Benedicta Hvide also called Benedicta Ebbesdotter (c. 1165 or 1170 – c. 1199 or 1200) was Queen of Sweden as the first wife of king Sverker II. She belonged to the House of Hvide of Denmark and in Sweden was often called Queen Bengta.
Our knowledge of Benedicta comes from a genealogy of the Hvide family compiled in the Sorø Abbey in the 14th century. From the terse data of this source, the following life-story has been deduced. Benedicta was born in Knadrup in Northern Zealand in Denmark between 1165 and 1170 as the child of the noble Ebbe Sunesson Hvide. The Swedish infant prince Sverker Karlsson was brought to Denmark in 1167 after the killing of his father, and was apparently raised by his powerful maternal relatives.[1] Most probably he met his future bride, a kinswoman of his mother, there, and married her when reaching manly years. This may have happened in the mid-1180s.
Queen of Swedenedit
In 1195 or 1196, her spouse became king of Sweden, and she became queen consort. The same year, her relative, the priest Andreas Sunesson, returned to Denmark from France and became the leading clerical politician in the archbishopric under Absalon, also a relative of Benedicta. It is probable that Queen Benedicta shared the strongly pro-clerical position of her husband, and supported the power aspirations of the Church and the archbishop Olov Lambatunga in Uppsala.
Composite showing the location of Sverker I's family grave at Alvastra Abbey where Queen Benedicta has been assumed to be buried
Since Sverker's next queen Ingegerd gave birth to a son in 1201, it is assumed that Queen Benedicta died no later than in 1199 or 1200. The cause of her death is unknown, but is sometimes guessed that she succumbed in childbirth. However, a grave inscription from the so-called Sverker Chapel in Alvastra has been associated with her. It mentions "the servant of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Benedicta", with an expression of hope that "she may find rest from the horrible disease which struck her".[2]
Problems of chronologyedit
The extreme curtness of the sources on Sverker II's wives has given rise to an alternative chronology of the marriages. It has been suggested that Ingegerd was in fact his first consort, which tied him to the powerful House of Bjälbo in Östergötland. Ingegerd's father, Jarl Birger Brosa, was presumably instrumental in arranging the peaceful succession in 1195/96, when Sverker was enthroned after the death of his father's murderer Canute I. On the other hand, Sverker was able to gather strong support from his Danish in-laws when he tried to take back his kingdom from Canute I's son Eric in 1208. This support would have come more naturally if Sverker was married to Benedicta at this time.[3]
benedicta, hvide, also, called, benedicta, ebbesdotter, 1165, 1170, 1199, 1200, queen, sweden, first, wife, king, sverker, belonged, house, hvide, denmark, sweden, often, called, queen, bengta, benedictahvide, armsqueen, consort, swedentenure1196, 1199bornc, 1. Benedicta Hvide also called Benedicta Ebbesdotter c 1165 or 1170 c 1199 or 1200 was Queen of Sweden as the first wife of king Sverker II She belonged to the House of Hvide of Denmark and in Sweden was often called Queen Bengta BenedictaHvide armsQueen consort of SwedenTenure1196 1199Bornc 1165 70KnadrupDiedc 1199 1200SwedenSpouseSverker II of SwedenFatherEbbe Sunesson Hvide Contents 1 Early life 2 Queen of Sweden 3 Problems of chronology 4 Children 5 References 6 Further readingEarly life editOur knowledge of Benedicta comes from a genealogy of the Hvide family compiled in the Soro Abbey in the 14th century From the terse data of this source the following life story has been deduced Benedicta was born in Knadrup in Northern Zealand in Denmark between 1165 and 1170 as the child of the noble Ebbe Sunesson Hvide The Swedish infant prince Sverker Karlsson was brought to Denmark in 1167 after the killing of his father and was apparently raised by his powerful maternal relatives 1 Most probably he met his future bride a kinswoman of his mother there and married her when reaching manly years This may have happened in the mid 1180s Queen of Sweden editIn 1195 or 1196 her spouse became king of Sweden and she became queen consort The same year her relative the priest Andreas Sunesson returned to Denmark from France and became the leading clerical politician in the archbishopric under Absalon also a relative of Benedicta It is probable that Queen Benedicta shared the strongly pro clerical position of her husband and supported the power aspirations of the Church and the archbishop Olov Lambatunga in Uppsala nbsp Composite showing the location of Sverker I s family grave at Alvastra Abbey where Queen Benedicta has been assumed to be buriedSince Sverker s next queen Ingegerd gave birth to a son in 1201 it is assumed that Queen Benedicta died no later than in 1199 or 1200 The cause of her death is unknown but is sometimes guessed that she succumbed in childbirth However a grave inscription from the so called Sverker Chapel in Alvastra has been associated with her It mentions the servant of Our Lord Jesus Christ Benedicta with an expression of hope that she may find rest from the horrible disease which struck her 2 Problems of chronology editThe extreme curtness of the sources on Sverker II s wives has given rise to an alternative chronology of the marriages It has been suggested that Ingegerd was in fact his first consort which tied him to the powerful House of Bjalbo in Ostergotland Ingegerd s father Jarl Birger Brosa was presumably instrumental in arranging the peaceful succession in 1195 96 when Sverker was enthroned after the death of his father s murderer Canute I On the other hand Sverker was able to gather strong support from his Danish in laws when he tried to take back his kingdom from Canute I s son Eric in 1208 This support would have come more naturally if Sverker was married to Benedicta at this time 3 Children editHelena Sverkersdotter born c 1190 died after 1222 mother of Queen Catherine of Sweden Karl Sverkersson the younger d 1198 parentage unconfirmed Christina d 1252 married to Henry Borwin II of Mecklenburg parentage unconfirmed Margareta 1192 1232 married to Wizlaw I Prince of Rugen parentage unconfirmed References edit Ernst Nygren Benedicta Svenskt biografiskt lexikon https sok riksarkivet se sbl Presentation aspx id 18473 Ernst Nygren Benedicta Svenskt biografiskt lexikon https sok riksarkivet se sbl Presentation aspx id 18473 H Toll Sverker II s drottningar Fornvannen 1920 Further reading editAke Ohlmarks Alla Sveriges drottningar All the queens of Sweden in Swedish Stockholm Gebers 1973 Adolf Schuck Till Sverker d y s historia 1 Sverkers familjeforhallanden Historisk tidskrift 76 1956 Benedikte EbbesdotterBorn 1165 1170 Died 1199 1200Swedish royaltyPreceded byCecilia Johansdotter Queen consort of Sweden1196 1199 1200 Succeeded byIngegerd Birgersdotter Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Benedicta Hvide amp oldid 1127949698, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
