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Katarina MansdotterQueen of Sweden
Date of Birth: 06.11.1550
Country:  Sweden |
Content:
- Biography of Catherine Monsondotter
- A Humble Beginning
- Tragic Imprisonment
- Separation and Loss
- A Life of Struggle
- A Timeless Love Story
Biography of Catherine Monsondotter
The Queen of SwedenCatherine Monsondotter, known as the Finnish Cinderella, was the Queen of Sweden for only 87 days. She was the wife of Eric XIV, the King of Sweden, and was a common servant before their marriage.
A Humble Beginning
Catherine Monsondotter, a girl of low birth, married Eric XIV in 1567 (officially July 4, 1568). They were officially wed in the Uppsala Cathedral in 1568. However, in the same year, her husband was overthrown by Johan and Carl, his brothers, and imprisoned, losing all his royal rights to Sweden.
Tragic Imprisonment
Eric was sent from Stockholm Castle to Abo Castle in Finland, where he arrived on July 15, 1570, along with his family: his wife Catherine Monsondotter and their children Sigrid (four years old), Gustav (two years old), and Henrik (six months old). Eric did not accept his fate and began plotting a secret conspiracy with Ivan the Terrible, the Grand Duke of Russia, in order to secure his release. However, the plot was exposed and his security was increased with nearly a hundred guards. He was confined to a small cell in a hexagonal tower in the front of the castle, with windows overlooking the Aura River and the sea. The prison was surrounded by a corridor for guards with arches on the outer wall. In late summer 1571, by the decision of Johan III, Eric and the other prisoners were transported from Turku to the fortress of Kastelholm on the Åland Islands.
Separation and Loss
In Västerås, Eric was separated from his family, and in April 1573, Catherine Monsondotter returned to Turku Castle with her children Sigrid and Gustav. Johan III granted Catherine Monsondotter the estate of Liukasala in Kangasala. Unfortunately, their son Henrik, who was left in Turku, passed away and was buried in the cathedral under the artillery salute from Turku Castle. 600 bricks were brought from the castle for Henrik's grave.
A Life of Struggle
The fate of their son Gustav was also tragic. In 1575, Gustav, who was only seven years old, was taken away from Catherine by Johan III's men and sent to Poland. The mother and son were only reunited after 21 years. Gustav was forbidden to return to Sweden and Finland, and he had to wander around Europe, often struggling financially. He inherited many talents and flaws from his father, was knowledgeable in multiple languages, and took great pride in being called the "new Paracelsus". In 1600, the Russian Tsar Boris Godunov tempted Gustav to Moscow, hoping to marry him to his daughter Xenia. However, Gustav behaved scandalously, kept his mistress, acted like a king, and was eventually exiled to Uglich, where he was granted a nominal ducal principality. He passed away in 1607 in Kashin.
A Timeless Love Story
The story of Eric and Catherine Monsondotter is not forgotten. The legend of the unfortunate king Eric, playing the lute, and his faithful Catherine, living in a shack in Tuupikala on the banks of the Aura River while her husband was imprisoned in the hexagonal tower, is still told. Confined and longing, Eric constantly gazed at the opposite shore from the window of his prison cell. The prison in Turku Castle and the indentations on the windowsill in the chamber inspired the legend of Eric and Catherine Monsondotter, inspiring writers, poets, artists, and composers to immortalize the love story of the royal couple.
