Agda Persdotter
Encyclopedia
Agda Persdotter or Agda i Porten, (fl.
1565), was a Swedish woman, main royal mistress of King Eric XIV of Sweden
during his time as a Crown Prince and during the first years of his reign 1560-1565.
in 1558, where a chamber, Agdas kammare, (= "The Agda Chamber") is still named after her. Their relationship continued after he became king in 1560.
In 1561, she was married to the noble Joakim Fleming and given the estate Eknaholm outside Växjö
, which had belonged to a monastery. The relationship with Eric ended, and continued only after she became a widow
in 1563. The relationship was not exclusive, as Eric had a large number of other mistresses; during the period 1561-65, Anna Larsdotter, Karin Jacobsdotter, Karin Pedersdotter, Sigrid Nilsdotter, Doredi Valentinsdotter and the more anonymous Britta and Ingrid was all listed as the King's mistresses, but Agda was his main mistress. The position of these women was only half official.
She had several daughters with Eric, and one daughter with Joakim; Anna, (born 1562). In 1561, the custody of her children was given to the king's sister, Princess Cecilia of Sweden
, because, as Eric said: "I know she is not capable of raising them in good discipline and other things". When Cecilia left the country in 1564, the care, as well as the care of the other children of Eric, was given to Princess Elizabeth of Sweden
. One of Elizabeth's servants, Karin Månsdotter
, took care of Virginia. In 1565, Karin became the one and only mistress of Eric and replaced both Agda and all the others. Agda remarried the noble Christoffer Olsson Stråle av Sjöared, sheriff
of Stegeborg.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1565), was a Swedish woman, main royal mistress of King Eric XIV of Sweden
Eric XIV of Sweden
-Family and descendants:Eric XIV had several relationships before his marriage. With Agda Persdotter he had four daughters:#Margareta Eriksdotter , married 1592 to Olov Simonsson, vicar of Horn....
during his time as a Crown Prince and during the first years of his reign 1560-1565.
Biography
Agda Persdotter is believed to have been the daughter of the wealthy merchant Peder Klementsson, who lived by St Nicolai port in Stockholm and was known as Pher i Porten, though her parentage has not been confirmed. She was described as a great beauty, and was called Charitas. She became the mistress of Eric during his time as a crown prince, and is the first of his recorded mistresses. She was a center of his court at Kalmar CastleKalmar Castle
Kalmar Castle is a castle in Kalmar, the province of Småland in Sweden. - History :During the twelfth century a round defensive tower was built on Kalmarsund and a harbour constructed. At the end of the thirteenth century King Magnus Ladulås had a new fortress built with a curtain wall, round...
in 1558, where a chamber, Agdas kammare, (= "The Agda Chamber") is still named after her. Their relationship continued after he became king in 1560.
In 1561, she was married to the noble Joakim Fleming and given the estate Eknaholm outside Växjö
Växjö
Växjö is a city and the seat of Växjö Municipality, Kronoberg County, Sweden with 64 200 inhabitants in 2010. It is the administrative, cultural and industrial centre of Kronoberg County. Furthermore it is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Växjö. It has a population of about 64 200, out of a...
, which had belonged to a monastery. The relationship with Eric ended, and continued only after she became a widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
in 1563. The relationship was not exclusive, as Eric had a large number of other mistresses; during the period 1561-65, Anna Larsdotter, Karin Jacobsdotter, Karin Pedersdotter, Sigrid Nilsdotter, Doredi Valentinsdotter and the more anonymous Britta and Ingrid was all listed as the King's mistresses, but Agda was his main mistress. The position of these women was only half official.
She had several daughters with Eric, and one daughter with Joakim; Anna, (born 1562). In 1561, the custody of her children was given to the king's sister, Princess Cecilia of Sweden
Princess Cecilia of Sweden
Cecilia of Sweden, , was Princess of Sweden as the daughter of King Gustav I and his second queen, Margareta Leijonhufvud, a Swedish noble and Margravine of Baden-Rodemachern through marriage with Christopher II, Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern...
, because, as Eric said: "I know she is not capable of raising them in good discipline and other things". When Cecilia left the country in 1564, the care, as well as the care of the other children of Eric, was given to Princess Elizabeth of Sweden
Princess Elizabeth of Sweden
Princess Elizabeth of Sweden, , was a Swedish princess and a duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Gadebusch...
. One of Elizabeth's servants, Karin Månsdotter
Karin Månsdotter
Karin Månsdotter was Queen of Sweden, first a mistress and then the spouse of King Eric XIV of Sweden...
, took care of Virginia. In 1565, Karin became the one and only mistress of Eric and replaced both Agda and all the others. Agda remarried the noble Christoffer Olsson Stråle av Sjöared, sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Stegeborg.
Children
- Margareta Eriksdotter (1558–1618), married 1592 to Olov Simonsson, vicar of Horn.
- Virginia EriksdotterVirginia EriksdotterVirginia Eriksdotter , was a Swedish noble. She was the daughter of King Erik XIV of Sweden.Virginia Eriksdotter was the issue of King Erik and Agda Persdotter...
(1559–1633) (living descendants) - Constantia Eriksdotter (1560–1649) (living descendants)
- Lucretia Eriksdotter (1564–after 1574) died young.