Katharina Stenbock

Katharina Stenbock

Katharina Stenbock (born July 22, 1535 in Torpa , Västergötland , † December 13, 1621 at Strömsholm Castle , Västmanland ) was Queen of Sweden from 1552 to 1560 .

family

Katharina Stenbock was born as the daughter of Imperial Councilor Gustav Olofsson Stenbock (1504–1571) and his wife Brita Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud (1514–1572) in Torpa south of today's Ulricehamn . The father was the royal governor of Västergötland from 1540 to 1560.

queen

After the death of his second wife Margareta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud , the 56-year-old Swedish King Gustav I Wasa (1496–1560) married the then seventeen-year-old Katharina Stenbock. The wedding took place on August 22, 1552 in the monastery church of Vadstena Castle. Archbishop Laurentius Petri in particular had previously opposed a marriage for theological reasons , since Katharina's mother was the sister of the late queen. King Gustav I. Wasa was finally able to prevail. The marriage is described as very happy despite the large age difference.

widow

Katharina Stenbock outlived her husband by 61 years. After the death of Gustav I. Wasa, she spent most of her life at Strömsholm Castle . Especially as a mediator between her quarreling step-sons , whom she all survived, she played a stabilizing role in Swedish history. She died at the age of 85. Katharina Stenbock is buried in Uppsala Cathedral today .

literature

• Katharina Stenbock . In: Herman Hofberg, Frithiof Heurlin, Viktor Millqvist, Olof Rubenson (eds.): Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon . 2nd Edition. tape 1 : A-K . Albert Bonniers Verlag, Stockholm 1906, p. 568 (Swedish, runeberg.org ).

Web links

Commons : Katharina Stenbock  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

predecessor	Office	Successor
Margareta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud	Queen of Sweden 1552–1560	Karin Månsdotter