Agnes of Brandenburg
Encyclopedia
Agnes of Brandenburg was a Danish Queen consort
, spouse of King Eric V of Denmark
. As a widow, she served as the regent of Denmark for her son Eric
during his minority from 1286 until 1293.
. The marriage was probably agreed upon during Eric's captivity in Brandenburg in the 1260s. Tradition claims that Eric was released from captivity on his promise to marry Agnes without a dowry. Denmark and Brandenburg
, however, had a long tradition of dynastic marriages between them.
In 1286, she became a Queen dowager
and the Regent of Denmark during the minority of her son. The details of her regency are not known more closely, and it is hard to determine which of the decisions were made by her, and which was made by the council. Peder Nielsen Hoseøl was also very influential in the regency, and she is likely to have received support from her family. In 1290, she financed a granted lime painting in the church St. Bendt's Church
in Ringsted
, which depicts her in a dominating way. Her son was declared of legal majority in 1293, thus ending her formal regency.
Married in 1293 to count Gerhard II of Holstein (d. 1312) with whom she had the son John III, Count of Holstein-Plön. She often visited Denmark also after her second marriage, and it continued to be a second home. She died in 29 September 1304, and was buried in Denmark.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
, spouse of King Eric V of Denmark
Eric V of Denmark
Eric V "Klipping" was King of Denmark and son of Christopher I. Until 1264 he ruled under the auspices of his mother, the competent Queen Dowager Margaret Sambiria. Between 1261 and 1262, Eric was a prisoner in Holstein following a military defeat...
. As a widow, she served as the regent of Denmark for her son Eric
Eric VI of Denmark
Eric VI Menved was King of Denmark and a son of Eric V and Agnes of Brandenburg.He became king in 1286 at age 12, when his father was murdered 20 November by unknown assailants...
during his minority from 1286 until 1293.
Biography
Born to margrave John I of Brandenburg (d. 1266) and Jutta of Saxony. Married in 11 November 1273 to King Eric of Denmark at SchleswigSchleswig
Schleswig or South Jutland is a region covering the area about 60 km north and 70 km south of the border between Germany and Denmark; the territory has been divided between the two countries since 1920, with Northern Schleswig in Denmark and Southern Schleswig in Germany...
. The marriage was probably agreed upon during Eric's captivity in Brandenburg in the 1260s. Tradition claims that Eric was released from captivity on his promise to marry Agnes without a dowry. Denmark and Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, however, had a long tradition of dynastic marriages between them.
In 1286, she became a Queen dowager
Queen Dowager
A queen dowager or dowager queen is a title or status generally held by the widow of a deceased king. In the case of the widow of a deceased emperor, the title of empress dowager is used...
and the Regent of Denmark during the minority of her son. The details of her regency are not known more closely, and it is hard to determine which of the decisions were made by her, and which was made by the council. Peder Nielsen Hoseøl was also very influential in the regency, and she is likely to have received support from her family. In 1290, she financed a granted lime painting in the church St. Bendt's Church
St. Bendt's Church
St. Bendt's is a church in Ringsted, Denmark, which was originally part of a Benedictine monastery that burnt down in the 18th century. Built in the Romanesque style, it is the oldest brick church in Scandinavia, dating back to about 1170 when it replaced a travertine church from about 1080. It is...
in Ringsted
Ringsted
Ringsted, a city in Ringsted municipality, is in the middle of the Danish island of Zealand. The municipal population is about 31,000 and the city population is 21,151 .Ringsted is approximately 60 km from Copenhagen.-Modern hotspot:...
, which depicts her in a dominating way. Her son was declared of legal majority in 1293, thus ending her formal regency.
Married in 1293 to count Gerhard II of Holstein (d. 1312) with whom she had the son John III, Count of Holstein-Plön. She often visited Denmark also after her second marriage, and it continued to be a second home. She died in 29 September 1304, and was buried in Denmark.