Hedwig of Denmark

Hedwig of Denmark (5 August 1581 – 26 November 1641) was a Danish princess and an Electress of Saxony as a wife of Christian II, Elector of Saxony.

She was a daughter of King Frederick II of Denmark and his wife, Sophie of Mecklenburg-Güstrow.

She was married on 12 September 1602 to Christian II, Elector of Saxony. The marriage was childless.When Christian II died in 1611, she became reigning dowager lady. She was in charge of the police and courts. She shared her authority with the new Elector, but her subjects considered her their lady.

She founded churches, aided the poor, the sick and the weak. As the sister of the Danish king, Christian IV, and the sister-in-law of the British king she became an important figure for her brother-in-law, Elector John George I, and she was involved in arranging the marriages of five of his seven children.

Because of her positions, her territories were hardly attacked during the Thirty Years War, and she acted independently, granting letters of free passage etc., something that was normally the prerogative of the Elector.

Additionally, she maintained her independence against her brother-in-law when it came to trade and commerce.