Mechtild of Holstein
Encyclopedia
Matilda of Holstein or Mechthild (1220 or 1225 – 1288 in Kiel
) was a Danish queen consort, married to King Abel of Denmark
and then to Birger Jarl
, Regent of Sweden.
in Schleswig
. When Abel became king in 1250, she was crowned with him in Roskilde
on 1 November.
When Abel died in 1252, she was forced to leave Denmark
and enter a convent. She managed to get her son Valdemar
released from the captivity of the archbishop of Cologne and fought for the inheritance of her children in the Duchy of Schleswig. In 1260, she pawned the areas Eider and Schlei
in southern Denmark to her brothers. She made a pact with Jacob Erlandsen, archbishop of Lund, and then broke her vows of the convent by marrying the Swedish regent Birger Jarl
in 1261. After the death of Birger in 1266, she moved to Kiel
.
In 1288, shortly before her death, she gave up Eider and Schlei to her brothers. She was unpopular in Denmark, where she was called the daughter of the Devil and accused of destroying letters from the Pope and emperor to King Valdemar II
.
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
) was a Danish queen consort, married to King Abel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark was Duke of Schleswig from 1232 to 1252 and King of Denmark from 1250 until his death in 1252. He was the son of Valdemar II by his second wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to Eric IV and Christopher I....
and then to Birger Jarl
Birger jarl
, or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have...
, Regent of Sweden.
Biography
Matilda was the child of Adolf IV, Count of Holstein, and Hedwig of Lippe. In 25 April 1237 she was married to Abel of DenmarkAbel of Denmark
Abel of Denmark was Duke of Schleswig from 1232 to 1252 and King of Denmark from 1250 until his death in 1252. He was the son of Valdemar II by his second wife, Infanta Berengária of Portugal, and brother to Eric IV and Christopher I....
in Schleswig
Schleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
. When Abel became king in 1250, she was crowned with him in Roskilde
Roskilde
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age and is a member of the Most Ancient European Towns Network....
on 1 November.
When Abel died in 1252, she was forced to leave Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and enter a convent. She managed to get her son Valdemar
Valdemar III, Duke of Schleswig
Valdemar III Abelsøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1253 until his death in 1257. He was the eldest son af King Abel of Denmark, Duke of Schleswig and Matilda of Holstein.-Life:...
released from the captivity of the archbishop of Cologne and fought for the inheritance of her children in the Duchy of Schleswig. In 1260, she pawned the areas Eider and Schlei
Schlei
The Schlei is a narrow inlet of the Baltic Sea in Schleswig-Holstein in northern Germany. It stretches for approximately 20 miles from the Baltic near Kappeln and Arnis to the city of Schleswig. Along the Schlei are many small bays and swamps...
in southern Denmark to her brothers. She made a pact with Jacob Erlandsen, archbishop of Lund, and then broke her vows of the convent by marrying the Swedish regent Birger Jarl
Birger jarl
, or Birger Magnusson, was a Swedish statesman, Jarl of Sweden and a member of the House of Bjelbo, who played a pivotal role in the consolidation of Sweden. Birger also led the Second Swedish Crusade, which established Swedish rule in Finland. Additionally, he is traditionally attributed to have...
in 1261. After the death of Birger in 1266, she moved to Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
.
In 1288, shortly before her death, she gave up Eider and Schlei to her brothers. She was unpopular in Denmark, where she was called the daughter of the Devil and accused of destroying letters from the Pope and emperor to King Valdemar II
Valdemar II of Denmark
Valdemar II , called Valdemar the Victorious or Valdemar the Conqueror , was the King of Denmark from 1202 until his death in 1241. The nickname Sejr is a later invention and was not used during the King's own lifetime...
.
Issue
Queen Matilda bore her first husband three sons and a daughter:- Valdemar IIIValdemar III, Duke of SchleswigValdemar III Abelsøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1253 until his death in 1257. He was the eldest son af King Abel of Denmark, Duke of Schleswig and Matilda of Holstein.-Life:...
(1238–1257); Duke of Schleswig 1254–1257 - Sophie (born 1240, date of death unknown)
- Eric IEric I, Duke of SchleswigEric I Abelsøn was Duke of Schleswig from 1260 until his death in 1272. He was the second son of King Abel of Denmark, Duke of Schleswig and Mechtild of Holstein.-Early life:...
(c. 1241 – 27 May 1272); Duke of Schleswig 1260–1272 - Abel (1252–1279)