Christina of Saxony (1461–1521)

Queen of Norway and Denmark. Name variations: Christine. Born on December 25, 1461; died on December 8, 1521; daughter of Ernest (b. 1441), elector of Saxony; sister of Margaret of Saxony (1469–1528); married John I or Johannes also known as Hans, king of Norway and Denmark (r. 1481–1513), on September 6, 1478; children: Johann (died young); Ernst (died young); Christian II (b. 1481), king of Norway and Denmark (r. 1513–1523); Elizabeth of Denmark (1485–1555, who married Joachim I of Brandenburg); Franz (1497–1511).

Christina of Saxony married Hans, king of Norway and Denmark, who reigned from 1481 to 1513. Hans was also king of Sweden from 1497 to 1501, but the Union was breaking up; Sweden's regent, Sten Sture was vying for power. Hans and Christina of Saxony arrived to stay in Stockholm palace in January 1501. In August, Hans left the castle, accompanied by his mistress Adele Ironbeard , leaving the palace in the charge of Christina. By September, the castle was under siege. Christina held out doggedly until the garrison of 1,000 had been reduced to 70 defenders, none of whom could stand upright. All others had been killed by weapon, starvation, or disease. Though Christina continued to hold out in hopes of her husband's promised fleet, she was obliged to surrender on May 6, 1502. At first, Sten Sture promised her safe passage home, then changed his mind and imprisoned her until that October when she was freed. The Union was shattered.