Hedwig of Schleswig
Encyclopedia
Helvig of Schleswig was a Danish Queen consort
, spouse of King Valdemar IV of Denmark
. She was the mother of Queen Margaret I of Denmark
, Norway
and Sweden
.
and sister of Valdemar V, Duke of Schleswig
, who had contended the Danish throne with her Christopher II of Denmark
. She married Valdemar IV in 1340 at Sønderborg Castle
. She brought with her a great dowry
, which helped Valdemar in his politics. Valdemar suspected Hedwig of adultery, and she was given her own castle and resided there with her own court, separated from him. In 1355 Queen Helvig, became a lay sister at Esrum Abbey
after being supplanted by King Valdemar's mistress, Tove. The queen was buried in the abbey church, which brought royal gifts of property for the abbey.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
, spouse of King Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark or Waldemar ; , was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375.-Ascension to the throne:...
. She was the mother of Queen Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I of Denmark
Margaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
Biography
Helvig was the daughter of Eric II, Duke of SchleswigEric II, Duke of Schleswig
Eric II Valdemarsøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1312 until his death in 1325. He was the only son of Valdemar IV, Duke of Schleswig.-Early life:...
and sister of Valdemar V, Duke of Schleswig
Valdemar III of Denmark
Valdemar III of Denmark was a king of Denmark from 1326 to 1329 briefly when underage, as well as in 1325–26 and from 1330 to 1364 Duke of Schleswig as Valdemar V. He was a rival king set up against the unsuccessful Christopher II and was widely opposed by his many subjects. His term was ended...
, who had contended the Danish throne with her Christopher II of Denmark
Christopher II of Denmark
Christopher II was king of Denmark from 1320 to 1326 and again from 1329 until his death. He was son of Eric V. His name is connected with national disaster, as his rule ended in an almost total dissolution of the Danish state.-Biography:Being the brother of King Eric VI, Christopher was a...
. She married Valdemar IV in 1340 at Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle
Sønderborg Castle is located in the town of Sønderborg, Denmark on the island of Als in South Jutland. It houses a museum focusing on the history and culture of the area. The castle is located in the middle of the town, in a park setting overlooking Als Fjord...
. She brought with her a great dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
, which helped Valdemar in his politics. Valdemar suspected Hedwig of adultery, and she was given her own castle and resided there with her own court, separated from him. In 1355 Queen Helvig, became a lay sister at Esrum Abbey
Esrum Abbey
Esrum Abbey, also Esrom Abbey was the second Cistercian monastery founded in Denmark, located near Hillerød in Region Hovedstaden, on the island of Zealand , on the north side of the Esrum Sø near Esbønderup and Græsted.- Monastery :Esrum Abbey began as a Benedictine foundation, perhaps in about...
after being supplanted by King Valdemar's mistress, Tove. The queen was buried in the abbey church, which brought royal gifts of property for the abbey.
Children
Helvig and Valdemar IV had at least six children;- Christopher, Duke of Lolland (1344–1363)
- Margaret (1345–1350); betrothed to Henry III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- IngeborgIngeborg of Denmark, Duchess of MecklenburgIngeborg of Denmark was the eldest surviving daughter of Valdemar IV of Denmark and his wife Helvig of Schleswig. By marriage she was Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, although she died before her husband's succeed her father-in-law...
(1347–1370); married Henry III, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and was the maternal grandmother of King Eric VII of DenmarkEric of PomeraniaEric of Pomerania KG was King Eric III of Norway Norwegian Eirik, King Eric VII of Denmark , and as Eric King of Sweden... - Catherine (1349); died young
- Valdemar (1350); died young
- Margaret I of DenmarkMargaret I of DenmarkMargaret I was Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and founder of the Kalmar Union, which united the Scandinavian countries for over a century. Although she acted as queen regnant, the laws of contemporary Danish succession denied her formal queenship. Her title in Denmark was derived from her...
(1353–1412)