| Birth: | 1182 | | Death: | May 8, 1220 | 
Queen of Sweden. She was originally Princess of Denmark of the old Estrith Dynasty, the daughter of King Waldemar I the Great. Her mother Queen Sophia was originally a White Russian princess of Halicka Land (Minsk), the daughter of Sweden's earlier Queen Richeza in that lady's second marriage. The illustrious Waldemar II the Victorious of Denmark was this Richeza's brother, and she was born no earlier than 1182, often called Rixa. A sister was married to King Philip II August of France. The secure victor of the Battle of Gestilren of 1210, Sweden's new King Eric (X) the Survivor, sent a message to the mighty Danish king and asked for his sister's hand. The request was granted and Richeza was immediately shipped over to Sweden for the wedding that same year. According to folklore, she was surprised at having to ride from the landing rather than enjoying the comfort of a carriage and said that never would have happened "in my father's land". The Swedish ladies allegedly replied that they would have none of her "Jutland ways" and that her saddle, decorated with gold and silver, would have to do. When they arrived for the meeting with Eric, he treated her very respectfully, however, and guaranteed her "a life with me without harm". The marriage was a happy one and four daughters were born, two of which married important northern European princes, one a Swedish nobleman and Ingiburga the great Birger Jarl, becoming the founding mother of the royal Bielbo Dynasty. Queen Richeza was widowed already in April of 1216 and gave birth to her only son Eric (XI) that fall. Her husband's remains were buried with the other Erican Dynasty kings at Varnhem, but Richeza moved back to Denmark. She passed away there four years later. Thus the 16th-century gravestone at Varnhem in Sweden, bearing her carved image beside that of King Eric, is actually misplaced and only a cenotaph as far as she is concerned.
(bio by: J T Demitz)
Search Amazon for Richeza of Sweden | | | Burial:
Skt. Bendts Kirke
Ringsted
Sjaeland, Denmark |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: J T Demitz
Record added: Sep 28, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 15919788 |
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Cemetery Photo
Added by:
Erik Skytte
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