Queen of Sweden. She was the daughter of Lord Sonny Folkeson of the early Bielbo Dynasty and Princess Helen, a daughter of King Sweartgar II, and was born in Upland. When King Eric the Lisper-and-Halter finally was able to return from Denmark, after the death of the interim King Canute II, he was 18 and proposed to Catherine, but was not able to marry her until 10 years later. The marriage strengthened the King's position and helped him get his final victory over Canute's rebellious sons. The union of Eric and Catherine also looked very promising and historic because at last it united the Erican and Sweartgarian dynasties which had been feuding bloodily for so long. Unfortunately the marriage was childless, however. Catherine practically retired to Gudhem Abbey near Falköping when King Erik died in 1250. She owned land of her own in Westrogothland, Sudermania and the Smallands, as well as in Denmark on the island of Zealand. All her wealth in property, money and possessions was donated to Gudhem and when she died, two years a widow, her plans had been to enter that abbey as a nun. Sweden's oldest grave monument likeness was made for her grave, in contemporary French style, and placed over it, but the sandstone sculpture of her face has been damaged over the centuries. The original has been removed to a Stockholm museum and a copy placed at the burial site at Gudhem.
Queen of Sweden. She was the daughter of Lord Sonny Folkeson of the early Bielbo Dynasty and Princess Helen, a daughter of King Sweartgar II, and was born in Upland. When King Eric the Lisper-and-Halter finally was able to return from Denmark, after the death of the interim King Canute II, he was 18 and proposed to Catherine, but was not able to marry her until 10 years later. The marriage strengthened the King's position and helped him get his final victory over Canute's rebellious sons. The union of Eric and Catherine also looked very promising and historic because at last it united the Erican and Sweartgarian dynasties which had been feuding bloodily for so long. Unfortunately the marriage was childless, however. Catherine practically retired to Gudhem Abbey near Falköping when King Erik died in 1250. She owned land of her own in Westrogothland, Sudermania and the Smallands, as well as in Denmark on the island of Zealand. All her wealth in property, money and possessions was donated to Gudhem and when she died, two years a widow, her plans had been to enter that abbey as a nun. Sweden's oldest grave monument likeness was made for her grave, in contemporary French style, and placed over it, but the sandstone sculpture of her face has been damaged over the centuries. The original has been removed to a Stockholm museum and a copy placed at the burial site at Gudhem.
Bio by: Count Demitz
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