Maria of the Palatinate-Simmern, (24 July 1561 in Heidelberg – 29 July 1589 in Eskilstuna), was a German Princess and a Swedish Princess and Duchess of Södermanland by marriage, the first spouse of the future King Charles IX of Sweden. She died before he became king and was therefore never queen.
Maria was born to Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse. In April 1578, the Swedish Prince Charles, Duke of Södermanland, visited her home town Heidelberg and proposed. The wedding took place in Heidelberg 11 May 1579. Afterwards, she followed him to Sweden, where they resided in his Duchy in Södermanland.
No portrait exists of Maria. She is described as beautiful, gentle and diplomatic, but also sickly. Her marriage to Charles IX of Sweden is described as happy. Her calmness was said to be the opposite of her husband's temperament. She influenced his rule in the Duchy, intervening to ask him to show mercy to other people.
Maria bore six children, but only one survived for more than a few years. She herself died in Eskilstuna palace after a long term illness, and was buried in the Strängnäs Cathedral.
Duke Charles was said to have mourned her greatly. The town Mariestad and the royal estate Marieholm is named after her.
Children:
| Swedish royalty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Ingeborg of Norway |
Duchess of Södermanland 1579–1589 |
Succeeded by Christina of Holstein-Gottorp |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||