Astrid Olofsdotter of Sweden

Astrid Olofsdotter
Queen consort of Norway

Reign	1019–1035
Died	1035
Spouse	Olav II of Norway
House	House of Munsö (by birth) House of St. Olaf (by marriage)
Father	Olof Skötkonung of Sweden
Mother	Edla

Astrid Olofsdotter (Norwegian: Astrid Olavsdatter; English: Aestrith) (died 1035) was the Queen Consort of King Olav II of Norway.^[1]

Biography

Astrid was born to King Olof Skötkonung of Sweden and his Obotritian mistress Edla. She was the half sister of King Anund Jacob of Sweden and sister of King Emund the Old of Sweden. It is said that she and her brother Emund were not treated well by their stepmother, Queen Estrid of the Obotrites, and that they were sent away to foster parents. Astrid was sent to a man named Egil in Västergötland.^[2]

In 1016, it had been decided that Norway and Sweden should come to more peaceful relations by a royal marriage alliance. Noblemen of both countries tried to arrange a marriage between King Olav of Norway and the half sister of Astrid, Princess Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden. King Olof of Sweden agreed at first but broke his promise. King Olav was supposed to have married Astrid's half sister, Olof Skötkonung's legitimate daughter Ingegerd Olofsdotter of Sweden. Ingegerd was, however, after his father's wishes instead married to Yaroslav I the Wise, Grand Prince of Novgorod and Kiev.^[3] Astrid was married to King Olav in Sarpsborg in 1019. Some sources claim that Astrid replaced Ingegerd by the wish of her father. Other sources claim that the marriage took place against the will of her father, by the cooperation of King Olav of Norway and the Swedish jarl Ragnvald Ulfsson.^[4]

Astrid was described as beautiful, articulate and generous, and well liked by others. She was probably the mother of Wulfhild of Norway (1020–1070), wife of Ordulf, Duke of Saxony. She was the stepmother of King Magnus the Good, with whom she had a good relationship. In 1030, she was widowed when her husband was killed. She left Norway and settled in the Swedish court, where she had a high position. When her stepson Magnus visited Sigtuna on his way to claim the Norwegian throne, she gave him her official support and encouraged Sweden to do so as well.

Sources

This article is based on a translation of the equivalent article of the Norwegian Wikipedia

References

Other sources

Lagerqvist, Lars O. Sverige och dess regenter under 1.000 år (Albert Bonniers Förlag AB. 1982) ISBN 91-0-075007-7

Succession

Astrid Olofsdotter of Sweden House of Munsö Born: Unknown Died: 1035
Preceded by Sigrid Storråda *(Queen consort)*	Royal Consort of Norway (Queen consort) 1019–1035	Succeeded by Emma of Normandy (Queen consort)

Norwegian royal consorts

Sonja Haraldsen (1991–present) Maud of Wales (1905–1938) Sophia of Nassau^ (1872–1905) Louise of the Netherlands^ (1859–1871) Josephine of Leuchtenberg^ (1844–1859) Désirée Clary^ (1818–1844) Hedvig Elisabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp^ (1814–1818) Marie Sophie of Hesse-Kassel* (1808–1839) Caroline Matilda of Great Britain* (1766–1775) Juliana Maria of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel* (1752–1766) Louise of Great Britain* (1746–1751) Sophia Magdalene of Brandenburg-Kulmbach* (1730–1746) Anne Sophie Reventlow* (1721–1730) Louise of Mecklenburg-Güstrow* (1699–1721) Landgravine Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel* (1670–1699) Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1648–1670) Anne Catherine of Brandenburg* (1597–1612) Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow* (1572–1588) Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg* (1534–1559) Sophie of Pomerania^ (1523–1533)* Isabella of Austria^ (1515–1523)* Christina of Saxony^ (1481–1513)* Dorothea of Brandenburg^ (1450–1481)* Catherine of Bjurum^ (1449–1450) Dorothea of Brandenburg^ (1445–1448)* Philippa of England^ (1406–1430)* Margaret I of Denmark^ (1363–1380) Blanche of Namur^ (1335–1343) Euphemia of Rügen (1299–1312) Isabel Bruce (1293–1299) Margaret of Scotland (1281–1283) Ingeborg of Denmark (1263–1280) Rikissa Birgersdotter (1251–1257) Margrete Skulesdatter (1225–1263) Margaret of Sweden (1189–1202) Estrid Bjørnsdotter (1170–1176) Ragna Nikolasdatter (114?–1157) Ingrid of Sweden (1134–1136) Christine of Denmark (1132–1133) Malmfred of Kiev* (1116–1130) Ingebjørg Guttormsdatter (1103–1123) Margaret Fredkulla* (1101–1103) Ingerid of Denmark (1067–1093) Elisiv of Kiev (1045–1066) Emma of Normandy* (1028–1035) Astrid of Sweden (1019–1035) Sigrid the Haughty/Świętosława^ (1000–1014)* Tyra of Denmark (998–1000) Gunhild of Wenden* Tove of the Obotrites* (970–986) Gunnhild, Mother of Kings (931–934) Gyda of Hordaland (872–930)

* also Queen of Denmark ^also Queen of Sweden

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 21, 2014. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.