Margareta Birgersdotter Grip (1538–1586), was a Swedish baroness, writer and landowner. She is known for her writing: she copied letters and documents from the Middle Ages, the originals of which have since been lost, and for her genealogical research. Genealogical works became common among the nobility after her day, and her work is considered the first of the genre in Sweden.
She was born to riksråd baron Birger Nilsson Grip and Brita Joachimsdotter Brahe. After the death of her mother in 1554, she attended the royal court prior to her marriage. [1]
In 1562, she married the noble Erik Månsson Natt och Dag, son of Måns Johansson and Barbro Eriksdotter. She was thereby the sister-in-law of the lady-in-waiting Karin Gyllenstierna, who were also her neighbor on the estate Säby. After being widowed shortly after, she managed the estate Brokind Castle on behalf of her minor son Erik Eriksson Natt och Dag (d. 1566). After the death of her son, she inherited the Bro estate personally. In 1571, she married riksråd Sten Axelsson Banér. However, she remained the sole manager of the Bro estate.
Margareta Birgersdotter Grip has been claimed to be the Mistress of the Robes of Queen Karin Månsdotter in 1567–1568. However, Elin Andersdotter is confirmed to have had that position. [2]
Margareta Grip copied a large amount of documents and letters from the Middle Ages, whose originals have since been lost, and who are therefore important historical documents. She produced a genealogical work, with the intent of vindicating her ancestor, Bo Jonsson Grip, a work she started in 1574. Genealogical research became common among the nobility in the late 16th century, but Grip are regarded as the pioneer of this genre in Sweden. Her work is kept at the Trolleholm Castle archive.
Margaret Leijonhufvud was Queen of Sweden from 1536 to 1551 by marriage to King Gustav I. She played a political role as the advisor of, and the intermediary to, her spouse the King.
Christina Nilsdotter Gyllenstierna of Fogelvik was a Swedish noblewoman. She was married to the Swedish regent Sten Sture the Younger, and led the Swedish resistance against Christian II of Denmark after the death of her spouse. In her own lifetime she was simply referred to as Fru Kristina, but she has become known in history as Kristina Gyllenstierna because of the house of nobility to which she belonged.
Gunilla Bielke; Swedish: Gunilla Johansdotter Bielke af Åkerö was Queen of Sweden as the second wife of King John III. Queen Gunilla is acknowledged to have acted as the political adviser to John III and to have influenced his religious policies in favor of Protestantism.
Natt och Dag is a Swedish noble family and the oldest surviving family of pure Swedish extraction, with origins stretching back at least as far as the late thirteenth century. However, the actual name Natt och Dag, alluding to the contrasting colours of its coat of arms, was not coined until the sixteenth century, and was not used as a surname by the family itself until the eighteenth century It is therefore customary to write the name in parentheses when applying it to individuals prior to 1700.
Henrika Juliana von Liewen was a Swedish noble, socialite and lady-in-waiting, politically active on behalf of the Hats (party) during the Age of liberty.
Anna Margareta Momma née von Bragner (1702–1772), was a Swedish publisher, chief editor and journalist.
Martha Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, known as Kung Märta, was a politically-active Swedish noblewoman. She was the sister of Queen Margaret Leijonhufvud and sister-in-law of King Gustav I of Sweden: she was also the maternal aunt of Queen Catherine Stenbock and the daughter-in-law of the regent Christina Gyllenstierna. In 1568, she financed the deposition of King Eric XIV of Sweden, which placed her nephew John III of Sweden on the throne.
Anna Eriksdotter Bielke was a Swedish noble, commander of the city and castle of Kalmar during the Swedish rebellion against Denmark.
Margareta Abrahamsdotter Brahe was a Swedish aristocrat and court official, Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg by marriage to Frederick II, Landgrave of Hesse-Homburg. She aroused a lot of attention with her marriages, which were considered scandalous.
Ebba Månsdotter Lilliehöök of Kolbäck, was a Swedish noble, landlord and county administrator, Countess of Raseborg, Baroness of Gräfsnäs and lady of Käggleholm.
Görvel Fadersdotter (Sparre) was a Swedish noblewoman and county administrator. She was a major landowner in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Katarina Bengtsdotter Gylta, in Latin: Catharina Benedicta, was a Swedish nun of the Bridgettine Order, Abbess of Vadstena Abbey in 1553–1564 and 1565–1593. She was the second last abbess in Sweden and Vadstena Abbey after the reformation.
Gunilla Johansdotter Bese, also called Gunhild (1475–1553) was a Finnish (Swedish) noble and fiefholder of Vyborg Castle from 1511 to 1513.
Margareta was a Swedish Sami missionary. She was given permission by the Swedish crown to preach and convert her fellow Sami to Christianity. Her position was unique for her as both a Sami and a woman.
Ebba Mauritzdotter Leijonhufvud, also called Ebba Mauritzdotter Lewenhaupt, Countess of Raseborg, Lady of Käggleholm, Eksjöhovgård and Tullgarn, was a Swedish noble and courtier and member of the Leijonhufvud family. She served as överhovmästarinna in 1633–1634 and foster mother in 1639–1644 to Christina, Queen of Sweden. She was also known for her donations to various churches.
Karin Göransdotter Gyllenstierna was a Swedish courtier. She served as Chief Court Mistress to queen Catherine Jagellon and, after her death, to Princess Anna Vasa of Sweden.
Elsa Borg was a Swedish educator and social worker. She is known for being the founder of the Christian Bible Home for women and its combined mission work and social work among the poor in Stockholm.
Sigrid Brahe (1568–1608), was a Swedish countess, known for the great scandal Onsdagsbröllopet in 1595.
Birgitta Ingvaldsdotter was a Swedish merchant. She belongs to the earliest businesswomen in Sweden about whom there is any significant amount of documentation.
Lovisa Mathilda Nettelbladt (1814–1867), was a Swedish novelist and travel writer. She wrote under the pseudonym m-n. She lived in the United States between 1850 and 1856, and she is foremost known for her travel book about her life in North America, which belongs to the earliest literature published of a Swedish emigrant as well as a Swedish female emigrant to the USA.