List of Swedish royal consorts
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This is a list of Swedish queens consort and spouses of Swedish monarchs and regents. The list covers a large time span and the role of a consort has changed much over the centuries. The first Swedish consorts are spoken of in legends. The consorts until c. 1000 are often semi-legendary, as are the monarchs. Between the 14th and 16th century, during periods of de facto Swedish independence from the formal union with Denmark, the Swedish regents did not have the title of king or queen, nor did the spouses of kings have the title of queen consort, although they had the equivalent position. Due to unions with Finland, Denmark and Norway, many of the Swedish consorts were also consorts of monarchs of these countries. Consorts listed during the period of 1380–1520 were in fact also consorts to monarchs of Denmark. The consorts listed during the period of 1814-1905 were also consorts to monarchs of Norway. Finland was from the Middle Ages a part of Sweden, and although there was no official title, such as "Queen Consort of Finland", from the 16th century until the year of 1809, the queen consort of Sweden also held the title "Grand Princess of Finland."[citation needed]
Sweden has had three female monarchs, and one of the consorts listed below is a male.
Semi legendary queens
This is a list of Swedish queens of legend.
- Vana, (wife of Sveigðir)
- Drifa (wife of Vanlade)
- 3rd century : Drott, wife of Domar
- 4th century : Skjalf (wife of Agne)
- 5th century : Bera (wife of Yngvi and Alf)
- 6th century : Yrsa, wife of Eadgils
- 7th century : Gauthildr Algautsdóttir of Götaland, (wife of Ingjald)
- 7th century : Princess of Småland, daughter of king Heidrek of Småland, (wife of Ivar Vidfamne)
- 8th century : Inghild of Sweden (wife of Randver)
- 970-975 : Ingeborg Thrandsdotter (wife of Olof Björnsson)
House of Uppsala and Stenkil
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Świętosława of Poland [1][2] |
Mieszko I of Poland (Piast) |
c. 968 | 9?? | c. 990s divorce |
c. 1014 | Eric VI | ||
|
Aud Haakonsdottir of Lade | Ladejarl Haakon Sigurdsson, regent of Norway | ? | c. 990s | c. 995 husband's death |
? | ||
| Estrid of the Obotrites | a tribal chief of the Polabian Obotrites | c. 979 | c. 1000 | c. 1022 husband's death |
c. 1035 | Olof Skötkonung | ||
| Gunhild Sveinsdotter/Haraldsdotter | Sveinn Hákonarson or Saint Harald | ? | ? | c. 1022 husband's accession |
c. 1050 husband's death |
c. 1060 | Anund Jakob | |
| Astrid Njalsdotter of Skjalgaätten | Nial Finnsson (Skjalga) |
? | c. 1040 | c. 1050 husband's accession |
c. 1060 | Emund | ||
| Saint Ingamoder Emundsdotter of Sweden | Emund the Old of Sweden (Munsö) |
c. 1043 | c. 1058 | c. 1061 husband's accession |
c. 1066 husband's death |
c. 1090 | Stenkil | |
| unknown | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Eric and Eric | |
| unknown [3] |
? | ? | ? | c. 1067 husband's accession |
c. 1070 husband's deposition |
? | Halsten | |
| unknown | ? | ? | ? | c. 1075 husband's accession |
c. 1079 husband's deposition |
? | Anund Gårdske | |
| Gyla [4] |
? | ? | ? | c. 1075 husband's accession |
c. 1079 husband's death |
? | Haakon I | |
| unknown [4] |
? | ? | ? | c. 1079 husband's restoration |
c. 1084 husband's death |
? | Halsten | |
| Helena Sigtornsdotter/Ingvarsdotter [3] |
Sigtorn or Ingvar the Far-Travelled |
? | ? | c. 1079 husband's accession |
c. 1084 husband's deposition |
after 1105 | Inge I | |
| Blot-Tulka | ? | ? | ? | c. 1084 husband's accession |
c. 1087 husband's death |
? | Blot-Sweyn | |
| Helena Sigtornsdotter/Ingvarsdotter [4] |
Sigtorn or Prince Ingvar Vittfarne of Sweden |
? | ? | c. 1088 husband's accession |
c. 1105 husband's death |
after 1105 | Inge I | |
| Ingegerd Haraldsdotter of Norway [1] |
Harald III of Norway (Hardrada) | c. 1046 | c. 1095 or 1096 | c. 1105/1110 husband's accession |
c. 1118 husband's death |
c. 1120 | Philip | |
|
Saint Ragnhild Halstensdotter of Telge | Halsten | ? | ? | ? | c. 1117 | Inge II | |
| Ulvhild Håkansdotter [1][3] |
Haakon Finnsson (Thjotta) | c. 1095 | c. 1116/17 | c. 1125 husband's death |
c. 1148 | |||
| Richeza of Poland [3] |
Boleslaw III of Poland (Piast) | c. 12 April 1106/1116 | c. 1127 | c. 1130 husband's deposition |
after 1156 | Magnus I | ||
House of Sverker and of Eric
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ulvhild Håkansdotter [1][4] |
Haakon Finnsson (Thjotta) | c. 1095 | c. 1134 | c. 1148 | Sverker I | |||
|
Richeza of Poland [4] |
Boleslaw III of Poland (Piast) |
c. 12 April 1116 | c. 1148 | 25 December 1156 husband's assassination |
after 1156 | ||
|
Christina Björnsdatter of Denmark | Björn Haraldsen Ironside (Estridsen) |
c. 1120/25 | 1149 or 1150 | c. 1156 husband's accession |
18 May 1160 husband's assassination |
c. 1170 | Eric IX |
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|
Brigida Haraldsdotter | Harald IV of Norway (Hardrada) |
c. 1131 | ? | 18 May 1160 husband's accession |
c. 1161 husband's assassination |
c. 1208 | Magnus II |
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|
Christine Stigsdatter of Hvide | Stig Tokesen Hvide (Hvide) |
c. 1145 | 1163 or 1164 | 12 April 1167 husband's assassination |
c. 1200 | Charles VII | |
| Cecilia Johansdotter of Sweden | Prince Johan Sverkersson of Sweden (Sverker) |
c. 1145 | 1160 | 12 April 1167 husband's accession |
c. 1190 entered a convent |
after 1193 | Canute I | |
|
|
Benedikte Ebbesdotter of Hvide | Ebbe Sunesson Hvide (Hvide) |
c. 1165/1170 | c. 1185 | c. 1196 husband's accession |
c. 1199/1200 | Sverker II | |
|
Ingegerd Birgersdotter of Bjelbo | Birger Brosa, Earl of the Swedes (Bjälbo) |
c. 1180 | 1200 | 31 January 1208 husband's deposition |
7 April after 1210, possibly 1230 | ||
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|
Richeza of Denmark | Valdemar I of Denmark (Estridsen) |
c. 1190/1191 | 1210 | 10 April 1216 husband's death |
8 May 1220 | Eric X | |
| Helena Pedersdatter Strange | Peder Strangesson | c. 1200 | c. 1225 | c. 1229 husband's accession |
c. 1234 husband's death |
c. 1255 | Canute II | |
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|
Catherine Sunadotter of Ymseborg | Sune Folkason, Lord of Ymseborg (Bjälbo) |
c. 1215 | c. 1243/1244 | 2 February 1250 husband's death |
fl. 17 January 1251 | Eric XI | |
House of Bjälbo
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Sofia Eriksdotter of Denmark | Eric IV of Denmark (Estridsen) |
1241 | 1260 | 22 July 1275 husband's deposition |
1286 | Valdemar | |
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|
Hedwig of Holstein [5][6] |
Gerhard I, Count of Holstein (Schauenburg) |
c. 1260 | 11 November 1276 | 18 December 1290 husband's death |
fl. 1324 | Magnus III | |
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|
Märta Eriksdotter of Denmark [5][6] |
Eric V of Denmark (Estridsen) |
1277 | November 1298 | March or April 1318 husband's deposition |
3 October 1341 | Birger | |
|
Blanche of Namur [5][6][2] |
John I, Marquis of Namur (Dampierre) |
c. 1320 | October or early November 1335 | 1363 | Magnus IV | ||
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|
Beatrice of Bavaria [5][6] |
Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor (Wittelsbach) |
1344 | 17 October 1356 husband's accession as joint-queen with Blanka, her mother-in-law |
20 June 1359 husband's death |
25 December 1359 | Eric XII | |
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|
Margaret I of Denmark [5][6][2] |
Valdemar IV of Denmark (Estridsen) |
Spring 1353 | 9 April 1363 as co-queen consort then claimant | 15 February 1364 husband's deposition (claimed until 1380) |
28 October 1412 | Haakon II | |
House of Mecklenburg
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Richardis of Schwerin [5][6] |
Otto I, Count of Schwerin (Hagen) |
1347/8 | 1365 | 23 April/11 July 1377 | Albert | ||
Union queens and Regent Consorts 1397–1523
Several of the Queens on this list were also Queen of Denmark and Norway, as well as spouses to Swedish regents who did not have the title king. Queen consorts
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Philippa of England [5][6][1][2][7] |
Henry IV of England (Lancaster) | 4 June 1394 | 26 October 1406 | 7 January 1430 | Eric XIII | ||
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|
Dorothea of Brandenburg [5][6][1][2][3][7] |
John, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (Hohenzollern) |
1430/1431 | 12 September 1445 | 6 January 1448 husband's death |
10 November 1495 | Christopher I | |
Regent consorts
- 1448 : Karin Karlsdotter, third wife of Regent Nils Jönsson
- 1448 : Merete Lydekedatter Stralendorp of Venngarn, second wife of Regent Bengt Jönsson.
Queen consorts
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Katarina Karlsdotter of Bjurum [5][6][2] |
Karl Ormsson Gumsehuvud (Gumsehufvud) |
? | 5 October 1438 | 20 June 1448 husband's accession |
7 September 1450 | Charles VIII | |
|
|
Dorothea of Brandenburg [5][6][1][2][4][7] |
John, Margrave of Brandenburg-Kulmbach (Hohenzollern) |
1430/1431 | 28 October 1449 | 23 June 1457 husband's accession |
23 June 1464 husband's deposition |
10 November 1495 | Christian I |
Regent consorts
- 1466-1467 : Elin Gustavsdotter Sture (second time), Regent Erik Axelsson Tott
Queen consorts
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Christina Abrahamsdotter [5][6] |
Abraham Pedersson, governor of Raseborg | 1432 | 1470 | 15 May 1470 husband's death |
1492 | Charles VIII | |
Regent consorts
- 1470-1497 : Ingeborg Tott, (first time), wife of Regent Sten Sture the Elder, d.1507.
Queen consorts
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Christina of Saxony [5][6][1][2][7] |
Ernst, Elector of Saxony (Wettin) |
25 December 1461 | 6 September 1478 | 6 October 1497 husband's accession |
August 1501 husband lost Sweden |
8 December 1521 | John II |
Regent consorts
- 1501-1503 : Ingeborg Tott (second time), wife of Regent Sten Sture the Elder, d.1507.
- 1504-1512 : Mette Dyre, second wife of Svante, Regent of Sweden.
- 1512-1520 : Christina Gyllenstierna, wife of Regent Sten Sture the Younger d.1559.
Queen consorts
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Isabella of Austria [5][6][1][2][7] |
Philip the Handsome (Habsburg) |
18 July 1501 | 12 August 1515 | 1 November 1520 husband's accession |
23 August 1521 husband lost Sweden |
19 January 1526 | Christian II |
House of Vasa
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg [5][6] |
Magnus I, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg (Ascania) |
24 September 1513 | 24 September 1531 | 23 September 1535 | Gustav I | ||
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|
Margareta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud [7] |
Erik Abrahamsson Leijonhufvud (Leijonhufvud) |
1 January 1516 | 1 October 1536 | 26 August 1551 | |||
|
Katarina Gustafsdotter Stenbock [5][6][7] |
Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock (Stenbock) |
22 July 1535 | 22 August 1552 | 29 September 1560 husband's death |
13 December 1621 | ||
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|
Karin Månsdotter [5][6][7] |
Måns | 6 October 1550 | 13 July 1567 (unofficially) 4 July 1568 (officially) |
29 September 1568 husband's deposition |
13 September 1612 | Eric XIV | |
|
Catherine Jagellon of Poland [5][6][7][8][9] |
Sigismund I of Poland (Jagellon) |
1 November 1526 | 4 October 1562 | 29 September 1568 husband's accession |
16 September 1583 | John III | |
|
Gunilla Johansdotter Bielke [5][6][7][9] |
Johan Axelsson Bielke, governor of Östergötland (Bielke) |
25 June 1568 | 15 February 1585 | 17 November 1592 husband's death |
19 July 1597 | ||
|
Anna of Austria [5][6][7][9][10] |
Charles II, Archduke of Austria (Habsburg) |
16 August 1573 | 31 May 1592 | 17 November 1592 husband's accession |
10 February 1598 | Sigismund III Vasa | |
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|
Christina of Holstein-Gottorp [5][6][7][9][11] |
Adolf, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (Holstein-Gottorp) |
13 April 1573 | 8 July 1592 | 22 March 1604 husband's accession |
30 October 1611 husband's death |
8 December 1625 | Charles IX |
|
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg [5][6][7][9] |
John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg (Hohenzollern) |
11 November 1599 | 25 November 1620 | 6 November 1632 husband's death |
28 March 1655 | Gustavus Adolphus | |
House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp [5][6][7][9][12] |
Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (Holstein-Gottorp) |
23 October 1636 | 24 October 1654 | 13 February 1660 husband's death |
24 November 1715 | Charles X | |
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|
Ulrike Eleonora of Denmark [5][6][7][9][12] |
Frederick III of Denmark (Oldenburg) |
11 September 1656 | 6 May 1680 | 26 July 1693 | Charles XI | ||
|
Frederick of Hesse-Kassel | Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel (Hesse-Kassel) |
18 April 1676 | 24 March 1715 | 5 December 1718 wife's accession |
29 February 1720 wife's abdication, his own accession |
25 March 1751 | Ulrika Eleonora |
House of Hesse
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden [5][6][7] |
Charles XI (Palatinate-Zweibrücken) |
23 January 1688 | 24 March 1715 | 24 March 1720 husband's accession |
24 November 1741 | Frederick I | |
House of Holstein-Gottorp
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Louisa Ulrika of Prussia [5][6][7] |
Frederick William I of Prussia (Hohenzollern) |
24 July 1720 | 18 August 1744 | 25 March 1751 husband's accession |
12 February 1771 husband's death |
16 July 1782 | Adolf Frederick |
|
Sophie Magdalena of Denmark [5][6][7] |
Frederick V of Denmark (Oldenburg) |
3 July 1746 | 4 November 1766 | 12 February 1771 husband's accession |
29 March 1792 husband's death |
21 August 1813 | Gustav III |
|
Frederica of Baden [5][6][7] |
Charles Louis, Hereditary Prince of Baden (Zähringen) |
12 March 1781 | 31 October 1797 | 29 March 1809 husband's abdication |
25 September 1826 | Gustav IV Adolf | |
|
Hedwig Elizabeth Charlotte of Holstein-Gottorp [5][6][2][7] |
Frederick August I, Duke of Oldenburg (Holstein-Gottorp) |
22 March 1759 | 7 July 1774 | 6 June 1809 husband's accession |
5 February 1818 husband's death |
20 June 1818 | Charles XIII |
House of Bernadotte
| Picture | Name | Father | Birth | Marriage | Became Consort | Ceased to be Consort | Death | Spouse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Désirée Clary [5][6][2][7] |
François Clary | 8 November 1777 | 17 August 1798 | 5 February 1818 husband's accession |
8 March 1844 husband's death |
17 December 1860 | Charles XIV John |
|
Josephine of Leuchtenberg [5][6][2][7] |
Eugène de Beauharnais (Beauharnais) |
14 March 1807 | 19 June 1823 | 8 March 1844 husband's accession |
8 July 1859 husband's death |
7 June 1876 | Oscar I |
|
Louise of the Netherlands [5][6][2][7] |
Prince Frederick of the Netherlands (Orange-Nassau) |
5 August 1828 | 19 June 1850 | 8 July 1859 husband's accession |
30 March 1871 | Charles XV | |
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|
Sofia of Nassau [5][6][2][7] |
Wilhelm, Duke of Nassau (Nassau-Weilburg) |
9 July 1836 | 6 June 1857 | 18 September 1872 husband's accession |
8 December 1907 husband's death |
30 December 1913 | Oscar II |
|
Victoria of Baden [5][6][7] |
Friedrich I, Grand Duke of Baden (Zähringen) |
7 August 1862 | 20 September 1881 | 8 December 1907 husband's accession |
4 April 1930 | Gustaf V | |
|
Louise of Battenberg [5][6][7] |
Prince Louis of Battenberg (Battenberg) |
13 July 1889 | 3 November 1923 | 29 October 1950 husband's accession |
7 March 1965 | Gustaf VI Adolf | |
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|
Silvia Sommerlath | Walther Sommerlath | 23 December 1943 | 19 June 1976 | Incumbent | - | Carl XVI Gustaf | |
Regents
Some Swedish consorts acted as regents for their husbands or children, and had seats in the governments. These were:
- 1290-1298 : Helwig of Holstein had a seat in the government during the minority of her son
- 1320-1324 : Helwig of Holstein had a seat in the government during the minority of her grandson.
- 1319-1326 : Ingeborg of Norway, during the minority of her son.
- 1424-1430 : Philippa of England, her husbands' representative in the country during the union.
- 1470-1497 : Ingeborg Tott, (inconsistently during these years), during her husbands absence.
- 1504-1512 : Mette Dyre, (inconsistently during these years) seat in the government during husbands absences.
- 1520-1520 : Christina Gyllenstierna, regent and commander of Stockholm during the minority of her son.
- 1605-1605 : Christina of Holstein-Gottorp, during the absence of her husband.
- 1611-1611 : Christina of Holstein-Gottorp, as interim regent during the minority of her son.
- 1660-1672 : Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, during the minority of her son.
- 1697-1697 : Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, during the minority of her grandson.
- 1700-1713 : Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, during the absence of her grandson.
- 1731-1731 : Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden, during the absence of her husband.
- 1738-1738 : Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden, during the absence of her husband.
Queens regnant
This is a list of Swedish queens regnant:
- 1389-1412 : Margaret I of Denmark
- 1632-1654 : Christina of Sweden
- 1718-1720 : Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden (Queen consort 1720-1741)
Titular Queens
- 1396-1405 : Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg, spouse of King Albert of Sweden, deposed in 1389, renounced claims in 1405.
- 1605-1631 : Constance of Austria, spouse of King Sigismund III Vasa
- 1637-1644 : Cecilia Renata of Austria, spouse of King Władysław IV Vasa
- 1646-1660 : Ludwika Maria Gonzaga, spouse of King Władysław IV Vasa
See also
- List of Swedish monarchs
- List of Finnish consorts (c. 13th-century-1809)
- List of Danish consorts (1397–1520)
- List of Norwegian consorts (1814–1905)
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Also Queen consort of Denmark.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Also Queen consort of Norway.
- ^ a b c d e 1st time.
- ^ a b c d e f 2nd time.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Also Queen consort of the Goths.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Also Queen consort of the Geats.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Also Queen consort of the Wends.
- ^ Also Duchess of Finland
- ^ a b c d e f g Also Grand Duchess consort of Finland.
- ^ Also Queen consort of Poland and Grand Duchess consort of Lithuania.
- ^ Also Queen of Finns
- ^ a b Also Duchess and Princess consort of Bremen-Verden.