Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. She belonged to the Hohenzollern Dynasty and her parents were Margrave John the Alchemist of Brandenburg and Margravine Barbara, a Princess of Saxe-Wittenburg. With special dispensation from the Pope, and in famously lavish ceremonies, she married firstly in 1445 her second cousin King Christopher (III) of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, who died without children three years later. Secondly the following year she wed King Christian I of the same Kalmar Union of the three kingdoms. She was the only queen of Denmark to be married to two consecutive kings. With Christian she had 5 children, among whom were future King John ("Hans") of Denmark-Norway-Sweden, King Frederick I of Denmark-Norway and Queen Margaret of Scotland, married to James III. Queen Dorothy was an energetic woman, and was very influential in government business. She was given the Castle of Kalundborg and other Danish estates, the provinces of Nericia and Vermillandia in Sweden and Jempthalandia in Norway as her dowry. She was also promised a huge cash settlement in the event that she might have to go into exile in the future. When Christopher died, Dorothy ruled Denmark until Christian was elected. He was prompted by the electors to marry her for financial reasons, but did not mind. Their marriage was happy. Dorothy thoroughly enjoyed her first visit to Sweden and after Christian lost that country she worked tirelessly with him to regain it, using her church contacts to that end and even going all the way to Rome, after his death, to try to get the Swedish rebels excommunicated and her son John reinstated. She died at Kalundborg in 1495 still unhappy about losing her Swedish properties, which remained a matter of contention between Sweden and Denmark for centuries.
Queen of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. She belonged to the Hohenzollern Dynasty and her parents were Margrave John the Alchemist of Brandenburg and Margravine Barbara, a Princess of Saxe-Wittenburg. With special dispensation from the Pope, and in famously lavish ceremonies, she married firstly in 1445 her second cousin King Christopher (III) of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, who died without children three years later. Secondly the following year she wed King Christian I of the same Kalmar Union of the three kingdoms. She was the only queen of Denmark to be married to two consecutive kings. With Christian she had 5 children, among whom were future King John ("Hans") of Denmark-Norway-Sweden, King Frederick I of Denmark-Norway and Queen Margaret of Scotland, married to James III. Queen Dorothy was an energetic woman, and was very influential in government business. She was given the Castle of Kalundborg and other Danish estates, the provinces of Nericia and Vermillandia in Sweden and Jempthalandia in Norway as her dowry. She was also promised a huge cash settlement in the event that she might have to go into exile in the future. When Christopher died, Dorothy ruled Denmark until Christian was elected. He was prompted by the electors to marry her for financial reasons, but did not mind. Their marriage was happy. Dorothy thoroughly enjoyed her first visit to Sweden and after Christian lost that country she worked tirelessly with him to regain it, using her church contacts to that end and even going all the way to Rome, after his death, to try to get the Swedish rebels excommunicated and her son John reinstated. She died at Kalundborg in 1495 still unhappy about losing her Swedish properties, which remained a matter of contention between Sweden and Denmark for centuries.
Bio by: Benny Chordt Hansen
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