Agnes Denmark

Background

Agnes lost her father at the age of one, and after her mother left for remarriage in Germany, she and her sister Jutta remained to be raised at the court of her paternal uncle, the king of Denmark.

Career

She founded the Convent of Saint Agneta in Roskilde, becoming Abbess there. Agnes was placed there as its first abbess, and the regent of Denmark was forced to swear that she had been placed there by her own free will. Both sister greatly disliked the life as nuns, and the both left the convent in 1270.

Agnes seem to have managed to gain control over at least parts of her father"s estates.

She lived the rest of her life managing her estates at Själland, and there are several documents mentioning her acts as a landowner. She is last mentioned alive in 1290.

The year of her death is unknown.

Achievements

• The convent was founded by initiative of Countess Ingerd of Hvide, but the application was sent to the Pope in the name of Agnes, who was officially named as founder.