Gunilla Bese
Gunilla Johansdotter Bese (1475–1553), was a Finnish noble and fiefholder of Vyborg Castle from 1511 to 1513.
Life
Bese was the daughter of Johan Stensson Bese and Catherine Jonsdottir; she married riksråd Eric Bielke, fiefholder of Vyborg, and took over his position as interim governor of Vyborg after his death in 1511 until a new governor was appointed and installed in 1513. She held the fief of Vyborg for a year and a half, defending it from the Russians, ultimately ceding its governorship to her son-in-law, Lord Toni Eriksson Tott.
In 1520 at Kalmar Castle, Bese's eldest daughter Anna had a similar experience to her mother's; when Anna's husband, the governor, died, she continued to rule the castle and fief and led the war efforts (in that case, against the Danish).
Her son Axel's descendant Gunilla Bielke became queen, the second wife of John III of Sweden.
Bese died on 7 April 1553 in Bernhamra, Sweden.[1]
Children
- Axel Eriksson Bielke
- Anna Eriksdotter (Bielke)
- Karin Eriksdotter Bielke
- Barbro Eriksdotter Bielke
- Nils Eriksson Bielke
- Brita Eriksdotter Bielke (died young)
- Eriksson (Thott)
- Johan Eriksson
- Bengt Eriksson (died young)
- Erik Eriksson
References
- ↑ "Gunilla Johansdotter Bese". geni.com. Retrieved 25 November 2014.