Discussions about the Imperial Family and European Royalty > The Danish Royal Family
The medievall Danish Kings and Queens
Grand_Duke:
Berengaria
Portuguese princess, daughter of king Sancho I of Portugal and queen Dulce.
Born 1194
Died 1221
Was the 2nd wife of Valdemar II (1170–1241), King of Denmark. They married in 1213.
They had 4 children:
Eric IV (1216-1250)
Sophie (1217-1241)
Abel (1218-1252)
Cristopher I (1219-1259)
All the 3 sons became Kings of Denmark!
Does anybody know more things about Queen Berengaria?
Robert_Hall:
A little bit, dear Grand Duke-
Valdemar's second wife. Name changed to Danish "Berngerd" the "bear's keeper". Dubious honour.
Beautiful but equally evil, according to Danish ballads. When her grave was examined in 1855 by Frederik VII "skeleton intact and skull extremely beautiful and well-formed". A lock of her hair is kept in Ringsted Church. The famous Danish flag- "Dannebrog" came into being during this reign.
I would guess the lady may be confused with Berengaria, wife of England's Richard I which is another story altogether.
[source: Lauring- History of Denmark. 1960]
Grand_Duke:
Thank you very much, Robert.
Anybody can confirm if she had leprosy?
I heard this info from a very important historian! Both her father Sancho I and her brother Afonso II, kings of Portugal had this disease...
Robert_Hall:
I have not read such information and I am not an expert by any stretch. Perhaps that is why the skeleton & skull were duly noted as excellent & beautiful ?
Robert_Hall:
Perhaps also worthy of note: Lisbon was noted as being "healthy", " in a medieval sense" more likely to be free of pestilence & polluted air. Why note such things if a disease were not of concern ? = brides exportable !
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