Virginia Eriksdotter

Virginia Eriksdotter (1 January 1559, Kalmar Castle – 1633), was a Swedish noble. She was the recognized illegitimate daughter of King Erik XIV of Sweden and his lover Agda Persdotter.

Virginia was born during her father's tenure as governor of Kalmar. In 1560, her father became King. She and her sister Constantia were removed from their mother's custody when she married in 1561. This was illegal, as according to the law the mother had sole custody until the children reached the age of three. They were placed under the responsibility of Princess Cecilia of Sweden and, after her marriage in 1564, Princess Elizabeth of Sweden. The following year, Karin Månsdotter was included in their staff, and two years later, she became their stepmother.

In 1566, her father suggested that she marry Tsarevich Ivan Ivanovich of Russia. This was at a point when her father forged an alliance between Sweden and Russia against Poland: other things mentioned was to hand over Queen Dowager Catherine, Princess Sophia of Sweden and Princess Elizabeth of Sweden as hostages to Russia. Virginia was reportedly displeased when she was informed of the plans of her future marriage and refused. Concerning her age, a marriage would in any event not have been realized for years, and her father was deposed but two years after.

Despite her age, she as well as Karin Månsdotter was the object of the appeals from Martha Leijonhufvud, who asked them to appeal to the King for the mercy of Martha's spouse and sons prior to the Sture Murders, as Martha herself had been placed in house arrest. Martha suggested to Karin that she use "Miss Virginia" as messenger, if that would be the most effective method of success, but she did also appeal to Virginia personally.[1] In 1568, her father was deposed by her uncle, John III of Sweden.

On 7 May 1585, she was granted estates in Västergötland by her uncle King John III, and the following year she herself chose to marry the noble Håkan Knutsson Hand, governor of Kronoberg Castle. In 1589, she was granted further estates by the future Charles IX of Sweden in his Duchy of Södermanland. She had seven children during her marriage.

Descendants

Virginia Eriksdotter m. Håkan Knutsson Hand
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Johann Hand (d. before 1656) m. Agneta Gyllenmärs
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Virginia Hand (d. 1681) m. Nils Lilliehöök af Fårdala (d. 26 Nov 1662)
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Gabriel Lilliehöök af Fårdala (d. 03 Feb 1705/06) m. Brita Christina Bonde (21 Dec 1655 - 09 Apr 1739)
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Virginia Christina Lilliehöök af Fårdala (Jan 1685/86 - 03 Dec 1726) m. 14 Sep 1718 Fredrik Henrik Sparre (12 Mar 1690/91 - 30 Jun 1764)
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Charlotta Fredrika Sparre (06 Jun 1719 - 20 Dec 1795) m. 18 Feb 1747/48 Gf Carl Reinhold von Fersen (07 Apr 1716 - 7 May 1786)
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Gfn Eva Helena von Fersen (05 Mar 1759 - 19 Jul 1807) m. 24 Jul 1774 Baron Erik Göran Adelswärd (21 Jan 1750/51 - 15 Feb 1810)
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Baron Fredrik August Adelswärd (8 May 1779 - 07 Feb 1814) m. 25 Oct 1801 Johanna Charlotta Stierncrona (14 Oct 1779 - 01 Apr 1816)
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Baroness Henriette Jeannette Augusta Adelswärd (19 May 1805 - 08 Sep 1829) m. 25 Sep 1823 Jacob Johan Tersmeden (05 Oct 1785 - 28 Nov 1858)
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Hedwig Henriette Tersmeden (17 Aug 1829 - 25 Jun 1899) m. Gf Samuel August Sandels (28 Sep 1810 - 13 Jun 1892)
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Gfn Augusta Sandels (12 May 1853 - 14 Dec 1941) m. 20 Nov 1875 Philip, Prince of Eulenburg (12 Feb 1847 - 17 Sep 1921)
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Gfn Viktoria zu Eulenburg (13 Jul 1886 - 23 Sep 1967) m. 12 May 1909 Prof. Otto Haas-Heye (16 Dec 1879 - 09 Jun 1959)
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Ottora Maria Haas-Heye (13 Feb 1910 - 17 Jul 2001) m. 30 Oct 1935 Gf Carl Ludwig Douglas (26 Jul 1908 - 21 Jan 1961)
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Gfn Elisabeth Douglas (b. 31 Dec 1940) m. 10 Jan 1967 Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria (b. 21 Jan 1937)
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Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein (b. 28 Oct 1967)

References

  1. ↑ Tegenborg Falkdalen, Karin, Vasadrottningen: en biografi över Katarina Stenbock 1535-1621 [The Vasa Queen: A biography of Catherine Stenbock, 1535-1621], Historiska media, Lund, 2015
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