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Catherine Vasa of Sweden

Stockholm, 16 Jun 1539 – Berum, 21 Dec 1610

9 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 16 Jun 1539

    Born in Stockholm

  2. 1562–1582

    3 children are born

  3. 21 Dec 1610

    Dies in Berum, aged 71

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 3

During her lifetime

She lived through 9 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Stockholm.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1530s · Catherine is born in Stockholm

In the news1531

Church bells sacrificed for state debt

King Gustav ordered the sacrifice of one church bell from every parish to help pay the national debt to Lübeck.

Getting around

Travel by foot, horse, and winter sledge

In the 16th century, common modes of transport included walking, traveling on horseback, or using sledges in winter, with water routes often preferred over land for their speed. A day's journey could cover 30–40 km on foot, 50 km on horseback, or 70–80 km by sledge during winter.

In the news1539

First Swedish censorship law established

A law introduced in 1539 mandated that all printed materials be checked by the government before distribution to the public.

Daily life

Open hearth cooking with simple diets

Cooking was done using open fireplaces, and common staples included porridge, bread, turnips, cabbage, and salted or dried fish and meat, usually washed down with beer.

What people wore

Essential Tools Carried on Belts

Peasants often carried essential daily tools like knives and leather pouches on belts; women additionally kept the keys to their farm on their belts.

Music

Ring dances and outdoor celebrations

People often danced in rings or long rows, singing along as they moved, rather than dancing in pairs. Dancing was common at weddings, christenings, and religious festivals, frequently taking place outdoors in fields or town squares.

At the table

Beer as a primary daily beverage

Water was often avoided due to quality concerns, so people frequently drank large quantities of beer, including warm spiced beer known as bragott. In some religious institutions, nuns were served as much as 1.3 liters of beer with their dinner.