Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark
| Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark | |
|---|---|
_1677_by_Jacques_D%E2%80%99Agar.jpg)
Portrait attributed to Jacques d'Agar, 1677
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| Queen consort of Sweden | |
| Tenure | 6 May 1680 – 26 July 1693 |
| Born |
11 September 1656 Copenhagen |
| Died | 26 July 1693 (aged 36) Karlberg Palace |
| Spouse | Charles XI, King of Sweden |
| Issue Among others... |
Hedvig Sophia, Duchess of Holstein-Gottorp Charles XII, King of Sweden Ulrika Eleonora, Queen of Sweden |
| House | Oldenburg |
| Father | Frederick III, King of Denmark |
| Mother | Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg |
Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark (11 September 1656 – 26 July 1693) was the Queen consort of Sweden as the spouse of King Charles XI of Sweden.
The name Ulrike is a Danish version of the name; in Swedish she is called Ulrika Eleonora den äldre (English: Ulrica Eleanor the Elder), to distinguish her from her daughter, the future queen regnant.
Ulrika was the daughter of King Frederick III of Denmark and his spouse Queen Sophie Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg. She was given a strict upbringing under the supervision of her mother. She was taught several different languages, and was reportedly a good student in drawing and painting.
In 1675 she was betrothed to King Charles XI of Sweden. The purpose of the match, from the Swedish viewpoint, was to prevent Denmark from forming an alliance with the enemies of Sweden. Her brother, the King of Denmark, was not enthusiastic about the match, but he left the decision to her mother, who was very eager to complete it because it would give Ulrika the status of queen. The engagement was announced 13 July 1675.
During the Scanian War between Denmark and Sweden in 1675–1679 she was encouraged to break the engagement. Her brother the King broke it for her in 1676, but she herself continued to regard herself engaged. She was considered as a possible bride by the Prince of Orange in 1676, and then by the Holy Roman Emperor, Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor, but she refused a different match. During the war, she gained a reputation for loyalty to her future home country by exhibiting kindness to Swedish prisoners: she pawned her jewelry, even her engagement ring, to buy food, sheets and medicine for the Swedish prisoners of war. She also refused to participate in the celebrations arranged in honor of Danish victories over Sweden.
During the peace negotiations between Sweden and Denmark in 1679, the marriage between her and Charles XI was on the agenda, and ratified on 26 September 1679. The marriage contract was signed 6 February 1680, and when the Swedish representative Johan Göransson Gyllenstierna returned to Sweden, he escorted her to Sweden on his return home. During one of the celebrations in honor of her marriage, her name and the name of her groom was written on the night sky with fire works. One of the spectators pointed out that the person which name died out first, was the one who was going to die first. When her name went out first, she stated that she hoped it would truly be so, for she could not bear to outlive her spouse.
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