Catherine of Sweden (1448) grave drawing & family seal 1820 & 1879

Catherine Karlsdotter, in Swedish called ''Katarina Karlsdotter'' and later ''Katarina Gumsehuvud'' (died 7 September 1450) was

Queen of Sweden The monarchy of Sweden is the monarchical head of state of Sweden,See the #IOG, Instrument of Government, Chapter 1, Article 5. which is a constitutional monarchy, constitutional and hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system.Parliamentary ...

from 1448 to 1450 and

Queen of Norway The list of Norwegian monarchs ( no, kongerekken or ''kongerekka'') begins in 872: the traditional dating of the Battle of Hafrsfjord, after which victorious King Harald Fairhair merged several petty kingdoms into that of his father. Named after ...

from 1449 to 1450 as the second wife of Charles VIII / I.

Biography

Catherine was the daughter of the nobleman Karl Ormsson (Gumsehuvud). She married the Regent (and then widower) Charles on 5 October 1438, when she became

first lady First lady is an unofficial title usually used for the wife, and occasionally used for the daughter or other female relative, of a non-monarchical A monarchy is a form of government in which a person, the monarch, is head of state fo ...

and functioned as Queen in a ceremonial sense until 1440, when her husband was replaced as regent. Before their marriage, dispensation was obtained from the Pope, as Catherine was related to Charles's first wife. This was to ensure that children born in the marriage would be regarded as legitimate. In 1448, her spouse became regent again and then was crowned King. She was crowned Queen of Sweden in

Uppsala Cathedral Uppsala Cathedral ( sv, Uppsala domkyrka) is a cathedral located between the University Hall of Uppsala University and the Fyris river in the centre of Uppsala, Sweden. A church of the Church of Sweden, the national church, in the Lutheran tra ...

on 2 July 1448. The next year, her husband became King of Norway also, making her Queen of Norway. The marriage is described as very happy and resulted in nine children. It was said that ''"Their relationship had always been of the best kind".'' Their second daughter, Magdalene, married Ivar Axelsson (Tott), an uncle of

Ingeborg Tott Lady Ingeborg Åkesdotter Tott or 'Ingeborg Aagesdotter of the Thott' (Year of birth unknown –December 1507), in her lifetime called Ingeborg Åkesdotter or simply Fru Ingeborg (Lady Ingeborg),Biografiskt lexikon för Finland 1. Svenska tide ...

. Queen Catherine was described as beautiful and cheerful; she created a nice environment and a relaxed atmosphere at court, and she was forthcoming to those who came seeking audience. In 1450, she became one of many who died of the

plague Plague or The Plague may refer to: Agriculture, fauna, and medicine *Plague (disease), a disease caused by ''Yersinia pestis'' * An epidemic of infectious disease (medical or agricultural) * A pandemic caused by such a disease * A swarm of pes ...

Stockholm Stockholm () is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, largest city of Sweden as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people liv ...

, and was deeply mourned by the king. She was buried in 1451 in

Vadstena Abbey The Abbey Pax Mariae ( la, Monasterium sanctarum Mariæ Virgìnis et Brigidæ in Vatzstena), more commonly referred to as Vadstena Abbey, situated on Lake Vättern in the Diocese of Linköping, Sweden, was the motherhouse of the Bridgettine Orde ...

Children

* Margaret Karlsdotter (Bonde) (1442–1462) * Magdalen Karlsdotter (Bonde) (1445–1495), married to noble Ivar Axelsson (Tott) 1466 * Richeza Karlsdotter (Bonde) (born ca. 1445)

nun A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...

. * Bridget Karlsdotter (Bonde) (1446–1469)

. * four sons died early

References

* Wilhelmina stålberg:
Anteqningar om svenska qvinnor
' (Notes on Swedish women) (Swedish) * Åke Ohlmarks: ''Alla Sveriges drottningar'' (All the queens of Sweden) (Swedish) * Lars O. Lagerqvist: ''Sveriges regenter - från forntid till nutid'' (The regents of Sweden - from then to now) * Dick Harrison: ''Karl Knutsson'' , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Catherine of Bjurum Norwegian royal consorts Catherine 1448 15th-century births 1450 deaths Infectious disease deaths in Sweden Burials at Vadstena Abbey 15th-century Swedish people 15th-century deaths from plague (disease) 15th-century Swedish women 15th-century Norwegian people 15th-century Norwegian women