Sophia of Sweden | |
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Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg | |
Born | 29 October 1547 |
Died | 17 March 1611 | (aged 63)
Spouse | Magnus II, Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg |
Issue | Gustav of Saxe-Lauenburg |
House | Vasa |
Father | Gustav I of Sweden |
Mother | Margaret Leijonhufvud |
Princess Sophia of Sweden, also Sofia Gustavsdotter Vasa (29 October 1547 – 17 March 1611), was a Swedish princess, daughter of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden and Margareta Leijonhufvud. She was formally Duchess consort of Saxe-Lauenburg by her marriage to Duke Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg.
During her early childhood, she, as well as her siblings in the royal nursery, were primarily under the care of her mother the queen's trusted nurse, Brigitta Lars Anderssons, her mother's cousin lady Margareta and the noble widow Ingrid Amundsdotter.
After the death of her mother in 1551, she and her siblings were placed in the care of Christina Gyllenstierna, and then under her aunts Brita and Martha Leijonhufvud before her father's remarriage to Catherine Stenbock. During the Northern Seven Years' War, the Danish queen dowager Dorothea of Saxe-Lauenburg suggested a peace treaty by marriage between her younger son, the Danish monarch, and Sophia. However, she made the suggestion without her son's knowledge, and he did not support the idea.
In March 1566, Sophia became engaged to Duke Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg, who had long been in the service of Eric. The marriage took place in a double wedding when her half brother King Eric XIV married Karin Månsdotter on 4 July 1568. Eric may have arranged the marriage of Sophia and Magnus because he needed support for his controversial marriage to Karin Månsdotter. It is also possible that he feared he would not have the wedding guests he wanted unless he had Sophia's wedding conducted in parallel.