Gyda Anundsdotter of Sweden, also known as Guda and Gunhild (died c. 1048/1049), was a medieval and Viking Age Swedish princess and Danish queen consort, spouse of King Sweyn II of Denmark.
There is little information about Gyda;[citation needed] our main source being the German ecclesiastic chronicler Adam of Bremen (c. 1075). According to the much later historian Saxo Grammaticus and the Icelandic annals, she was the daughter of the Swedish king, meaning Anund Jacob (1022 – c. 1050).[1] Her mother would then be Queen Gunhild of Sweden.[2] The near-contemporary Adam, however, does not say that Anund and Gunhild had any children. It is also possible that she was the daughter of Anund and another woman.
She was married to King Sweyn of Denmark, maybe in 1047 or 1048. The date cannot be confirmed, and it is possible, that they were married during the time when Sweyn lived in exile at the Swedish court. After a short marriage, she died. According to Adam of Bremen it was a matter of foul play, since she was poisoned by Sweyn's concubine Thora.[3] It is not known if any of the many children of Sweyn were also the children of Gyda. Her assumed father Anund died in c. 1050, and was survived by Gunhild. At about the same time, Gyda's widower Sweyn married a woman also called Gunhild. She was possibly the same person as Gyda's mother or stepmother, though several modern historians maintain that there were two separate Gunhilds, a Swedish and a Danish queen, respectively.[4] A much later Chronicle of Bremen refers to a letter supposedly written by Archbishop Adalbert, which says that Gunhild was the "mother" (mother-in-law) of Sweyn.[5] Anyway, Sweyn and Gunhild were soon forced to separate by the Archbishop of Hamburg on account of their close kinship.[6]
Gyda has often been confused and mixed up with her assumed mother (or stepmother) Gunhild, as their names were similar, and because they were both married to Sweyn. Both of them were known as Gunhild, Guda or Gyda.
References
^Sven Axelson (1955), Sverige i utländsk annalistik 900-1400. Stockholm: Appelbergs, p. 34, 55-6.
^Adam av Bremen (1984), Historien om Hamburgstiftet och dess biskopar. Stockholm: Proprius, p. 189 (Book III, Scholion 66).
^Adam av Bremen (1984), p. 192 (Book III, Scholion 72).
gyda, sweden, gyda, anundsdotter, sweden, also, known, guda, gunhild, died, 1048, 1049, medieval, viking, swedish, princess, danish, queen, consort, spouse, king, sweyn, denmark, queen, consort, denmarktenure1047, 1048, 49died1048, 49denmarkspousesweyn, denmar. Gyda Anundsdotter of Sweden also known as Guda and Gunhild died c 1048 1049 was a medieval and Viking Age Swedish princess and Danish queen consort spouse of King Sweyn II of Denmark Gyda of SwedenQueen consort of DenmarkTenure1047 1048 49Died1048 49DenmarkSpouseSweyn II of DenmarkHouseMunsoFatherAnund Jacob of SwedenMotherGunnhildr SveinsdottirBiography EditThere is little information about Gyda citation needed our main source being the German ecclesiastic chronicler Adam of Bremen c 1075 According to the much later historian Saxo Grammaticus and the Icelandic annals she was the daughter of the Swedish king meaning Anund Jacob 1022 c 1050 1 Her mother would then be Queen Gunhild of Sweden 2 The near contemporary Adam however does not say that Anund and Gunhild had any children It is also possible that she was the daughter of Anund and another woman She was married to King Sweyn of Denmark maybe in 1047 or 1048 The date cannot be confirmed and it is possible that they were married during the time when Sweyn lived in exile at the Swedish court After a short marriage she died According to Adam of Bremen it was a matter of foul play since she was poisoned by Sweyn s concubine Thora 3 It is not known if any of the many children of Sweyn were also the children of Gyda Her assumed father Anund died in c 1050 and was survived by Gunhild At about the same time Gyda s widower Sweyn married a woman also called Gunhild She was possibly the same person as Gyda s mother or stepmother though several modern historians maintain that there were two separate Gunhilds a Swedish and a Danish queen respectively 4 A much later Chronicle of Bremen refers to a letter supposedly written by Archbishop Adalbert which says that Gunhild was the mother mother in law of Sweyn 5 Anyway Sweyn and Gunhild were soon forced to separate by the Archbishop of Hamburg on account of their close kinship 6 Gyda has often been confused and mixed up with her assumed mother or stepmother Gunhild as their names were similar and because they were both married to Sweyn Both of them were known as Gunhild Guda or Gyda References Edit Sven Axelson 1955 Sverige i utlandsk annalistik 900 1400 Stockholm Appelbergs p 34 55 6 Adam av Bremen 1984 Historien om Hamburgstiftet och dess biskopar Stockholm Proprius p 189 Book III Scholion 66 Adam av Bremen 1984 p 192 Book III Scholion 72 Hans Gillingstam Gunhild Svenskt biografiskt lexikon P A Munch 1855 Det norske Folks historie Vol II Christiania Tonsbergs p 189 Adam av Bremen 1984 p 137 Book III Chapter 12 Literature EditAlf Henrikson 1989 Dansk historia Danish history Stockholm Bonniers Swedish Gyda Dansk biografisk Lexikon VI Bind Gerson H Hansen in Danish Retrieved March 6 2014 Gyda of SwedenHouse of MunsoBorn 11th century Died 1049Preceded byEmma of Normandy Queen consort of Denmark1047 8 1049 Succeeded byGunhild Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gyda of Sweden amp oldid 1126377582, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
