Background
Helena was born the daughter of King Sverker II and Benedikte Ebbesdotter. She was born in Denmark, where her father was an exile at that time. In 1195 or 1196, her father was crowned king of Sweden.
Helena was born the daughter of King Sverker II and Benedikte Ebbesdotter. She was born in Denmark, where her father was an exile at that time. In 1195 or 1196, her father was crowned king of Sweden.
She was also the Abbess of Vreta Abbey. In 1208, he was deposed, and in 1210, he died in battle. Helena Sverkersdotter, the only daughter of the deposed King, was educated at Vreta Abbey at the time of her father"s death.
Sune Folkesson was of one of the two dynasties that had rivaled over the Swedish throne since 1130, and Helena was from the other, the Sverker dynasty.
Sune Folkason abducted Helena and took her, according to folklore, to the castle of Ymseborg. Thus, the two Swedish dynasties was united, but only in a sideline.
Late in life, she is said to have become the Abbess of Vreta Abbey.