Helena (Helen) of Sweden was a Swedish Princess and daughter of King Sverker II of Sweden and Queen Benedicta. She was the mother of Queen Catherine of Sweden. She was later Abbess of Vreta Abbey.
Helen Sverkersdotter, the only daughter of King Sverker, was educated at Vreta Abbey at the time of her father's death. Around 1210, Helena was the first of the three generations of women to be abducted in the incident known as the "Maiden Abduction from Vreta", her daughter and granddaughter also were abducted from Vreta Abbey (Vreta kloster) by the man they later married.
Sune Folkesson was from one of the two dynasties that had been rivals for the Swedish throne since 1130, while Helen was from the other, the Sverker dynasty. Her relatives disapproved of the proposal of Sune Folkason, the son of an earl who had been among Sverker's opponents in the battle in which he fell. According to folklore, Sune Folkason abducted Helena and took her to the Ymseborg Castle. They married and two daughters survived from their marriage; Benedicta of Bjelbo and Catherine Sunesdotter.
In 1216, Helen's brother became King John I of Sweden. When he died childless in 1222, Helen and her daughters became heirs of the Sverker dynasty. In 1243, her daughter, Catherine Sunesdotter (c. 1215 – 1252), was married to King Eric XI, thus finally uniting the two Swedish dynasties.
C.Smith
Helen Sverkersdotter, the only daughter of King Sverker, was educated at Vreta Abbey at the time of her father's death. Around 1210, Helena was the first of the three generations of women to be abducted in the incident known as the "Maiden Abduction from Vreta", her daughter and granddaughter also were abducted from Vreta Abbey (Vreta kloster) by the man they later married.
Sune Folkesson was from one of the two dynasties that had been rivals for the Swedish throne since 1130, while Helen was from the other, the Sverker dynasty. Her relatives disapproved of the proposal of Sune Folkason, the son of an earl who had been among Sverker's opponents in the battle in which he fell. According to folklore, Sune Folkason abducted Helena and took her to the Ymseborg Castle. They married and two daughters survived from their marriage; Benedicta of Bjelbo and Catherine Sunesdotter.
In 1216, Helen's brother became King John I of Sweden. When he died childless in 1222, Helen and her daughters became heirs of the Sverker dynasty. In 1243, her daughter, Catherine Sunesdotter (c. 1215 – 1252), was married to King Eric XI, thus finally uniting the two Swedish dynasties.
C.Smith
Helena (Helen) of Sweden was a Swedish Princess and daughter of King Sverker II of Sweden and Queen Benedicta. She was the mother of Queen Catherine of Sweden. She was later Abbess of Vreta Abbey.
Helen Sverkersdotter, the only daughter of King Sverker, was educated at Vreta Abbey at the time of her father's death. Around 1210, Helena was the first of the three generations of women to be abducted in the incident known as the "Maiden Abduction from Vreta", her daughter and granddaughter also were abducted from Vreta Abbey (Vreta kloster) by the man they later married.
Sune Folkesson was from one of the two dynasties that had been rivals for the Swedish throne since 1130, while Helen was from the other, the Sverker dynasty. Her relatives disapproved of the proposal of Sune Folkason, the son of an earl who had been among Sverker's opponents in the battle in which he fell. According to folklore, Sune Folkason abducted Helena and took her to the Ymseborg Castle. They married and two daughters survived from their marriage; Benedicta of Bjelbo and Catherine Sunesdotter.
In 1216, Helen's brother became King John I of Sweden. When he died childless in 1222, Helen and her daughters became heirs of the Sverker dynasty. In 1243, her daughter, Catherine Sunesdotter (c. 1215 – 1252), was married to King Eric XI, thus finally uniting the two Swedish dynasties.
C.Smith
Helen Sverkersdotter, the only daughter of King Sverker, was educated at Vreta Abbey at the time of her father's death. Around 1210, Helena was the first of the three generations of women to be abducted in the incident known as the "Maiden Abduction from Vreta", her daughter and granddaughter also were abducted from Vreta Abbey (Vreta kloster) by the man they later married.
Sune Folkesson was from one of the two dynasties that had been rivals for the Swedish throne since 1130, while Helen was from the other, the Sverker dynasty. Her relatives disapproved of the proposal of Sune Folkason, the son of an earl who had been among Sverker's opponents in the battle in which he fell. According to folklore, Sune Folkason abducted Helena and took her to the Ymseborg Castle. They married and two daughters survived from their marriage; Benedicta of Bjelbo and Catherine Sunesdotter.
In 1216, Helen's brother became King John I of Sweden. When he died childless in 1222, Helen and her daughters became heirs of the Sverker dynasty. In 1243, her daughter, Catherine Sunesdotter (c. 1215 – 1252), was married to King Eric XI, thus finally uniting the two Swedish dynasties.
C.Smith
Gravesite Details
Possibly also buried at Vreta Abbey
Family Members
Advertisement
Advertisement
