Maria of Palatinate-Simmern

Maria of Palatinate-Simmern, (July 1561-29 July 1589), was a German Princess and a Swedish Princess and Duchess of Södermanland by marriage, first wife of King Charles IX of Sweden.

Maria was born to Louis VI, Elector Palatine and Elisabeth of Hesse. In April 1578, the Swedish Prince Charles, Duke of Södermanland, visited her home town Heidelberg and proposed. The wedding took place in Heidelberg 11 May 1579. Afterwards, she followed him to Sweden, where they resided in his Duchy in Södermanland.

They are no image kept of Maria. She is described as beautiful, gentle and diplomatic, but also sickly. The marriage is described as happy, and with her calm temperament, the oposite of her husbands, she managed to calm him down and exerted influence over him and his rule in the Duchy by interfering on other peoples behalf and asking for mercy. She had six children, all exept one dying within a few years. She died in Eskilstuna palace after a long term illness and was burried in the Strängnäs Cathedral.

Duke Charles was said to have mourned her greatly. The town Mariestad and the royal estate Marieholm is named after her.

Children:
#Margareta Elisabet (1580-1585).
#Elisabet Sabina (1582-1585).
#Ludvig (1583).
#Catharina (1584-1638)
#Gustav (1587).
#Maria (1588-1589).

References

* http://www.historiesajten.se/visainfo.asp?id=382
* http://runeberg.org/sqvinnor/0290.html

Sucession

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