Sofia of Minsk
Encyclopedia
Sophia of Minsk (c. 1140 – 5 May 1198) was a Danish mediaeval queen consort
as the spouse of King Valdemar I of Denmark
, and later a landgravine of Thuringia
.
) of Minsk, who united the principalities of Minsk
, Polotsk, and Hrodna
under his rule, and had military interests in the Baltic region (for example, his military campaign in Northern Poland in 1159).
Sophia was the half-sister of Canute V of Denmark
. After her mother's marriage to the Swedish king, she followed her to Sweden and was raised at the Swedish court. She was betrothed to Valdemar in 1154 as a form of alliance between Denmark and Sweden. As she had no property in Denmark, she was promised 1/8 of Canute's estates. She left Sweden and arrived in Denmark at the time of the engagement (1154), but as she was not considered old enough to marry, she was given to the custody of a woman named Bodil. She was married to Valdemar in Viborg
in 1157, three years later.
Sophia is described as beautiful, dominant and cruel. According to legend, she murdered Valdemar's mistress Tove and injured his sister Kirsten, but this is not confirmed. She was widowed in 1182. Sophia received a proposal from, and married, Louis III, Landgrave of Thuringia in about 1184, and was escorted to the border by her son and a grand entourage. She was repudiated in 1190 and returned to Denmark.
(c. 1131–1182), and 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...
as the spouse of King Valdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark , also known as Valdemar the Great, was King of Denmark from 1157 until 1182.-Biography:...
, and later a landgravine of Thuringia
Thuringia
The Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
.
Biography
Sophia was the daughter of Richeza of Poland, Dowager Queen of Sweden, from her marriage to a man called "Valador" King in Poloni Land. Several speculations have been put forward as to exactly who her father was, but his identity is still uncertain. It is guessed to have been Prince Volodar of Minsk or Prince Vladimir of Halicz. Most probably it was Volodar (Valadar in BelarusianBelarusian language
The Belarusian language , sometimes referred to as White Russian or White Ruthenian, is the language of the Belarusian people...
) of Minsk, who united the principalities of Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Polotsk, and Hrodna
Hrodna
Grodno or Hrodna , is a city in Belarus. It is located on the Neman River , close to the borders of Poland and Lithuania . It has 327,540 inhabitants...
under his rule, and had military interests in the Baltic region (for example, his military campaign in Northern Poland in 1159).
Sophia was the half-sister of Canute V of Denmark
Canute V of Denmark
Canute V of Denmark was a Swedish prince and King of Denmark from 1146 to 1157, as co-regent in shifting alliances with his Sweyn III and Valdemar I. Canute was killed at the so-called Bloodfeast of Roskilde in 1157. Nothing certain is known about his person and character.-Biography:Canute was...
. After her mother's marriage to the Swedish king, she followed her to Sweden and was raised at the Swedish court. She was betrothed to Valdemar in 1154 as a form of alliance between Denmark and Sweden. As she had no property in Denmark, she was promised 1/8 of Canute's estates. She left Sweden and arrived in Denmark at the time of the engagement (1154), but as she was not considered old enough to marry, she was given to the custody of a woman named Bodil. She was married to Valdemar in Viborg
Viborg
Viborg may refer to:*Viborg, Denmark, a city in Jutland, Denmark**Viborg Municipality, a Danish municipality named for the city**Viborg County, a former county of Denmark**Diocese of Viborg**Viborg FF, a professional football team based in Viborg...
in 1157, three years later.
Sophia is described as beautiful, dominant and cruel. According to legend, she murdered Valdemar's mistress Tove and injured his sister Kirsten, but this is not confirmed. She was widowed in 1182. Sophia received a proposal from, and married, Louis III, Landgrave of Thuringia in about 1184, and was escorted to the border by her son and a grand entourage. She was repudiated in 1190 and returned to Denmark.
Children
Sofia married Valdemar I of DenmarkValdemar I of Denmark
Valdemar I of Denmark , also known as Valdemar the Great, was King of Denmark from 1157 until 1182.-Biography:...
(c. 1131–1182), and they had the following children:
- King Canute VI of DenmarkCanute VI of DenmarkCanute VI was King of Denmark . Canute VI was the eldest son of King Valdemar I and Sophia of Polotsk.-Life:...
(1163–1202) - King Valdemar II of DenmarkValdemar II of DenmarkValdemar 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...
(1170–1241) - Sophia (1159–1208), married Siegfried III, Count of Orlamünde
- Margaret and Maria, nuns at RoskildeRoskildeRoskilde 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....
- Richeza of Denmark (died 1220), married King Eric X of SwedenEric X of SwedenEric "X" of Sweden, Swedish: Erik Knutsson; Old Norse: Eiríkr Knútsson was the King of Sweden between 1208 and 1216. Also known as Eric the Survivor when he became King, he was the only remaining son of King Canute I of Sweden and his queen of an undetermined name, who probably was Cecilia...
- Helena (died 1233), married William, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg
- IngeborgIngeborg of Denmark, Queen of FranceIngeborg was a Danish-born queen consort of France.She was a daughter of Valdemar I of Denmark and Sofia of Minsk. Her maternal grandparents were Volodar of Minsk and Richeza of Poland...
(1175–1236), married King Philip II of FrancePhilip II of FrancePhilip II Augustus was the King of France from 1180 until his death. A member of the House of Capet, Philip Augustus was born at Gonesse in the Val-d'Oise, the son of Louis VII and his third wife, Adela of Champagne...