Ingeborg of Denmark, Duchess of Mecklenburg
Encyclopedia
Ingeborg of Denmark (1 April 1347–16 June 1370) 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. She was potential heiress to the Danish throne and was the older sister of Margaret I of Denmark
.
Ingeborg was betrothed to Duke Henry of Mecklenburg after the death of Ingeborg's older sister Margaret in 1350, who was betrothed to the Duke. She had two sisters named Margaret. The marriage contract between Henry and Ingeborg was established in Dornburg
October 23, 1350. Ingeborg and Henry then married in 1362. They had the following children:
Ingeborg was potential heir to the Danish throne in 1363 upon the death of her only surviving brother Christopher, Duke of Lolland. However, Denmark was an elective monarchy, and also, Ingeborg did not outlive her father, she died on 16 June 1370, aged twenty-three.
Ingeborg's father died five years after in an attack of gout without appointing an heir. The succession of to the Danish throne was disputed. The Estates of Denmark met at Odense
to elect the next king. The nobles were divided between either electing Ingeborg's son Albert IV
, put forth by his grandfather Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg; Margaret's son Olaf II
, heir to the Norwegian throne; or choosing a new dynasty. The estates were eventually won over by Queen Margaret's charm and popularity, as the only surviving daughter of the deceased king, and along with the potential of an union with Norway and anti-German sentiments, Olaf II was elected as King of Denmark in 1376 with Queen Margaret as regent. With Albert III, Duke of Mecklenburg, Ingeborg's brother-in-law, on the Swedish throne, the Danish may not want another Mecklenburg ruler in Scandinavia.
Ingeborg's grandson Eric of Pomerania
inherited the rights of his grandmother and succeeded as King of Denmark in 1396 with Margaret as his regent. He became the first monarch of the Kalmar Union
between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Her last surviving descendants was Christopher of Bavaria
who succeeded Eric as ruler of the Kalmar Union.
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV of Denmark or Waldemar ; , was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375.-Ascension to the throne:...
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. She was potential heiress to the Danish throne and was the older sister of 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...
.
Ingeborg was betrothed to Duke Henry of Mecklenburg after the death of Ingeborg's older sister Margaret in 1350, who was betrothed to the Duke. She had two sisters named Margaret. The marriage contract between Henry and Ingeborg was established in Dornburg
Dornburg
Dornburg is a town in the Saale-Holzland district, in Thuringia, Germany. It sits atop a small hill of 400 ft above the Saale. Since 1 December 2008, it is part of the town Dornburg-Camburg.-Main sights:...
October 23, 1350. Ingeborg and Henry then married in 1362. They had the following children:
- Euphemia (d. 1400), married to John V, Prince of Mecklenburg-Werle
- Albert IVAlbert IV, Duke of MecklenburgAlbert IV, Duke of Mecklenburg was co-regent of Mecklenburg from 1383 to 1388. He was the son of the Duke Henry III of Mecklenburg and Ingeborg of Denmark....
(1362–1388), Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, married to Elisabeth of Holstein - Maria (1363–1403), wife of Wartislaw VII, Duke of PomeraniaWartislaw VII, Duke of PomeraniaWartislaw VII was one of the Dukes of Pomerania. He was the son of Bogislaw V, brother of Casimir IV and Bogislaw VIII. He married Maria of Mecklenburg and was the father of Eric of Pomerania and Catherine of Pomerania....
- Ingeborg (1368–1408), a nun in Ribnitz 1376, where she was the abbess 1395–1408
Ingeborg was potential heir to the Danish throne in 1363 upon the death of her only surviving brother Christopher, Duke of Lolland. However, Denmark was an elective monarchy, and also, Ingeborg did not outlive her father, she died on 16 June 1370, aged twenty-three.
Ingeborg's father died five years after in an attack of gout without appointing an heir. The succession of to the Danish throne was disputed. The Estates of Denmark met at Odense
Odense
The city of Odense is the third largest city in Denmark.Odense City has a population of 167,615 and is the main city of the island of Funen...
to elect the next king. The nobles were divided between either electing Ingeborg's son Albert IV
Albert IV, Duke of Mecklenburg
Albert IV, Duke of Mecklenburg was co-regent of Mecklenburg from 1383 to 1388. He was the son of the Duke Henry III of Mecklenburg and Ingeborg of Denmark....
, put forth by his grandfather Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg; Margaret's son Olaf II
Olaf II of Denmark
Olaf Haraldsen was a Danish anti-king who ruled Scania for a few years from 1139. He never won control over the rest of Denmark, and he is not included in the list of Danish monarchs used by the Danish monarchy or Den Store Danske Encyklopædi...
, heir to the Norwegian throne; or choosing a new dynasty. The estates were eventually won over by Queen Margaret's charm and popularity, as the only surviving daughter of the deceased king, and along with the potential of an union with Norway and anti-German sentiments, Olaf II was elected as King of Denmark in 1376 with Queen Margaret as regent. With Albert III, Duke of Mecklenburg, Ingeborg's brother-in-law, on the Swedish throne, the Danish may not want another Mecklenburg ruler in Scandinavia.
Ingeborg's grandson Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania KG was King Eric III of Norway Norwegian Eirik, King Eric VII of Denmark , and as Eric King of Sweden...
inherited the rights of his grandmother and succeeded as King of Denmark in 1396 with Margaret as his regent. He became the first monarch of the Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Her last surviving descendants was Christopher of Bavaria
Christopher of Bavaria
Christopher of Bavaria or Christopher the Bavarian; as king named Christopher ; Danish and Norwegian: Christoffer af/av Bayern; Swedish Kristofer av Bayern was union king of Denmark , Sweden and Norway .-Biography:He was probably born at Neumarkt in...
who succeeded Eric as ruler of the Kalmar Union.