Catherine of Ymseborg

Catherine Sunadotter
Tomb of Catherine
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure	1244–1250
Born	1215
Died	1252 Gudhem Abbey
Burial	Gudhem Abbey
Spouse	Eric XI of Sweden
House	House of Bjelbo
Father	Sune Folkason
Mother	Helena Sverkersdotter of Sweden

Catherine Sunadotter of Ymseborg (Swedish: Karin Sunadotter av Ymseborg or Katarina Sunesdotter), (c. 1215–1252), was a Swedish queen, wife of King Eric XI of Sweden and queen consort of Swedes and Goths from 1244 to 1250. In her later years she served as abbess of Gudhem Abbey.

Catherine was the eldest daughter of Helena Sverkersdotter and Sune Folkason. Catherine did not have any brothers, but a sister, Benedikte Sunesdotter of Bjelbo. Catherine's maternal grandparents were King Sverker II and Queen Benedicta. Descending from the families of Bjelbo and Sverker, she was a member of one of the Geatish clans. Catherine's father Sune Folkason was Lord of Ymseborg, lawspeaker of Västergötland, and in some literature he is referred to as Earl of the Swedish.

Eric XI (1215–50) of the Eric dynasty became king in 1222 and was exiled by co-king Canute II of Sweden from 1229 to 1234. Eric returned to Sweden on Canute's death in 1234 and served as king until his own death in 1250. Young Eric was, according to semi-legendary material, physically lame and spoke with a stutter ("läspe och halte"), and he was reportedly of a kindly nature. Eric and Catherine were married in order to strengthen Eric's claim to the throne, as Catherine was of royal blood on her mother's side. The marriage took place in 1243 or 1244, at Fyrisängen near Uppsala. Catherine had received an immense dower upon the marriage: some legends speak romantically about "half the kingdom".