35 Facts About Catherine Stenbock

Catherine Stenbock was the daughter of Riksrad Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock and Brita Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, who was the sister of King Gustav's previous consort Margaret Leijonhufvud.

Catherine Stenbock was thus the maternal niece of Queen Margaret and first cousin of the royal children of that marriage, including future kings John III of Sweden and Charles IX of Sweden.

Catherine Stenbock's family was favorable to the match, as this would preserve the family connection they had made with the King through his previous marriage with Queen Margaret, an influence they would keep through Catherine.

The reason the King stated to marry Catherine Stenbock was the great costs and the time-consuming negotiations necessary secure a marriage with a foreign princess in the complicated political climate in Europe during the ongoing religious conflicts.

Catherine Stenbock herself is described as an 155 cm long, dark blonde beauty with blue eyes.

Catherine Stenbock was dressed in a golden dress during the wedding, and a silver one during her coronation, escorted, as was Queen Margaret during official ceremonies, by her male relatives.

Catherine Stenbock accompanied Cecilia to her confrontation with her father after her return to the capital, and she acted as channel through the King for Princess Catherine, who tried to negotiate Johan's release and permission for her and her spouse to leave for East Frisia.

Catherine Stenbock continued to act as mediator between the King and his children, and upon his complaints that they were not there, answer that they would have been, and wished to, had they not been so afraid for his anger.

Catherine Stenbock did not specify which estates should be given to her in his will, but prior to his death, he had his two eldest sons Eric and John promise to grant her preferred choice, Stromsholm.

Catherine Stenbock remained a widow for 61 years, and despite participating in various kinds of ceremonies, she dressed in mourning for the rest of her life.

Catherine Stenbock was the first Swedish Queen Dowager referred to by the title Riksankedrottning.

Queen Dowager Catherine Stenbock seems to have had a good relationship to Eric XIV, who normally treated her with respect, referred to her as "My Dear Stepmother" and trusted her on certain critical occasions.

Catherine Stenbock was given an important role in connection to the infamous Sture Murders.

Catherine Stenbock was found some days later outside the city in a severe state, and taken to the capital, where he was left in the care of Karin Mansdotter.

Catherine Stenbock was contacted by a delegation from the King headed by her uncle Sten Leijonhufvud and Hogenskild Bielke, recently kept prisoners by the King, and asked to act as mediator between the King and the relatives of the murder victims.

Catherine Stenbock gave her a written document giving her the authority to negotiate the settlement with the relatives of the murder victims, among them her aunt Martha Leijonhufvud.

Catherine Stenbock managed to arrange a form of reconciliation between the brothers, and had Prince John moved to Arboga, where he was guarded less strictly.

Catherine Stenbock is given credit for contributing to the recovery of the King's sanity later in that year.

When Eric XIV was forced to extradite his adviser Joran Persson, it is possible that Catherine Stenbock had a say in his fate: many decades later, she was threatened by the son of Persson, who blamed her for his father's death.

Catherine Stenbock had a good relationship with the King and often lent him money.

Catherine Stenbock's estates made it possible for her to act as one of the foremost financiers of John III, particularly in his war with Russia, loans he was unable to pay her back.

Catherine Stenbock's sole remaining estate in Sodermanland were her main residence Stromsholm, which caused a conflict with Duke Charles.

Catherine Stenbock demanded that she evacuate the fief to him, sent armed troops to the area to prevent her from collecting taxes from the farmers of the area and threatened to attack the estate to remove her physically.

Catherine Stenbock's rights were protected by John III, who reminded Charles that although the King had not mentioned the estate in his will, he had asked the Princes to ensure the right of his widow to it verbally.

In 1570, Catherine Stenbock had a wish to marry Duke Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg, the brother-in-law of her stepdaughter Princess Sophia.

In 1574, a scandal took place when her brother Erik Catherine Stenbock made his legendary elopement with their cousin, Malin Sture, daughter of her famous aunt Martha Leijonhufvud.

Catherine Stenbock was informed that rumors circulated in which she was to have hosted a meeting for the Councillors at Stromsholm where they conspired to depose the King.

Catherine Stenbock contacted the King and defended her against the accusations, and was never openly accused.

Catherine Stenbock participated in the burial of John III in 1594, and had her fiefs confirmed by Sigismund, with the right to appoint the officials in Aland.

Catherine Stenbock's brothers refused to join Duke Charles, who declared them, her brother-in-law Klaus Fleming, Governor of Finland, and her nephew as his enemies.

Several of the relatives of Queen Dowager Catherine Stenbock remained loyal to Sigismund and fled to Poland.

Catherine Stenbock visited Queen Christina to plead to the King through her in 1599.

Queen Dowager Catherine Stenbock spent her last years tending to her estates, engaging in iron works and other enterprises, and spending time with her relatives, especially her sisters.

Catherine Stenbock has been given a charitable reputation because she gave a safe haven to many female relations to the exiled loyalists of Sigismund, and because she often acted as a channel of the local peasantry and the royal house.

Catherine Stenbock was buried in Uppsala Cathedral, but without a monument of her own.