Inger, Lady of Austraat
Encyclopedia
Inger, Lady of Austraat [Rømer] (c. 1475–1555) was her era's wealthiest landowner in Norway
, a daughter and ultimate heiress of the Younger Rømer family of Norway, a political intriguer (lady Inger is famed for having orchestrated her powerful sons-in-law to support her goals), and her fame was the inspiration for Henrik Ibsen
's somewhat fanciful play Lady Inger of Oestraat
.
Lady Inger's parents had her marry lord Nils Henriksonn whose family also had some claim to Austraat. Thus the important Austraat manor, in the forth of Trondheim, with its associated lands, were settled to be Inger's share of the family inheritance. Her husband became both Chancellor and Lord High Steward of Norway. She was widowed in 1523.
Her interests also targeted Swedish politics, in addition to Norway's. In 1526 she received the exiled chancellor Peder Sunnanväder. And, later she practically joined attempts to dethrone Gustav I of Sweden
. In 1528 the junker who claimed to be Nils Sture
, the elder son of Sten Sture the Younger
, the 1512–20 Regent of Sweden (the boy's identity remains controversial to this day: he either was the authentic Nils or he was an impostor), fled to Norway after his defeat and enjoyed the hospitality of Lady Inger. She had plans to obtain the kingship of Sweden
to him, taking it from the Sture
s' kinsman king Gustav Vasa. And, more importantly to her, she was planning to marry his third daughter lady Eline of Austraat to the young pretender, and make her the Queen
. Ultimately, nothing came of this, and the young "Daljunkern" was executed later in Rostock
at request of Gustav.
From earlier property disputes and such, Lady Inger was an enemy of the Catholic prelate Olav Engelbrektsson
, primate of Norway and archbishop of Nidaros. Archbishop Engelbriktsonn was also a rival in Norway's government with Lady Inger's eldest son-in-law Lord Vincents Lunge. Lady Inger and her family joined the Lutheran Reformation
and promoted it extensively. That served as an important impetus for Protestantism in Norway.
As a Protestant new to Norway, Jens Tillufssøn Bjelke
met Lady Inger’s daughter Lucie Nilsdatter. Lucie had been the center of a social scandal of some substance for the age. Niels Lykke had married Eline Nilsdatter, the third of five sisters of Nils Henriksson. After her sister, Eline’s death in 1532, Lucie cared for Eline’s children and ultimately conceived a child by Niels Lykke. Neils was put to death for incest by Archbishop Engelbrektsson in 1535. Jens and Lucie married in 1540, and his correspondence thereafter came from Austrått manor. Fru Inger formally transferred the title of Austrått to Lucie and Jens; records show that the transfer was confirmed by the king in 1552. There has been speculation that Lucie’s scandal allowed Jens, who descended from lesser nobility, to be considered "good enough" for Lucie.
, then in his early career, wrote the play "Lady Inger of Oestraat
" which loosely utilizes her intrigues towards Swedish throne as basis of drama. The play is not fully accurate on historical and genealogical details.
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...
, a daughter and ultimate heiress of the Younger Rømer family of Norway, a political intriguer (lady Inger is famed for having orchestrated her powerful sons-in-law to support her goals), and her fame was the inspiration for Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
's somewhat fanciful play Lady Inger of Oestraat
Lady Inger of Oestraat
Lady Inger of Oestraat is a play by Henrik Ibsen, inspired by the life of Inger, Lady of Austraat. The play, the third work of the Norwegian's career, reflects the birth of Romantic Nationalism in the Norway of that period, and had a strongly anti-Danish sentiment...
.
Lady Inger's parents had her marry lord Nils Henriksonn whose family also had some claim to Austraat. Thus the important Austraat manor, in the forth of Trondheim, with its associated lands, were settled to be Inger's share of the family inheritance. Her husband became both Chancellor and Lord High Steward of Norway. She was widowed in 1523.
Her interests also targeted Swedish politics, in addition to Norway's. In 1526 she received the exiled chancellor Peder Sunnanväder. And, later she practically joined attempts to dethrone Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
. In 1528 the junker who claimed to be Nils Sture
Nils Sture
Nils Stensson Sture may have been Daljunkern, a revolt-leader in Sweden.Nils was born in 1512 as eldest son of the new ruler of Sweden, Sten Sture the Younger, Lord of Ekesiö, the country's Regent from January 1512 to his death on 3 February 1520; and his wife Dame Kristina Nilsdotter, a...
, the elder son of Sten Sture the Younger
Sten Sture the Younger
Sten Sture the Younger , Lord of Ekesiö , was a Swedish statesman and regent of Sweden, under the era of the Kalmar Union.-Life:...
, the 1512–20 Regent of Sweden (the boy's identity remains controversial to this day: he either was the authentic Nils or he was an impostor), fled to Norway after his defeat and enjoyed the hospitality of Lady Inger. She had plans to obtain the kingship of 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....
to him, taking it from the Sture
Sture
Sture was the name of two influential families in Sweden from the late 15th century to the early 16th century. One member of one of these families and two members of the other served as Regents of Sweden in the Kalmar Union between 1470 and 1520...
s' kinsman king Gustav Vasa. And, more importantly to her, she was planning to marry his third daughter lady Eline of Austraat to the young pretender, and make her the Queen
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...
. Ultimately, nothing came of this, and the young "Daljunkern" was executed later in Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
at request of Gustav.
From earlier property disputes and such, Lady Inger was an enemy of the Catholic prelate Olav Engelbrektsson
Olav Engelbrektsson
Olav Engelbrektsson was the last Catholic Archbishop of Norway. As well as being a religious leader, Olav was also a political figure;...
, primate of Norway and archbishop of Nidaros. Archbishop Engelbriktsonn was also a rival in Norway's government with Lady Inger's eldest son-in-law Lord Vincents Lunge. Lady Inger and her family joined the Lutheran Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
and promoted it extensively. That served as an important impetus for Protestantism in Norway.
As a Protestant new to Norway, Jens Tillufssøn Bjelke
Jens Tillufssøn Bjelke
Jens Tillufssøn Bjelke, a Danish-Norwegian nobleman and a feudal lord of Jemtland, Norway, was originally from Danish Skåne . His parents were Thilluf Josefsson of Gyllarp and Gunhild Ovesdatter Bing...
met Lady Inger’s daughter Lucie Nilsdatter. Lucie had been the center of a social scandal of some substance for the age. Niels Lykke had married Eline Nilsdatter, the third of five sisters of Nils Henriksson. After her sister, Eline’s death in 1532, Lucie cared for Eline’s children and ultimately conceived a child by Niels Lykke. Neils was put to death for incest by Archbishop Engelbrektsson in 1535. Jens and Lucie married in 1540, and his correspondence thereafter came from Austrått manor. Fru Inger formally transferred the title of Austrått to Lucie and Jens; records show that the transfer was confirmed by the king in 1552. There has been speculation that Lucie’s scandal allowed Jens, who descended from lesser nobility, to be considered "good enough" for Lucie.
Later fame
In 1857, playwright Henrik IbsenHenrik Ibsen
Henrik Ibsen was a major 19th-century Norwegian playwright, theatre director, and poet. He is often referred to as "the father of prose drama" and is one of the founders of Modernism in the theatre...
, then in his early career, wrote the play "Lady Inger of Oestraat
Lady Inger of Oestraat
Lady Inger of Oestraat is a play by Henrik Ibsen, inspired by the life of Inger, Lady of Austraat. The play, the third work of the Norwegian's career, reflects the birth of Romantic Nationalism in the Norway of that period, and had a strongly anti-Danish sentiment...
" which loosely utilizes her intrigues towards Swedish throne as basis of drama. The play is not fully accurate on historical and genealogical details.