| Birth: | Dec. 24, 1461 | | Death: | Dec. 8, 1521 | 
Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Originally a Wettin Dynasty (in Britain called Windsor) princess and born in Meissen (Germany), she had an interesting and dutiful descent as the oldest child of Duke Ernest, the one of Frederic II the Gentle's sons who founded the Ernestine line of Electors of Saxony. Her mother was originally a Wittelsbach, Elizabeth of Bavaria. Christina's grandfather died in 1464 and Ernest became Elector. In 1478 he had his daughter married to Scandinavia's Crown Prince John, popularly called Hans. The couple ascended to the Danish throne and was crowned in Copenhagen in 1483, three years before her father died. In October of 1497 her husband also became King John II of Sweden and held his ceremonious and solemn procession into Stockholm. Christina was crowned Queen of Sweden in 1499 in Upsala Cathedral. John departed for Denmark and left the Queen in charge of Sweden, meaning that she was subjected to the rebellion of Lord Sture all by herself. In 1501-1502 she was admired for great personal courage and considerable military skill in defending Stockholm against a siege of the city laid by the rebel leader. Eventually the old Three Crowns Castle was completely surrounded and cut off from all supplies. Though she had been promised full amnesty in finally surrendering to the greater Swedish forces, she was arrested anyway and imprisoned for a year before being escorted back to the Scanian border and into Denmark. Later in the 16th century, she founded several Franciscan abbeys and was known for her catholic piety, though her brother Frederic the Wise was to be Martin Luther's greatest benefactor. John died in 1513 and Christina began eight years of widowhood. When her 13-year-old youngest son Prince Francis had died two years earlier, she had arranged a new royal grave site at the Grey Friars' Church in Odense, breaking a tradition of burying Danish royalty in Roskilde Cathedral. This was at the kings's specific request to be buried in Odense, and it became known as King Hans's grave. Christina herself was buried there, as well as her son Christian II many years later. By 1804 that church was in utter ruins and the four royal skeletons were then moved to Saint Canute's, thus remaining in Odense. (bio by: J T Demitz)
Search Amazon for Christina | | | Burial:
Saint Knud's Church
Odense
Syddanmark, Denmark
Plot: Chapel of King Hans |
Maintained by: Find A Grave
Originally Created by: J T Demitz
Record added: Oct 03, 2006
Find A Grave Memorial# 15976643 |
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