Richeza of Denmark facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richeza of Denmark
Richeza on her gravestone (cenotaph)
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure	1210–1216
Died	1220 Denmark
Spouse	Eric X of Sweden
Issue	Sophia Eriksdotter Martha Eriksdotter Ingeborg Eriksdotter Marianna Eriksdotter Eric XI of Sweden
House	Estridsen
Father	Valdemar I of Denmark
Mother	Sophia of Minsk

Richeza of Denmark (in Swedish: Rikissa Valdemarsdotter) was a queen of Sweden. She was the wife of King Eric X. She was also the mother of King Eric XI. Richeza was born sometime before 1200 and passed away on May 8, 1220.

Early Life and Royal Marriage

Richeza was a daughter of Valdemar I of Denmark and Sophia of Minsk. Her first name, Richeza, was given in honor of her grandmother, Richeza of Poland, Queen of Sweden.

Around 1210, a new king named Eric X of Sweden came to power. He wanted to create a good relationship with Denmark. Denmark had often supported the family of the previous king, Sverker II. To build peace, Richeza, who was the sister of the Danish king Valdemar II of Denmark, married King Eric X.

Life as Queen of Sweden

When Queen Richeza arrived in Sweden, a folk song says she was surprised. She expected to travel by carriage, but in Sweden, people rode horses. The Swedish noblewomen encouraged her to get used to the customs of her new home. They told her to adopt Swedish ways instead of trying to keep her own Danish traditions.

During her husband's life, Queen Richeza gave birth to several daughters. King Eric X passed away in 1216. At that time, Queen Richeza was pregnant. After his death, she gave birth to her only son, who would later become Eric XI of Sweden.

Exile and Later Years

After King Eric X died, his family had to leave Sweden. Another king, John I, from the House of Sverker, was chosen to rule. Richeza and her children went to live in Denmark.

Queen Richeza died in Denmark in 1220. She did not live to see her son, Eric, become king in 1222. She also did not see her daughters get married. She was buried in Ringsted, Denmark. The fact that her name, Rikissa, was used by her grandchildren suggests that people liked her.

Richeza's Children

Richeza and King Eric X had several children:

• Sophia Eriksdotter (died 1241): She married Henry III of Rostock.
• Martha Eriksdotter (allegedly): She married Nils Sixtensson (Sparre), who was a Marshal.
• Ingeborg Eriksdotter (died 1254): She married Birger Jarl, who later became a powerful regent in Sweden.
• Marianna Eriksdotter (possibly): She married a duke named Barnim I of Pomerania.
• Eric XI of Sweden (1216–1250): He became King of Sweden after his mother's death.

Images for kids

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  Richeza on her gravestone (cenotaph)