Page "Margaret Leijonhufvud" Paragraph 3

Margaret was described as intelligent and beautiful, and the marriage was considered a happy one ; her husband was not known to be unfaithful to her.

She devoted her life to domestic duties and family life.

She remained a Catholic her entire life, and it was painful for her to make clothes and curtains of the textiles the king confiscated from old Catholic convents, but it does not seem that she ever used any influence to promote her own beliefs in politics, in religion or otherwise.

She allegedly had the ability to keep his temperament under control, was a calming influence on him, managed to get punishments he meted out reduced, advised him to show mercy and leniency, all of which made her popular.

She gave donations to the still active Vadstena Abbey, following the example of her family: her mother was also the benefactor of Vreta Abbey.

Margaret often used the services of a cunning woman, the peasant-wife Brigitta Andersdotter, whom she often hired to see to the health of herself, her sister Märtha and their children, and much appreciated for her skill.

She was almost constantly pregnant, which devastated her health.

In August 1551, she and her children made an excursion by boat on Mälaren between Gripsholm and Västerås, and on their return, she took ill with pneumonia.

When she died, she was deeply mourned by the king.