Edele Jernskjæg (died 1512) was a Danish noble, courtier and the
royal mistress of King
John I of Denmark.
Daughter of the poor noble Mikkel Andersen Jernskjæg and Margrethe Andersdatter af Særslev, she was made
maid of honor of the queen,
Christina of Saxony, in 1496. She followed the queen to
Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
in 1499, where her affair with the king drew attention. In Sweden, it was noticed that she used the king's personal sleigh, and the political opposition used the relationship between her and the king in their criticism against John's rule.
In 1501, she returned to Denmark with the king, while the queen stayed behind. The monarch married her to the noble Torben Bille, who was made the master of the
Abrahamstrup (
Jægerspris) and
Vordingborg
Vordingborg () is a market town and old ferry town on the south coast of the island of Zealand in Denmark. Because of three large estates surrounding the town, a coherent urban development has not been possible, which is the reason why three sat ...
. The relationship between Edele and king John continued after her marriage, and the monarch visited her regularly at Vordingborg until her death in 1512, shortly before his.
She was described as a humorous beauty.
References
1512 deaths
Mistresses of Danish royalty
Danish ladies-in-waiting
16th-century Danish nobility
Year of birth unknown
16th-century Danish women
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