Princess Elizabeth of Sweden

Princess Elizabeth of Sweden, also Elisabet Gustavsdotter Vasa (1549-1597), was a Swedish Princess, daughter of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden and his second wife, Margareta Leijonhufvud, a Swedish noblewoman.

In contrast to her older sister Sofia Vasa, who was described as the most unhappy of the children of Gustav Vasa, Princess Elizabeth has been described as the most happy one; she seemed to have an easygoing, cheerful and calm personality which made her life harmonious. She was described as blond and pretty, although no portrait exists which could with certainty be said to be her (though a portrait originally believed to be of Karin Månsdotter now is believed to be of her).

This disputed picture has long been considered to be of Karin Månsdotter, but now, it is presumed to be of Princess Elizabeth of Sweden; the text on the picture is believed to have been added much later, when one felt a need of a portrait of Queen Karin, but it was probably painted in ca 1580, when Elizabeth was engaged.

Princess Elizabeth was betrothed in 1562 to Christopher, the third son of Albert VII, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, but soon after, he was captured and held hostage for several years, and the engagement was considered to be broken. Her brothers negotiated for several years to arrange a marriage for her to ensure the highest possible political and economical status, in both Germany and Italy, among others with the Grand Duke of Tuscany, and in 1574, arrangements was made between her brother John III and Catherine, Queen Mother of France to marry her to Henry III of France; everything was almost decided when the French king announced that he had long ago decided to marry Louise of Lorraine-Vaudémont.

Elizabeth herself lived quite happily in the Swedish court and did not appear sorry that the marriage negoitations failed. She had her own court and was responsible for the upbringing of her brothers' illegitimate children, and it was among her maids that her brother Eric XIV first met Karin Månsdotter, his future mistress and Queen, and when King Eric was deposed in 1568, she was the last to abandon him, leaving the city in a boat together with her stepmother Dowager Queen Katarina. She seems to have been a stabilising factor and mediator among her often quarreling siblings.

In 1577, the old engagement to now recently widowed Christopher of Mecklenburg was acknowledged again and in 1581 they married and she left for Germany to live with him in Schwerin. Their long wait for each other have been considered a sign that this was not merely an arranged marriage, but also a love match; and it does seem, judging from letters, that their union was happier and more personal than most royal marriages of the time. They had one surviving child, Margareta Elisabeth, later Duchess of Mecklenburg, who married her kinsman Johann Albrecht II, Duke of Mecklenburg-Güstrow in 1608 and had issue.

In 1592, she became a widow, and the following year she returned to Sweden; she died quickly and unexpectedly in 1597 during negotiations regarding another marriage.

References

• Herman Lindqvist, "Historien om Sverige. Gustav Vasa och hans söner och döttrar" (The History of Sweden. Gustav Vasa and his sons and daughters).