Katarina Stenbock, Queen of Sweden

Queen Katarina (Stenbock)

Katarina was the daughter of state councillor Gustaf Olsson Stenbock and Birgitta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud. She was seventeen years old when Gustav Vasa pushed through their marriage. The problem was resistance from the church, because she was the niece of the king's former wife Margareta Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud.

They did not have any children, but Katarina enjoyed good relations with her stepchildren and survived her husband by more than sixty years.

She died at her jointure Strömsholm Palace on 13 December 1621, at the age of 86.

Portrait of Queen Katarina Stenbock, probably painted by the Dutch artist Johan Baptista van Uther (died 1597). Photo: Nationalmuseum

Katarina Stenbock

Born 22 July 1535, died 13 December 1621
Queen 1552–1560*

Coronation

1552 Vadstena Abbey Church

Buried

1622 Uppsala Cathedral

Predecessor

Margareta Leijonhufvud

Successor

Karin Månsdotter

Spouse

Gustav Vasa

*Years refer to time as queen, not as dowager queen.

Katarina Stenbock