Hedwig of Holstein

Hedwig of Holstein
Hedwig of Holstein on a seal
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure	1276–1290
Coronation	29 June 1281
Born	before 1264
Died	c. 1325
Burial	Riddarholm Church
Spouse	Magnus III of Sweden
Issue	Ingeborg, Queen of Denmark Birger of Sweden Eric, Duke of Sudermannia Valdemar, Duke of Finland Richeza Magnusdotter
House	House of Schauenburg
Father	Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe
Mother	Elisabeth of Mecklenburg

Hedwig of Holstein^[1] or Helvig^{[2][3][4][5][6]}(Swedish: Helvig,^[7] German: Helwig) (1260–1324) was a Swedish queen consort, spouse of King Magnus III of Sweden. She was the child of Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe (died 1290) and Elisabeth of Mecklenburg (died 1280).

Biography

Hedwig was married to Magnus Ladulås in 1276, and was granted the fief of Dåvö in Munktorp in Västmanland. Magnus succeeded in preventing a Danish-Holstein alliance by marrying her. However, he had obtained a dispensation for their marriage only after the wedding.^[8]

Her father was captured during the Folkunge party revolt (Folkungaupproret) by rebellious noblemen in Skara in 1278 and the queen was also targeted. The actions of the rebels were well timed; they coincided with her journey through Sweden. She sought refuge in the convent in the city.^[9]

Hedwig was crowned Queen of Sweden in the city of Söderköping on 29 June 1281; this is the first confirmed coronation of a queen consort in Sweden. It included the prayers for her fertility, which was the matter of great importance.^[10] She founded the Greyfriars convent (Gråmunkekloster) in Stockholm and several other churches and convents. As a queen, however, she is not very much heard of, despite the fact that she held the position for fourteen years, she lived a discreet life, both as a queen and as a dowager queen. She took a prominent part in processions which accompanied the inauguration of bishops, celebrations of a feast day and the installation of relics, such as the Mass for Saint Erik in 1277.^[11]

After the death of her spouse in 1290, Hedwig acted as one of the executors of the will of the King. In 1291, she withdrew to her estate Dåvö in Västmanland. She is not known to have taken any political role, formal or informal, during or after the reign of her spouse. She was described as a noble, loyal and peace-loving mother figure, tormented by the conflicts between her sons. She acted as a foster mother for her son's future bride, Martha of Denmark, who spent a lot of her childhood in Sweden as the future Queen of Sweden after 1290. In 1302, she was present at the coronation of her son.

As dowager queen, she governed Fjärdhundraland, which was given to her as dower (mourning gift).^[12]

Queen Hedwig is buried in Riddarholm Church in Stockholm, with her husband and her daughter Richeza.

Children

Hedwig's wedding took place at Kalmar castle the 11 November 1276 with king Magnus III Ladulås of Sweden. They had the following children: ^[13]

• Ingeborg Magnusdotter of Sweden, born abt. 1279. Married King Eric VI of Denmark, Erik Menved.
• Birger Magnusson, born abt. 1280, king of Sweden.
• Eric Magnusson, Duke of Södermanland in 1302 and Halland etc. c 1305, born abt. 1282. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköpingshus Castle while imprisoned by his brother, King Birger.
• Valdemar Magnusson, Duke of Finland in 1302 and Öland 1310. Died of starvation 1318 at Nyköpingshus castle while imprisoned by his brother King Birger.
• Richeza Magnusdotter of Sweden, abbess of the convent of St. Clara at Stockholm. Died after 1347.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Hedwig of Holstein

16. Adolf II, Count of Holstein               8. Adolf III, Count of Holstein                       17. Mechthild of Schwarzburg               4. Adolf IV, Count of Holstein                             18. Burchard II of Querfurt, Burgrave of Magdeburg               9. Adelheid of Querfurt                       18. Mathilde of Gleichen               2. Gerhard I, Count of Holstein-Itzehoe                                   20. Bernhard II, Lord of Lippe               10. Hermann II, Lord of Lippe                       21. Heilwig of Are-Hostaden               5. Heilwig of Lippe                             22. Simon I, Count of Tecklenburg               11. Oda of Tecklenburg                       23. Oda of Berg-Altena               1. Hedwig of Holstein                                         24. Henry Borwin I, Lord of Mecklenburg               12. Henry Borwin II, Lord of Mecklenburg                       25. Matilda of Blieskastel, illegitimate daughter of Henry the Lion               6. John I, Lord of Mecklenburg                             26. Sverker II of Sweden               13. Christine of Sweden, Princess of Mecklenburg                       27. Benedicta Ebbesdotter               3. Elisabeth of Mecklenburg                                   14. Poppo VII, Count of Henneberg                       7. Luitgard of Henneberg                             15. Elisabeth of Anhalt

Notes

1. Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783, p. 390.
2. Lagerqvist & Åberg in Kings and Rulers of Sweden ISBN 91-87064-35-9 pp. 20-21
3. Article in Nordstjernan 2013-12-11
4. Medieval Scandinavia: An Encyclopedia 1993 p. 108
5. Biographical data from Nordic Academic Press pp. 1&3
6. The Chronicle of Duke Erik: by Eva Osterberg ISBN 9789185509577 pp. 67, 240, 252, 258 & 260
7. Lars O. Lagerqvist & Nils Åberg in Kings and Rulers of Sweden ISBN 91-87064-35-9, 2002 pp. 20 & 21
8. Philip Line, Kingship and state formation in Sweden, 1130-1290, BRILL, 2007, 9004155783, p. 135.
9. Philip Line,
10. Philip Line,
11. Philip Line,
12. Philip Line,
13. Philip Line,

References

• Dick Harrison: Jarlens Sekel, Ordfront Förlag, 2002
• Nordisk Familjebok, Uggleupplagan, band 11, sida 373, Stockholm 1909
• Åke Ohlmarks: Alla Sveriges drottningar (All the queens of Sweden) (Swedish)
• Svenska Familje-Journalen, band XI, årgång 1872, s. 194

Succession