Helena Sverkersdotter of Sweden, (1130s – fl.

Floruit

Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...

 1158), was a medieval Swedish princess and Danish queen, Queen consort of King Canute V of Denmark

Canute V of Denmark

Canute V of Denmark was a Swedish prince and King of Denmark from 1146 to 1157, as co-regent in shifting alliances with his Sweyn III and Valdemar I. Canute was killed at the so-called Bloodfeast of Roskilde in 1157. Nothing certain is known about his person and character.-Biography:Canute was...

.

Biography

Helena, or Elin as she was also called, was born daughter of King Sverker I of Sweden

Sverker I of Sweden

Sverker I or Sverker the Elder was King of Sweden from about 1130 till his death.-Biography:Sverker was a mighty landowner from Östergötland...

. The date of her birth is not known, neither is her mother; it could be Sverker's first spouse, or Queen Ulvhild

Ulvhild

Ulvhild Haakonardottir, , , was a medieval Scandinavian queen, queen consort of Sweden twice and queen consort of Denmark once , married to King Inge II of Sweden, King Niels of Denmark and King Sverker I of Sweden...

.

In 1156, she left Sweden and was married to king Canute V of Denmark. In 1157, Canute was murdered, and Helena returned to Sweden. In 1158, she entered Vreta Abbey

Vreta Abbey

Vreta Abbey, Swedish Vreta Kloster, in operation from the beginning of the 12th century to 1582, was the first nunnery in Sweden, initially Benedictine and later Cistercian, and one of the oldest in Scandinavia. It was located in the municipality of Linköping in Östergötland.- History :The exact...

, where her sister Ingegerd was a nun.

Succession