Background
Karin was born in Stockholm to a soldier and later jailkeeper named Måns and his wife Ingrid. Her mother came from a family of peasants in Uppland. Both her parents are believed to have died in 1560.
Karin was born in Stockholm to a soldier and later jailkeeper named Måns and his wife Ingrid. Her mother came from a family of peasants in Uppland. Both her parents are believed to have died in 1560.
Karin entered into a relationship with Eric in the spring of 1565. The position has been quite official, as she was given education (she learned how to read and write), expensive clothes and her own apartment and servants. Thus, she could be regarded as the first official royal mistress in Sweden. Her daughter Sigrid was born in 1566 before marriage and she was treated as a legitimate princess.
It is unknown whether Karin Månsdotter had any political influence, but a popular image in Swedish history was of her serving as a counterweight to the king's advisor Jöran Persson
Karin oficially married King Eric XIV in 1568. Soon after marrage they were imprisoned by his brothers. In the prison she gave birth to two children. Both died there. Queen Karin and her children were separated from her husband the 14 June 1573 to prevent the birth of any more legitimate offspring. In 1577, she received the news of her husband's death. She was treated with kindness and given the royal estate Liuksiala Manor in Kangasala, Finland.
Eric XIV was the son of Gustav I and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg . He was also ruler of Estonia, after its conquest by Sweden in 1561.
She was born before marriage of her parents and during the imprisonment was taken from them by Queen Dowager Catherine Stenbock. She has been married 2 times.
Gustav and his sister were officially confirmed as legitamate and were given all the privileges of a royal prince and princess. Gustav was sent to live outside of Sweden to protect him from King John III, later he moved to Poland where he became a Catholic
