Hedwig Eleonora of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf

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Hedwig Eleonora of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf.

Hedwig Eleonora of Duke of Holstein-Gottorp (* 23. October 1636 at Schloss Gottorf ; † 24. November 1715 in Stockholm ) was 1654 to 1660 Swedish queen.

origin

Hedwig Eleonora of Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf was the daughter of Duke Friedrich III. von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf (1597–1659) and his wife Maria Elisabeth von Sachsen (1610–1684).

queen

On October 24, 1654, Hedwig Eleonora married the Swedish King Karl X. Gustav (1622–1660). The wedding took place in Stockholm Castle . Actually, Karl should have married his cousin, Queen Christina . However, this refused a marriage on principle and remained single for life. After her abdication, Charles became King of Sweden on June 6, 1654.

The marriage between Karl X. Gustav and Hedwig Eleonora was purely politically inspired. With the alliance, the two main enemies of Denmark joined forces. It should therefore have major political consequences for the clashes in Northern Europe.

In 1655 Hedwig Eleonora gave birth to the only child of the marriage, the future King Charles XI. (1655–1697), who ascended the Swedish throne in 1660.

widow

After the death of her husband, Hedwig Eleonora remained the widowed queen for 55 years. She remained visible in Swedish politics and society until her death. Hedwig Eleonora belonged among other things to the guardianship governments for her son and her grandson, King Karl XII. (1682-1718) at.

character

Hedwig Eleonora is described as a subtle queen. She was very fond of the arts, particularly painting and architecture . Under their leadership, among other things, Drottningholm Palace , the current residence of the Swedish kings, was built.

She was less interested in politics and did not play a decisive role in the guardianship governments. Still, she was sociable and had a strong, sometimes choleric will. During the long war-related absences of her husband (and later her grandson) from court, she took on most of the ceremonial duties. She emphasized her role as the hostess and first lady of Sweden until her death .

Hedwig Eleonora deliberately overshadowed her Danish daughter-in-law, Queen Ulrike (1656–1693). Your son Charles XI. remained connected to his mother all his life and was probably strongly influenced by her. Especially the anti-Danish policy of Charles XI. is in part attributed to Hedwig Eleonora's influence.

Impact history

Several churches were named after her during her lifetime and posthumously, see Hedwig Eleonora Church .

literature

Web links

Commons : Hedwig Eleonora von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Illustration from 1729: Solennis Coronatio Serenissimæ Principis ac Dominæ Dnæ Hedwigis Eleonoræ . ( Digitized version )
predecessor Office Successor
Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg Queen of Sweden
1654–1660 		Ulrike Eleonore of Denmark and Norway
personal data
SURNAME Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf, Hedwig Eleonora von
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swedish queen
DATE OF BIRTH October 23, 1636
PLACE OF BIRTH Gottorf Castle
DATE OF DEATH November 24, 1715
Place of death Stockholm