Catherine Karlsdotter

Catherine of Bjurum
Queen consort of Sweden and Norway
Reign	1448–1450
Coronation	2 July 1448
Died	7 September 1450 Stockholm, Sweden
Burial	Vadstena Abbey
Spouse	Charles VIII of Sweden, I of Norway
Issue	Margareta Karlsdotter (Bonde) Magdalena Karlsdotter (Bonde) Birgitta Karlsdotter
House	Gumsehufvud
Father	Karl Ormsson (Gumsehuvud)

Catherine's grave at Vadstena

The thomb of Catherine in Vadstena. Drawing from 1820.

Catherine of Bjurum, in her lifetime called Katarina Karlsdotter, in history known as Katarina Gumsehuvud (died 7 September 1450) was the Queen consort of Sweden from 1448 to 1450 and later the Queen consort of Norway from 1449 to 1450. She was the second wife of Charles VIII of Sweden, I of Norway.

Biography

Daughter of the nobleman Karl Ormsson (Gumsehuvud), she was married to the regent (and then widower) Karl Knutsson on 5 October 1438, when she became first lady and functioned as Queen in a ceremonial sense until 1440, when her husband was replaced as regent. Before the marriage, dispensation was attained by the Pope, as Catherine was related to the first wife of Karl, to ensure that the children born in the marriage would be regarded as legitimate.

In 1448, her spouse became regent again and then crowned himself King. She was crowned Queen of Sweden in the cathedral in Uppsala on 2 July 1448. The year after, her husband made himself King of Norway also, making her Queen of Norway. The marriage is described as very happy and resulted in nine children. It was said that "Their relationship had always been of the best kind". Their second daughter, Magdalena, married Ivar Axelsson (Tott), uncle of Ingeborg Tott.

Queen Katarina is described as beautiful and cheerful; she created a nice environment and a relaxed atmosphere at court, and she was forthcoming to those who came seeking audience.

In 1450, she became one of many who died of the plague in Stockholm, and was deeply mourned by the king. She was buried in 1451 in Vadstena Abbey.

Her husband married a third time; the same year he died in 1470, he married his Finnish mistress, Kristina Abrahamsdotter, who brought back from Finland in 1464 and with whom he already had children.

Children

• Margaret Karlsdotter (Bonde) (1442–1462)
• Magdalen Karlsdotter (Bonde) (1445–1495), married to noble Ivar Axelsson (Tott) 1466
• Richeza Karlsdotter (Bonde) (born ca. 1445) nun at Vadstena Abbey.
• Bridget Karlsdotter (Bonde) (1446–1469) nun at Vadstena Abbey.
• four sons died early

References

• http://runeberg.org/sqvinnor/0093.html
• http://historiska-personer.nu/min-s/p37dc4328.html
• Wilhelmkina stålberg: Anteqningar om svenska qvinnor (Notes on Swedish women) (Swedish)
• Åke Ohlmarks: Alla Sveriges drottningar (All the queens of Sweden) (Swedish)
• Herman Lindvist: Historien om alla Sveriges drottningar (History of all the queens of Sweden) (Swedish) (2006)
• Lars O. Lagerqvist: Sveriges regenter - från forntid till nutid (The regents of Sweden - from then to now)
• Dick Harrison: Karl Knutsson