Princess Maria Elizabeth of Sweden
Encyclopedia
Princess Maria Elizabeth of Sweden, (born at Örebro Castle
March 10th, 1596, died at Bråborg palace
August 7th, 1618), was a Swedish princess, daughter of king Charles IX of Sweden
and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp
, and by marriage duchess of Ostrogothia
.
, and her cousin, John, Duke of Finland
. She suffered from some sort of mental problems and was reported as having some sort of attacks or 'convulsions'. She is said to have been very pampered and spoilt by her doting parents, who did everything they could to hide her mental problems. She was also very well educated, interested in literature, and corresponded in latin
with her teachers at the age of ten.
In 1610, Maria Elizabeth was engaged to marry her cousin Prince John of Sweden, Duke of Ostrogothia. The reason for the marriage was political. John was the son of former king John III of Sweden
and had rights to the throne which exceeded those of Maria Elizabeth's father. Although he had given up these rights and was not an ambitious person, the royal family was worried that he would become a threat if he married an ambitious foreign princess.
On November 29th, 1612, at the age of sixteen, Princess Maria Elizabeth celebrated her wedding to the duke of Ostrogothia in the royal palace Tre Kronor
in Stockholm. The couple resided at the Duchy of Ostrogothia. The duke and duchess held a luxurious court in their residences at Vadstena Castle
and Bråborg palace. The marriage is described as unhappy, and Maria blamed her mother for having arranged it. In the summer of 1614, her mental state deteriorated and after this, she is reported to have had periods of insanity, during which she sometimes lost her ability to speak. Her brother the king often sent his own personal doctor to her.
A woman was executed in Söderköping
, after being accused of having cast a spell on the royal couple. The personal priest of Maria Elizabeth, Claudius Prytz, was very active in this matter. The duke issued a new law which made it easier to judge and execute witches, which led to the Finspång witch trial
;
Seven women were executed in Finspång
in 1617. After this, there were few witch trials in Sweden. When the great witch frenzy of 1668-1676 broke out, the witch hunt of the 1610s in Ostrogothia was remembered and pointed out as a warning example by those sceptical towards the belief in witches. Lord High Steward
Per Brahe warned:
. She died childless 'of her lifelong disease' just five months after her husband. They were both buried at Linköping Cathedral
.
Örebro Castle
Örebro Castle is a medieval castle fortification in Örebro, Närke, Sweden. It was expanded during the reign of the royal family Vasa and finally rebuilt about 1900. The castle lies on an island in river Svartån...
March 10th, 1596, died at Bråborg palace
Bråborg Castle
Bråborg was a former Royal castle at Bråviken, Norrköping Municipality in Östergötland, Sweden. Today, a ruin is all that remain of the estate.- History :...
August 7th, 1618), was a Swedish princess, daughter of king Charles IX of Sweden
Charles IX of Sweden
Charles IX of Sweden also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1604 until his death. He was the youngest son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife, Margaret Leijonhufvud, brother of Eric XIV and John III of Sweden, and uncle of Sigismund III Vasa king of both Sweden and Poland...
and Christina of Holstein-Gottorp
Christina of Holstein-Gottorp
Christina of Holstein-Gottorp was a Queen Consort of Sweden as consort of king Charles IX of Sweden, mother of king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, and a Regent of Sweden.-Biography:...
, and by marriage duchess of Ostrogothia
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...
.
Biography
Maria Elisabeth was brought up with her brother, Gustavus AdolphusGustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
, and her cousin, John, Duke of Finland
John, Duke of Ostrogothia
John of Sweden, Duke of Östergötland was a Swedish royal dynast...
. She suffered from some sort of mental problems and was reported as having some sort of attacks or 'convulsions'. She is said to have been very pampered and spoilt by her doting parents, who did everything they could to hide her mental problems. She was also very well educated, interested in literature, and corresponded in latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
with her teachers at the age of ten.
In 1610, Maria Elizabeth was engaged to marry her cousin Prince John of Sweden, Duke of Ostrogothia. The reason for the marriage was political. John was the son of former king John III of Sweden
John 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...
and had rights to the throne which exceeded those of Maria Elizabeth's father. Although he had given up these rights and was not an ambitious person, the royal family was worried that he would become a threat if he married an ambitious foreign princess.
On November 29th, 1612, at the age of sixteen, Princess Maria Elizabeth celebrated her wedding to the duke of Ostrogothia in the royal palace Tre Kronor
Tre kronor (castle)
Tre Kronor or Three Crowns was a castle located in Stockholm, Sweden, on the site where Stockholm Palace is today. It is believed to have been a citadel that Birger Jarl built into a royal castle in the middle of the 13th century...
in Stockholm. The couple resided at the Duchy of Ostrogothia. The duke and duchess held a luxurious court in their residences at Vadstena Castle
Vadstena Castle
Vadstena Castle is a former Royal Castle in Vadstena, the province of Östergötland, Sweden.-History:Vadstena Castle was originally built by King Gustav Vasa in 1545 as a fortress to protect Stockholm from enemies from the south...
and Bråborg palace. The marriage is described as unhappy, and Maria blamed her mother for having arranged it. In the summer of 1614, her mental state deteriorated and after this, she is reported to have had periods of insanity, during which she sometimes lost her ability to speak. Her brother the king often sent his own personal doctor to her.
Witch hunt
The royal couple ruled quite independently in the Duchy; John had the right to issue new laws, and Maria Elizabeth evidently had influence on his rule. During the six years they lived together in Ostrogothia, a witch hunt was conducted in the duchy, for which they, and Maria Elizabeth in particular, are considered to be responsible.A woman was executed in Söderköping
Söderköping
Söderköping is a locality and the seat of Söderköping Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 6,951 inhabitants in 2005. Söderköping is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city...
, after being accused of having cast a spell on the royal couple. The personal priest of Maria Elizabeth, Claudius Prytz, was very active in this matter. The duke issued a new law which made it easier to judge and execute witches, which led to the Finspång witch trial
Finspång witch trial
The Finspång witch trial was a witch trial which took place in Finspång Östergötland in Sweden in 1617. Between seven and nine women died as a result...
;
"Two evil and reputed sorceresses, which Their Graces Duke Johan and his noble consort Maria Elizabeth upon the word of God destroyed, were burned at a place called Skogby vad".
Seven women were executed in Finspång
Finspång
Finspång is a locality and the seat of Finspång Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 12,415 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Finspång is a traditional industrial town. The first industries were established in 1580 when a Royal factory for cannon and cannon balls was chartered. The industry...
in 1617. After this, there were few witch trials in Sweden. When the great witch frenzy of 1668-1676 broke out, the witch hunt of the 1610s in Ostrogothia was remembered and pointed out as a warning example by those sceptical towards the belief in witches. Lord High Steward
Lord High Steward of Sweden
The Lord High Steward or Lord High Justiciar was a highly prominent member of the Swedish Privy Council from the 13th century until 1809, excluding periods when the office was out of use....
Per Brahe warned:
Ten such executions are confirmed. After the death of Maria Elizabeth, the witch hunt was put to an end.
"To be strict with those affected, as they believe in too much which is not real, and executions, will only increase this, as happened in the time of Duke John", and: "The Prime Minister was reminded of the Princess of duke John. She started to burn some, and in the end, there was not a wife who was not accused".
Death
On March 5th, 1618, she was widowed when duke John died at Bråborg. Princess Maria Elizabeth was 22 years old and retired to Stegeborg CastleStegeborg Castle
Stegeborg Castle is a ruined castle in St Anna parish, Söderköping, Östergötland, located on an island in a narrow sound at the bay of Slätbaken.- Brief history :...
. She died childless 'of her lifelong disease' just five months after her husband. They were both buried at Linköping Cathedral
Linköping Cathedral
The Linköping Cathedral is a church in the Swedish city of Linköping. The cathedral is the seat for the bishop in the Church of Sweden Diocese of Linköping. It is situated opposite Linköping Castle.-History:...
.
Styles
- 1604-1612 - Her Royal Highness the Princess of Sweden
- 1612-1618 - Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Ostrogothia
Ancestors
Maria Elizabeth's ancestors in three generationsSources
- Herman LindqvistHerman LindqvistHerman Lindqvist was a Swedish Social Democratic politician and trade union organizer. By profession he was a furniture carpenter, and belonged to the Wood Workers Union. He was the chairman of the Swedish Trade Union Confederation 1900-1920.-References:...
, Historien om Sverige - Bengt Ankarloo, Satans raseri. Runeberg.org, Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon Runeberg.org, Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor
- Historiesajten.se