Barbro Eriksdotter (Bielke)
Encyclopedia
Barbro Eriksdotter (died 1553), known in history as Barbro Påle (In English: "Barbara Stake") was a Swedish noble
and land lord. She has a significant place within Swedish folklore
, where she is known in a legend
ary ghost
story, and is also believed to be the probable historical person behind the legend of pintorpafrun, a known figure representing a stereotype of a cruel lady of the manor
who torture
s and mistreats her subordinates. She was by her contemporaries known for her cruelty toward her tenants and rumoured to be a witch. Another person pointed out as the historical person behind pintorpafrun is Anna Karlsdotter (Vinstorpa)
.
) and Gunilla Johansdotter Bese: among her siblings were riksråd and governor Axel Eriksson (Bielke), riksrådTure Eriksson (Bielke) and the defender of Kalmar
, Anna Eriksdotter (Bielke)
. She was married to her sisters stepson, riksråd knight
Måns Johansson Natt och dag (1500–1555) in Stockholm
in 26 June 1524. By marriage, she took the responsibility of her husbands estate, Brokind Castle
in Östergötland
.
. Legend say, that she had people chain
ed up in the private dungeon
s of the manor, called the "tjuvakistan" (In English:" The coffin of thieves") for the smallest mistakes. To torment the starved prisoners, she had a table filled with food and drink set up in front of them, just out of their reach. When the public complained at the starvation of the prisoners, she is said to have laughed and answered them:
was thereafter forced through her body to make it lay in peace. By this, she became known as Barbro Påle; Barbara Stake. In some versions, her pierced body was afterward thrown in the lake Tarmsjön at Brokind manor. After this, it is said that people have heard a cry from the lake saying: Barbara stake, Barbara stake, the spirit could go no further... Legend say that at late nights, Barbro can be seen dancing with Satan
at Brokind Manor.
Nobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
and land lord. She has a significant place within Swedish folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, where she is known in a legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
ary ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
story, and is also believed to be the probable historical person behind the legend of pintorpafrun, a known figure representing a stereotype of a cruel lady of the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
who torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
s and mistreats her subordinates. She was by her contemporaries known for her cruelty toward her tenants and rumoured to be a witch. Another person pointed out as the historical person behind pintorpafrun is Anna Karlsdotter (Vinstorpa)
Anna Karlsdotter (Vinstorpa)
Anna Karlsdotter , was a Swedish noble and landholder. She was the maternal grandmother of queen Margaret Leijonhufvud and thereby great grandmother of king John III of Sweden and king Charles IX of Sweden...
.
Background
Barbro was born to the noble councillor of state Erik Turesson (BielkeEric Bielke
Eric Bielke , also known as Eerikki Tuurenpoika and Eric Tureson, royal councillor of Sweden, knighted, feudal fiefholder of Vyborg castle .-Biography:...
) and Gunilla Johansdotter Bese: among her siblings were riksråd and governor Axel Eriksson (Bielke), riksrådTure Eriksson (Bielke) and the defender of Kalmar
Kalmar
Kalmar is a city in Småland in the south-east of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It had 62,767 inhabitants in 2010 and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality. It is also the capital of Kalmar County, which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of 233,776 inhabitants .From the thirteenth to the...
, Anna Eriksdotter (Bielke)
Anna Eriksdotter (Bielke)
Anna Eriksdotter was a Swedish noble, commander of the city and castle of Kalmar during the Swedish rebellion against Denmark....
. She was married to her sisters stepson, riksråd knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
Måns Johansson Natt och dag (1500–1555) in Stockholm
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...
in 26 June 1524. By marriage, she took the responsibility of her husbands estate, Brokind Castle
Brokind Castle
Brokind Castle is situated south of Linköping, in the province of Östergötland, Sweden.- See also :* Barbro Eriksdotter...
in Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
.
Land lord
Barbro became infamous for her treatment of the tenants under the manor: she was described as a cruel and hard mistress who enjoyed tormenting her subordinants. She was also pointed out as a witch who could master magicMagic (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...
. Legend say, that she had people chain
Chain
A chain is a sequence of connected links.Chain may also refer to:Chain may refer to:* Necklace - a jewelry which is worn around the neck* Mail , a type of armor made of interlocking chain links...
ed up in the private dungeon
Dungeon
A dungeon is a room or cell in which prisoners are held, especially underground. Dungeons are generally associated with medieval castles, though their association with torture probably belongs more to the Renaissance period...
s of the manor, called the "tjuvakistan" (In English:" The coffin of thieves") for the smallest mistakes. To torment the starved prisoners, she had a table filled with food and drink set up in front of them, just out of their reach. When the public complained at the starvation of the prisoners, she is said to have laughed and answered them:
The prison at Brokind manor became widely known, and the place were the prison was is today still known as "Kisthagen" (In English: "Coffin meadow")
"They have both food and drink by their side ; if they will not eat, they can blame themselwes. "
In folklore
Barbro is the subject of a well-known old ghost story. She was buried in the ancestral tomb of her family in Linköpings domkyrka, but according to legend she did not rest peacefully in her grave, but haunted the cathedral. Her coffin was therefore moved to the parish church at Brokind, Vårdnäs kyrka, but now, she haunted her new burial ground instead. According to legend, a stakeStake
Stake may refer to:* @stake, a computer services company* Equity stake, a share or interest in a business or investment* "Stake", a tent peg* Stake -Military:* Sudis , a fortification carried by Roman legionaries...
was thereafter forced through her body to make it lay in peace. By this, she became known as Barbro Påle; Barbara Stake. In some versions, her pierced body was afterward thrown in the lake Tarmsjön at Brokind manor. After this, it is said that people have heard a cry from the lake saying: Barbara stake, Barbara stake, the spirit could go no further... Legend say that at late nights, Barbro can be seen dancing with Satan
Satan
Satan , "the opposer", is the title of various entities, both human and divine, who challenge the faith of humans in the Hebrew Bible...
at Brokind Manor.
Image
- http://www.edu.linkoping.se/satra/hembygdsboken/barbropale/barbropale.htm (Fictional image of the legendary Barbro Påle)