Anna (d.1568)
Encyclopedia
Anna Phersönernas moder, ("Anna, mother of the sons of Per"), (died 18/21 September 1568, Stockholm
), whose last name is unknown, was the mother of the Swedish statesman Jöran Persson
, the powerful adviser of king Eric XIV of Sweden
. She was rumored to be a witch, and considered to have wielded a significant (and disliked) influence over her son and the affairs of state.
. It was commonly accepted and well known that the Catholic priests had relationships with their house keepers, who were referred to as "Red-Deja" or "Forssia". After the protestant reformation
, the priests were expected to marry their mistresses, and Anna belonged to the last "house keepers" and the first vicar's wives when Petrus married her in about 1530. Her husband later lived as a merchant
in Stockholm, but returned to the profession of a priest in 1548, when he was employed in Strängnäs
.
at the Royal Strömsholm Palace
, which after the king's death in 1560 was made residence of the court of the queen dowager Catherine
. Her son was appointed adviser of the new king, Eric XIV, and often considered as the country's real regent during the 1560s. Her other son, Christern Persson (d.1567), was also employed in the king's council. The two brothers became eminently unpopular, and Anna herself was rumored by the propaganda to influence them and effect their rule through magic
.
. The wife of Persson, Anna Andersdotter, was arrested, and it is said that she was accused of sorcery; whatever the case, she managed to escape and was given protection by Duke Charles. John also had Jöran's mother Anna arrested, and ordered that she be taken to the place of execution together with her son to be executed with him. It is commonly claimed that she had been judged for sorcery, but not much seems to be known about this trial. On the way to the execution, however, where she was taken on horseback, she threw herself or fell off the horse and broke her neck. There are some different versions of this. According to some sources, a pike was put through her back and her corpse was buried without ceremonies on the ground of the execution place beneath the corpse of her son.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
), whose last name is unknown, was the mother of the Swedish statesman Jöran Persson
Jöran Persson
Jöran Persson, alternatively Göran Persson , was King Eric XIV of Sweden's favorite, most trusted, counsellor and head of the King's network of spies. He was widely seen as a Machiavellian figure, and of holding too much influence over Eric...
, the powerful adviser of king Eric XIV of Sweden
Eric XIV of Sweden
-Family and descendants:Eric XIV had several relationships before his marriage. With Agda Persdotter he had four daughters:#Margareta Eriksdotter , married 1592 to Olov Simonsson, vicar of Horn....
. She was rumored to be a witch, and considered to have wielded a significant (and disliked) influence over her son and the affairs of state.
First vicar's wife
Anna was what was referred to as a "house keeper" to the Catholic priest Curatus Petrus (Per Joensson), who is confirmed as a priest in 1526, when he acted on the behalf of king Gustav Vasa during negotiations in SalaSala
- Geography :* Sala Municipality, Sweden - a municipality in Sweden* Sala, Sweden - a city in Sweden, seat of Sala Municipality* Sala municipality, Latvia - a municipality in Latvia* Sala, Latvia - a village in Latvia, an administrative centre of Sala municipality...
. It was commonly accepted and well known that the Catholic priests had relationships with their house keepers, who were referred to as "Red-Deja" or "Forssia". After the protestant reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the priests were expected to marry their mistresses, and Anna belonged to the last "house keepers" and the first vicar's wives when Petrus married her in about 1530. Her husband later lived as a merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
in Stockholm, but returned to the profession of a priest in 1548, when he was employed in Strängnäs
Strängnäs
Strängnäs is a locality and the seat of Strängnäs Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 12,296 inhabitants in 2005. It is located by Lake Mälaren and is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Strängnäs, a former Roman Catholic and present Lutheran Diocese, with the Strängnäs Cathedral, built...
.
Alleged witch
Both Anna and her husband was well seen by king Gustav Vasa, and in the 1550s, Anna was appointed house keeperHousekeeper (servant)
A housekeeper is an individual responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of the interior of a residence, including direction of subordinate maids...
at the Royal Strömsholm Palace
Strömsholm Palace
Strömsholm Palace, sometimes called Strömsholm Castle , is a Swedish royal palace. The baroque palace is built on the site of a fortress from the 1550s, located on an island in the Kolbäcksån river at the west end of Lake Mälaren...
, which after the king's death in 1560 was made residence of the court of the queen dowager Catherine
Katarina Stenbock
Catherine Stenbock was the third and last consort of King Gustav I of Sweden, and Queen consort of Sweden between 1552 and 1560...
. Her son was appointed adviser of the new king, Eric XIV, and often considered as the country's real regent during the 1560s. Her other son, Christern Persson (d.1567), was also employed in the king's council. The two brothers became eminently unpopular, and Anna herself was rumored by the propaganda to influence them and effect their rule through magic
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
.
Death
In 1567, Jöran was deposed and imprisoned, but was reinstated in 1568, which increased the hostility against king Eric, and the same year, the king was deposed. Jöran Persson was arrested and executed brutally by the new king, John IIIJohn III of Sweden
-Family:John married his first wife, Catherine Jagellonica of Poland , house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on 4 October 1562. In Sweden, she is known as Katarina Jagellonica. She was the sister of king Sigismund II Augustus of Poland...
. The wife of Persson, Anna Andersdotter, was arrested, and it is said that she was accused of sorcery; whatever the case, she managed to escape and was given protection by Duke Charles. John also had Jöran's mother Anna arrested, and ordered that she be taken to the place of execution together with her son to be executed with him. It is commonly claimed that she had been judged for sorcery, but not much seems to be known about this trial. On the way to the execution, however, where she was taken on horseback, she threw herself or fell off the horse and broke her neck. There are some different versions of this. According to some sources, a pike was put through her back and her corpse was buried without ceremonies on the ground of the execution place beneath the corpse of her son.