Helvig of Holstein
Encyclopedia
Hedwig of Holstein (1260–1324) was a Swedish queen consort
, spouse of King Magnus III of Sweden
. She was the child of Gerhard I, Count of Holstein (died 1290) and Elisabeth of Mecklenburg
(died 1280).
in Västmanland
. Magnus succeeded in preventing a Danish-Holstein alliance by marrying her. However, he had obtained a dispensation for their marriage only after the wedding.
Her father was captured during the Folkunge party revolt (Folkungaupproret) by rebellious noblemen in Skara
in 1278 and the queen was also targeted. The actions of the rebels were well timed; they coincided with her journey through Sweden. She sought refuge in the convent in the city.
Hedwig was crowned Queen of Sweden in the city of Söderköping
on 29 June 1281; this is the first confirmed coronation
of a queen consort
in Sweden. It included the prayers for her fertility, which was the matter of great importance. She founded the Greyfriars convent
(Gråmunkekloster) in Stockholm and several other churches and convents. As a queen, however, she is not very much heard of, despite the fact that she held the position for fourteen years, she lived a discreet life, both as a queen and as a dowager queen. She took a prominent part in processions which accompanied the inauguration of bishops, celebrations of a feast day and the installation of relics, such as the Mass for St. Erik in 1277.
After the death of her spouse in 1290, Hedwig acted as one of the executors of the will of the King. In 1291, she withdrew to her estate Dåvö in Västmanland. She is not known to have taken any political role, formal or informal, during or after the reign of her spouse. She was described as a noble, loyal and peace-loving mother figure, tormented by the conflicts between her sons. She acted as a foster mother for her son's future bride, princess Martha of Denmark
, who spent a lot of her childhood in Sweden as the future queen of Sweden after 1290. In 1302, she was present at the coronation of her son.
As dowager queen, she governed Fjärdhundraland
, which was given to her as dower
(morning gift).
Queen Hedwig is buried in Riddarholm church in Stockholm, with her husband and her daughter Richeza.
castle the 11 November 1276 with king Magnus III Ladulås of Sweden. They had the following children:
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 Magnus III of Sweden
Magnus III of Sweden
Magnus III Ladulås of Sweden, Swedish: Magnus Birgersson or Magnus Ladulås was King of Sweden from 1275 until his death in 1290....
. She was the child of Gerhard I, Count of Holstein (died 1290) and Elisabeth of Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg
Mecklenburg is a historical region in northern Germany comprising the western and larger part of the federal-state Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
(died 1280).
Biography
Hedwig was married to Magnus Ladulås in 1276, and was granted the fief of Dåvö in MunktorpMunktorp
Munktorp is a locality situated in Köping Municipality, Västmanland County, Sweden with 485 inhabitants in 2005.Munktorp is the site of the historic Munktorp Church . The church is associated with St. David of Munktorp , an Anglo-Saxon monk of the 11th century. The oldest parts of the church date...
in Västmanland
Västmanland
' is a historical Swedish province, or landskap, in middle Sweden. It borders Södermanland, Närke, Värmland, Dalarna and Uppland.The name comes from "West men", referring to the people west of Uppland, the core province of early Sweden.- Administration :...
. Magnus succeeded in preventing a Danish-Holstein alliance by marrying her. However, he had obtained a dispensation for their marriage only after the wedding.
Her father was captured during the Folkunge party revolt (Folkungaupproret) by rebellious noblemen in Skara
Skara
Skara is a locality and the seat of Skara Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 18595 inhabitants in 2005. Despite its small size, it has a long educational and ecclesiastical history. One of Sweden's oldest high schools, Katedralskolan , is situated in Skara...
in 1278 and the queen was also targeted. The actions of the rebels were well timed; they coincided with her journey through Sweden. She sought refuge in the convent in the city.
Hedwig was crowned Queen of Sweden in the city of Söderköping
Söderköping
Söderköping is a locality and the seat of Söderköping Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 6,951 inhabitants in 2005. Söderköping is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city...
on 29 June 1281; this is the first confirmed coronation
Coronation
A coronation is a ceremony marking the formal investiture of a monarch and/or their consort with regal power, usually involving the placement of a crown upon their head and the presentation of other items of regalia...
of a queen consort
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...
in Sweden. It included the prayers for her fertility, which was the matter of great importance. She founded the Greyfriars convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
(Gråmunkekloster) in Stockholm and several other churches and convents. As a queen, however, she is not very much heard of, despite the fact that she held the position for fourteen years, she lived a discreet life, both as a queen and as a dowager queen. She took a prominent part in processions which accompanied the inauguration of bishops, celebrations of a feast day and the installation of relics, such as the Mass for St. Erik in 1277.
After the death of her spouse in 1290, Hedwig acted as one of the executors of the will of the King. In 1291, she withdrew to her estate Dåvö in Västmanland. She is not known to have taken any political role, formal or informal, during or after the reign of her spouse. She was described as a noble, loyal and peace-loving mother figure, tormented by the conflicts between her sons. She acted as a foster mother for her son's future bride, princess Martha of Denmark
Martha of Denmark
Martha, , officially Margaret Eriksdatter of Denmark, was a Medieval Swedish Queen consort, spouse of king Birger of Sweden...
, who spent a lot of her childhood in Sweden as the future queen of Sweden after 1290. In 1302, she was present at the coronation of her son.
As dowager queen, she governed Fjärdhundraland
Fjärdhundraland
Fjärdhundraland or the land of the four hundreds is, since 1296, a part of the province of Uppland in Sweden. Its name refers to its role of providing 400 men and 16 ships for the leidang of the Swedish king at Uppsala....
, which was given to her as dower
Dower
Dower or morning gift was a provision accorded by law to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband...
(morning gift).
Queen Hedwig is buried in Riddarholm church in Stockholm, with her husband and her daughter Richeza.
Children
Hedwig's wedding took place at KalmarKalmar
Kalmar is a city in Småland in the south-east of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It had 62,767 inhabitants in 2010 and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality. It is also the capital of Kalmar County, which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of 233,776 inhabitants .From the thirteenth to the...
castle the 11 November 1276 with king Magnus III Ladulås of Sweden. They had the following children:
- Ingeborg Magnusdotter of SwedenIngeborg Magnusdotter of SwedenPrincess Ingeborg Magnusdotter of Sweden, , was a Danish queen consort, daughter of king Magnus III of Sweden and wife of king Eric VI of Denmark.-Biography:...
, born abt. 1279. Married King Eric VI of DenmarkEric VI of DenmarkEric VI Menved was King of Denmark and a son of Eric V and Agnes of Brandenburg.He became king in 1286 at age 12, when his father was murdered 20 November by unknown assailants...
, Erik Menved. - Birger MagnussonBirger of SwedenBirger was King of Sweden from 1290 to 1318.-Background:Birger was the son of King Magnus III and Hedwig of Holstein. He was hailed king of Sweden when he was four years old. This was done by his father in order to secure the succession...
, born abt. 1280, king of Sweden. - Eric Magnusson, Duke of Södermanland in 1302 and Halland etc. c 1305, born abt. 1282. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköpingshus castle while imprisoned by his brother King Birger.
- Valdemar MagnussonValdemar, Duke of FinlandValdemar Magnusson was a Swedish prince, heir to the throne of Sweden and Duke of Finland.-Background:Valdemar was the third son of King Magnus III of Sweden and his queen Helvig of Holstein. At the coronation of his older brother King Birger of Sweden, Valdemar became the duke of Finland...
, Duke of FinlandDuke of FinlandDuke of Finland was an occasional medieval title granted as a tertiogeniture to the relatives of the King of Sweden between the 13th and 16th centuries. It included a duchy along with the feudal customs, and often meant a veritably independent principality...
in 1302 and Öland 1310. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköpingshus castle while imprisoned by his brother King Birger. - Richeza Magnusdotter, abbess of the convent of St. ClaraSt. Clare's Priory, StockholmSt. Clare's Priory, Stockholm, was a Roman Catholic nunnery of the order of Saint Clare in Stockholm in Sweden, active 1289 until the reformation in 1527.- History :...
at Stockholm. Died after 1347.