Catherine Stenbock - Queen Dowager

Queen Dowager

After the death of the king, Catherine lived as a widow for 61 years; she was the first Swedish dowager queen given the title "Riksänkedrottning", which means "The Queen Dowager of the Realm". Her estates made her very wealthy and independent as a widow. She lent money to several of the kings following her spouse. She also acted as a mediator in conflicts. She was the first lady of the court in 1560-1568, and was made god mother of king Eric's son with Karin Månsdotter (1568). Karin Hansdotter, Anna Phersönernas moder and Ebba Brahe were all at different times employed at her court. There were reports, that Eric had plans to have his brothers as well as other enemies killed before his wedding to Karin Månsdotter, but that the plans failed because Månsdotter warned the intended victims through Catherine Stenbock

Catherine carried the son of Eric and Karin Månsdotter to his baptism on 9 June 1568 At the dethronement of King Eric XIV in 1568, it is described how Duke Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg, husband of her stepdaughter Princess Sophia, took her, his spouse and Princess Elizabeth by boat from the royal palace of Stockholm, to abandon Eric by joining the rebels. During the imprisonment of Eric and Karin, their children was in the custody of Catherine Stenbock and their French governess Johanna (Jeanne) de Herboville from 1568 until 1568

Catherine did have plans to remarry; in about 1570, she wished to marry Duke Francis II of Saxe-Lauenburg, the brother of her stepdaughter's husband, Duke Magnus II. These plans where, however, prevented by Magnus. In 1574, she participated in convincing King John to release her nephew Erik Stenbock, who had been imprisoned and deposed from his position by the King on recommendation of Martha Leijonhudvud after his legendary elopement with Martha's daughter. Her estates were within the duchy of her stepson Duke Charles, and she had many conflicts with him. In 1581, Duke Charles again contested her right to her estates, but her property was protected by King John III of Sweden. She had a good relationship with John and often lent him money. In 1582, she participated in the meeting between Karin Månsdotter and queen Catherine Jagellon at Svartsjö Castle

As a widow, she participated much in charity. Upon her death in 1610 at 86 years of age, it was said that: "The poor have lost a friend, the orphans their mother". She was buried in Uppsala Cathedral, but without a monument of her own.