Katarina Stenbock (Torpa, Västergötland in July 22, 1535 - Strömsholm, Västmanland in December 13, 1621) was the third and last consort of King Gustav I of Sweden (who was 37 years older than she), and the Queen-Consort of Sweden between 1552 and 1560. She was daughter of Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock and Brita Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, who was the sister of the King's previous consort, Margareta Leijonhufvud.   is one of the historical provinces of Sweden (landskap), situated in the southwest of Sweden. ... is the 203rd day of the year (204th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... pie is nice Year 1535 was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. ... Strömsholm is a locality in Hallstahammar Municipality, Västmanland County in Sweden. ...  Västmanland? is a historical Province or landskap in middle Sweden. ... is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1621 was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar). ... Gustav I of Sweden, commonly known as Gustav Vasa, but originally known as Gustav Eriksson (May 12, 1496 – September 29, 1560) was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death. ... Events April - War between Henry II of France and Emperor Charles V. Henry invades Lorraine and captures Toul, Metz, and Verdun. ... Events February 27 - The Treaty of Berwick, which would expel the French from Scotland, is signed by England and the Congregation of Scotland The first tulip bulb was brought from Turkey to the Netherlands. ... Margareta Leijonhufvud (January 1, 1516 - August 26, 1551) was the consort of King Gustav I and a Queen of Sweden from 1536 to 1551. ...

As the previous queen, she was engaged when the king decided to marry her, but the engagement was broken so the king could have his way. It is said that she run away and hid behind a bush in the garden when the king arrived at her parents mansion, and according to old stories, she often talked about her earlier fiancé in her sleep.

The marriage was celebrated in the city of Vadstena with an extreme cost of money, at the same time as the plague swept through the country and the city of Åbo (Turku) burned down, and people claimed to see bad omens and evil signs in the sky. The day after, Katarina was crowned Queen, the parties lasted in three days and when the court departed, the city of Vadstena burned down in a great fire. Vadstena Castle Vadstena is a Municipality in Östergötland County, in southeast Sweden. ... Location of Turku in Northern Europe Coordinates: , Country Finland Province Western Finland Region Finland Proper Sub-region Turku sub-region Government  - Mayor Mikko Pukkinen Area  - City 306. ...

The marriage was not a happy one, which was admitted by the king himself; he was even said to contemplate writing a law which would prevent any future marriage between "Two people, of which one was young and one was old." It is said that the king heard her talking of her former fiance, Gustav Three Roses, in her sleep, during which she said; "King Gustav is very dear to me, but I will never forget the Rose."

The king's health declined during the next years, and she was more a nurse than his wife for the eight years she was queen.

After the death of the king, she lived as a widow for 61 years; she was the first Swedish dowager queen given the title "Riksänkedrottning", which means "The Queen Widow of the Country".

She spent a lot of time at court as Queen Dowager; at the dethronement of King Eric XIV in 1568, she was described leaving the city of Stockholm in a boat with her stepdaughter Princess Elizabeth of Sweden. Eric XIV (December 13, 1533 – February 26, 1577) was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was deposed in 1568. ... Events March 23 - Peace of Longjumeau ends the Second War of Religion in France. ... Elizabeth Vasa (1549-1597), was a Swedish Princess, daughter of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden and Queen Margareta Leijonhufvud. ...

She did have plans of remarrying; in about 1570, she wanted to marry duke Frans of Saxe-Lauenburg, brother of the husband of her stepdaughter Princess Sophia of Sweden, but it was prevented by the husband of the princess. She borrowed money to several of the kings following her husband, acted as amediator and was the first lady until 1568. Ebba Brahe was later her lady-in-waiting. Events January 23 - The assassination of regent James Stewart, Earl of Moray throws Scotland into civil war February 25 - Pope Pius V excommunicates Queen Elizabeth I of England with the bull Regnans in Excelsis May 20 - Abraham Ortelius issues the first modern atlas. ... Sofia Vasa (October 29, 1547 – March 17, 1611), was a Swedish princess, daughter of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden and Queen Margareta Leijonhufvud. ... Countess Ebba Brahe (March 16, 1596- January 5, 1674) was a Swedish lady-in-waiting. ...

She survived five Swedish kings. She was buried in Uppsala. Uppsala (older spelling Upsala) is a city in central Sweden, located about 70 km north of Stockholm. ...

Reference

• Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon (1906), Katarina Stenbock. [1]
• Herman Lindqvist, "Historien om Sverige".
• Herman Lindqvist (2006). Historien om alla Sveriges drottningar (in Swedish). Norstedts Förlag. ISBN 9113015249.