månsdotter, but that the plans failed because Månsdotter warned the intended victims through Catherine Stenbock[2]
Catherine carried the son of Eric and Karin Månsdotter to his baptism on 9 June 1568[2] At the dethronement of King Eric XIV in 1568, it is described how Duke Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg, husband of her stepdaughter Princess Sophia, took her, his spouse and Princess Elizabeth by boat from the royal palace of Stockholm, to abandon Eric by joining the rebels.[2] During the imprisonment of Eric and Karin, their children was in the custody of Catherine Stenbock and their French governess Johanna (Jeanne) de Herboville from 1568 until 1568[2]
Catherine did have plans to remarry; in about 1570, she wished to marry Duke Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg, the brother of her stepdaughter's husband, Duke Magnus II. These plans where, however, prevented by Magnus. In 1574, she participated in convincing King John to release her nephew Erik Stenbock, who had been imprisoned and deposed from his position by the King on recommendation of Martha Leijonhudvud after his legendary elopement with Martha's daughter. Her estates were within the duchy of her stepson Duke Charles, and she had many conflicts with him. In 1581, Duke Charles again contested her right to her estates, but her property was protected by King John III of Sweden. She had a good relationship with John and often lent him money. In 1582, she participated in the meeting between Karin Månsdotter and queen Catherine Jagellon at Svartsjö Castle[2]
As a widow, she participated much in charity. Upon her death in 1610 at 86 years of age, it was said that: "The poor have lost a friend, the orphans their mother". She was buried in Uppsala Cathedral, but without a monument of her own.
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Catherine Stenbock
Born: 22 July 1535 Died: 13 December 1621 |
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| Swedish royalty | ||
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| Preceded by Margaret Leijonhufvud |
Queen consort of Sweden 1552–1560 |
Succeeded by Karin Månsdotter |