Sophia of Denmark

Sophia of Denmark Queen consort of Sweden Tenure 1261–1275 Born 1241 Died 1286 Spouse Valdemar of Sweden House House of Estridsen Father Eric IV of Denmark Mother Jutta of Saxony Religion Roman Catholicism

Sophia of Denmark (Sofia Eriksdotter; 1241–1286) was Queen consort of Sweden as the spouse of King Valdemar of Sweden.

Life

Sophia was the eldest daughter of Eric IV of Denmark and Jutta of Saxony. Her father was murdered in 1250 when she and her younger sisters, Agnes and Jutta of Denmark were young. As he left no son, Eric IV's brothers, Abel of Denmark and then Christopher I of Denmark assumed the Danish throne.

Sophia was married to Valdemar I of Sweden in 1261, as part of Birger Jarl's policy of peace between Scandinavian kingdoms. It is said, that when she was informed about the arranged marriage, she left the room, went in to her chamber and asked God: Give me happiness with him and him with me.^[1] Sophia was described as a politically interested, witty beauty with a quick tongue. She was also known for her interest in chess.

In 1269, Sophia visited her father's grave in Denmark as well as visiting her sisters, Agnes and Jutta, who had both been placed in Agnesklostret convent in Roskilde. In 1272, Sophia's sister Jutta visited Sweden and became Valdemar's mistress. The affair resulted in a child born in 1273. The following year, Jutta was again placed in a convent and Valdemar was forced to make a pilgrimage to Rome to ask for the Pope's absolution. According to legend, Queen Sophia said: I will never recover from this sorrow. Curse the day my sister saw the kingdom of Sweden.^[2]

In 1275, Valdemar was deposed by his younger brother, Magnus III of Sweden after the battle of Hova. The news was said to have reached the queen while she played chess.^[3] Many stories are told about her sharp tongue. She is said to have complained about her husband's brothers as "Magnus Ticklingfingers" and "Eric Everything-and-anything". In 1277, Sophia separated from her spouse and returned to Denmark. Her husband lived openly with mistresses in his comfortable prison until his death in 1302. In 1283, the ex-queen gave her income in the fishing of Norrköping to the Saint Martin Abbey in Skänninge. This is the first document in which the city of Norrköping is mentioned. She died in 1286.

Family

Sofia married Valdemar in 1260 and separated in 1277. They had six children:

1. Ingeborg Valdemarsdotter of Sweden (1263–1292), countess of Holstein, spouse of Gerhard II, Count of Holstein-Plön.
2. Erik Valdemarsson of Sweden (1272–1330)
3. Marina Valdemarsdotter of Sweden, spouse of Rudolf, Count of Diepholz
4. Rikissa Valdemarsdotter of Sweden (d. c. 1292), Queen of Poland, spouse of Przemysł II of Poland
5. Katarina Valdemarsdotter of Sweden (d. 1283)
6. Margareta Valdemarsdotter of Sweden, a nun.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Sophia of Denmark

16. Canute Lavard               8. Valdemar I of Denmark                       17. Ingeborg of Kiev               4. Valdemar II of Denmark                             18. Volodar of Minsk               9. Sophia of Minsk                       19. Richeza of Poland               2. Eric IV of Denmark                                   20. Afonso I of Portugal               10. Sancho I of Portugal                       21. Maud of Savoy               5. Berengaria of Portugal                             22. Ramon Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona               11. Dulce of Aragon                       23. Petronila of Aragon               1. Sophia of Denmark                                         24. Albert the Bear               12. Bernard III, Duke of Saxony                       25. Sophie of Winzenburg               6. Albert I, Duke of Saxony                             26. Canute V of Denmark               13. Birgitte of Denmark                       3. Jutta of Saxony                                   28. Leopold V, Duke of Austria               14. Leopold VI, Duke of Austria                       29. Helena of Hungary               7. Agnes of Austria                             15. Theodora Angelina

Notes

1. Christer Öhman (Swedish): Helgon, bönder och krigare. Berättelser ur den svenska historien (Saints, farmers and warriors. Stories from the history of Sweden)
2. Christer Öhman (Swedish): Helgon, bönder och krigare. Berättelser ur den svenska historien (Saints, farmers and warriors. Stories from the history of Sweden)
3. Christer Öhman (Swedish): Helgon, bönder och krigare. Berättelser ur den svenska historien (Saints, farmers and warriors. Stories from the history of Sweden)

References

• Åke Ohlmarks: Alla Sveriges drottningar (All the queens of Sweden) (Swedish)
• Christer Öhman: Helgon, bönder och krigare. Berättelser ur den svenska historien (Saints, farmers and warriors. Stories from the history of Sweden) (Swedish)