Queen of Sweden. She was originally a Danish-Scanian noblewoman, the daughter of a major magnate and man of war, and belonged to the powerful Hvide Dynasty (the Whites). Her years of birth and death above are approximate. Born on the big island of Zealand (Sjælland), Denmark, already at the age of about fifteen she became the consort of Crown Prince Sweartgar (II), the only son of Sweden's King Carl I (who had been assassinated many years earlier) and his surviving widow, Queen Christina. Her mother-in-law was also a Hvide, from a Scanian branch of the family. In 1196 her husband became King, on the death of Canute I of the Erican Dynasty bitterly rivaling his own Sweartgarian. Benedicta was then about thirty years old and was Queen at his side only until her own death about four years later. She had born him at least two children, a son and a daughter, of whom no heir to the throne survived her (he remarried to have his heir). When she became Queen, her Hvide uncle, Andreas, had returned from France and become the leading cleric of the Archbishopric of Denmark at Lund under yet another Hvide relative (her grandfather's cousin), the great Absalon. Benedicta sympathized with the church's movements toward increased power in both countries, also supporting Archbishop Olaf of Sweden at Upsala. She can be considered a pious woman, warmly dedicated to the Roman cause, proud of her illustrious heritage, but is likely also to have been frail physically.
Queen of Sweden. She was originally a Danish-Scanian noblewoman, the daughter of a major magnate and man of war, and belonged to the powerful Hvide Dynasty (the Whites). Her years of birth and death above are approximate. Born on the big island of Zealand (Sjælland), Denmark, already at the age of about fifteen she became the consort of Crown Prince Sweartgar (II), the only son of Sweden's King Carl I (who had been assassinated many years earlier) and his surviving widow, Queen Christina. Her mother-in-law was also a Hvide, from a Scanian branch of the family. In 1196 her husband became King, on the death of Canute I of the Erican Dynasty bitterly rivaling his own Sweartgarian. Benedicta was then about thirty years old and was Queen at his side only until her own death about four years later. She had born him at least two children, a son and a daughter, of whom no heir to the throne survived her (he remarried to have his heir). When she became Queen, her Hvide uncle, Andreas, had returned from France and become the leading cleric of the Archbishopric of Denmark at Lund under yet another Hvide relative (her grandfather's cousin), the great Absalon. Benedicta sympathized with the church's movements toward increased power in both countries, also supporting Archbishop Olaf of Sweden at Upsala. She can be considered a pious woman, warmly dedicated to the Roman cause, proud of her illustrious heritage, but is likely also to have been frail physically.
Bio by: Count Demitz
Inscription
"The servant of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Benedicta, she may find rest from the horrible disease which struck her".
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