Queen of Sweden. Hohenzollern Dynasty. Daughter of the Elector John Sigmund of Brandenburg and Electress Anne of Prussian royalty. At the orders of the dowager queen, Christina, king Gustav II Adolph of Sweden went to Germany to propose to Maria Eleanor. Her brother George William, who succeeded his father in 1619, and who stood under influence of Prussia's feudal lord, King Sigmund III of Poland (dethroned king of Sweden), opposed the marriage. This led Gustav II Adolph to abduct the future queen, and she was smuggled out to Sweden from Prussia. The marriage took place on Nov. 25 1620, and three days later, she was crowned queen of Sweden. In 1626 she gave birth to her only surviving child, the daughter Christina, later Queen Regnant of Sweden. After the breakout of the 30 Years' War, she visited her husband in Germany and was with him at the big banquets and balls, that were held there. After her husband died at Lützen, she was desperately unhappy, and for the rest of her life, she preserved the memory of him in a more or less pathetic way. In 1637 her parental rights to the little Queen Christina were taken away, and she was taken to Gripsholm Castle. Three years later she escaped and fled to Denmark. Her intent was to go back to Brandenburg, but her brother refused to receive her. After her brother's death in 1640, her nephew, the new Elector Frederick William, gave his permission. But soon she longed for Sweden, and after the Peace of Westphalia, she returned there. Before she died in 1655 she had to endure one last devastating sorrow: the abdication of her daughter from the Swedish throne. The young Maria Eleanor was considered beautiful, and she was learned and blessed with an interest in the noble arts.
Queen of Sweden. Hohenzollern Dynasty. Daughter of the Elector John Sigmund of Brandenburg and Electress Anne of Prussian royalty. At the orders of the dowager queen, Christina, king Gustav II Adolph of Sweden went to Germany to propose to Maria Eleanor. Her brother George William, who succeeded his father in 1619, and who stood under influence of Prussia's feudal lord, King Sigmund III of Poland (dethroned king of Sweden), opposed the marriage. This led Gustav II Adolph to abduct the future queen, and she was smuggled out to Sweden from Prussia. The marriage took place on Nov. 25 1620, and three days later, she was crowned queen of Sweden. In 1626 she gave birth to her only surviving child, the daughter Christina, later Queen Regnant of Sweden. After the breakout of the 30 Years' War, she visited her husband in Germany and was with him at the big banquets and balls, that were held there. After her husband died at Lützen, she was desperately unhappy, and for the rest of her life, she preserved the memory of him in a more or less pathetic way. In 1637 her parental rights to the little Queen Christina were taken away, and she was taken to Gripsholm Castle. Three years later she escaped and fled to Denmark. Her intent was to go back to Brandenburg, but her brother refused to receive her. After her brother's death in 1640, her nephew, the new Elector Frederick William, gave his permission. But soon she longed for Sweden, and after the Peace of Westphalia, she returned there. Before she died in 1655 she had to endure one last devastating sorrow: the abdication of her daughter from the Swedish throne. The young Maria Eleanor was considered beautiful, and she was learned and blessed with an interest in the noble arts.
Bio by: Benny Chordt Hansen
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