About
This sixteenth-century Swedish queen was the second wife of King John III and the mother of John, Duke of Östergötland. She influenced her husband to take a pro-Protestant viewpoint in religious disputes (the former queen had favored a Catholic stance in such matters).
Before Fame
In 1583, following the death of his first queen, Catherine Jagellonica, King John III chose Bielke as his wife. His stated reason for the choice -- when he had been presented with numerous other candidates, many of them foreign royals -- was that she was very beautiful.
Trivia
She was the inspiration for a 1983 historical novel by Anna Sparre.
Family Life
The daughter of Johan Axelsson Bielke and Margareta Axelsdotter Posse, she was orphaned at a young age and grew up in the Swedish royal court as a childhood friend of Princess Anna Vasa.
Associated With
She and King Gustav III were both members of Swedish Royalty.
