Elisabet Ribbing was a Swedish noble

Nobility

Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...

 and lady-in-waiting

Lady-in-waiting

A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...

. She was the secret morganatic spouse of Prince Charles Philip, Duke of Södermanland

Charles Philip, Duke of Södermanland

Prince Charles Philip of Sweden, Duke of Södermanland, was a Swedish prince, Duke of Södermanland, Närke and Värmland...

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Biography

Ribbing was the daughter of the nobles Seved Svensson Ribbing and Anna Gyllenstierna and lady-in-waiting to Queen Dowager Christina of Holstein-Gottorp

Christina of Holstein-Gottorp

Christina of Holstein-Gottorp was a Queen Consort of Sweden as consort of king Charles IX of Sweden, mother of king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, and a Regent of Sweden.-Biography:...

. The 5 March 1620, she was married to Prince Charles. The wedding was kept secret because the Queen Dowager had forbid the match, and was witnessed by Elisabet's sister Christina Ribbing. The wedding contract was signed: "Your faithfull husband, as long as I live, Carolus Philippus", and: "Your Royal Higness humble servant as long as I live, Elisabet Ribbing."

Because the marriage was kept secret, Elisabet was forced to defy her brother's wish that she marry her relative, Knut Liliehöök (1603–1664). In 1622, she became a widow. She was pregnant at the death of her spouse, and was harassed by her family because of it until her sister, her wedding witness, revealed the marriage. She was later married to Knut Liliehöök, governor of Turku

Turku

Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...

. Her daughter, Elisabet Carlsdotter Gyllenhielm (1622–1682), was taken to the household of the Queen Dowager: she was married to the nobles Axel Turesson Natt och Dag (1645) and Baltasar Marskalk and lady-in-waiting of the Queens Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg

Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg

Maria Eleonora of Brandenburg was a German princess and queen consort of Sweden.She was the daughter of John Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg, and Anna, Duchess of Prussia, daughter of Albert Frederick, Duke of Prussia....

 and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp

Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp

Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp was the queen consort of King Charles X of Sweden and queen mother of King Charles XI...

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