Nowadays it is fashionable to resurrect the likenesses of historical persons as well as get information from their old rattling bones.
The other day the skulls of the Norwegian King Håkon V (1270 – 1319) and his queen, Euphemia were carried across the town of Oslo in order to be subjected to a battery of research – including DNA extraction and strontium analysis. The hope is not only to get the likenesses recreated but also to get information about upbringing, their food and nutrition etc. So far they have found that her skeleton was slight and that her teeth were not worn. She must have been fed on refined food and sifted flour.
Euphemia was daughter of the Slavic prince, Witslaw of Rügen, who died in 1302. She was married in 1299 to prince Håkan, later king of Norway. It is presumed that the marriage-contract was concluded in 1298 at a Danish –Norwegian meeting of reconciliation. The wedding took place in Oslo in 1299 at the same time as the Norwegian king, Magnus III, died. On the first of November the royal couple were crowned. At this occasion the king threw a great party and donated privileges to the churches.
There is a gilded mounting to a drinking horn preserved in the National Museum of Copenhagen ornated with the weapons of the couple, that might stem from around this time. In the 14th century such drinking horns were no longer part of the traditional (“viking”) way of life, but probably more a fashionable symbol of a national romantic revival. However, she also owned other more “common” drinking vessels, like the two silver-bowls she were given by her father in his testament. According to yet another testament for Bjarne Erlingsson in Bjarkøy she owned a golden cup.
In 1302 the couple celebrated the engagement between their daughter Ingebjørg and the Swedish heir,
Erik Magnusson. At this event Euphemia’s father, who was present, died. He was buried in the church of St. Mary as was later queen Euphemia and her husband. The church, now in ruins, played a pivotal role in the life of the royal couple. It was generously endowed in her testament. After her death – and as part of the endowment – the provost of the church was even called by default to be the future chancellor of Norway.
Her best claim to immortality, however, stems from her strong literary and cultural impact on Norwegian and Swedish life. The primary witness are the three so-called “Euphemia-visor”, epic versified romances of French and German origin translated into Swedish: “Herr Ivan Lejonriddaren”, “Hertig Fredrik af Normandie” and “Flores och Blancheflor”. Each poem has an addendum designating Euphemia as the commissioner and dating the poems respectively 1303, 1308 and 1312. It is generally believed that the same person wrote the three poetical novels. Euphemia is thus credited with having introduced the fashionable aristocratic and courtly culture to a wider group of Norwegians and Swedes. No doubt her inspiration stemmed from her upbringing in Northern Germany, where her brother, Witslaw III, was an acclaimed poet. 27 of his songs are preserved.
The anniversary has already produced a number of new fin-dings in connection with the three romances. Amongst other the historian Bjørn Bandlien recently discovered some fragments of a German romance from app. 1300. Maybe they were part of a manuscript brought to Norway by Euphemia at her marriage?
In the middle of the 19th century the tomb of the royal couple was identified. In 1982 their remains were reburied inside the chapel of the old royal castle in Oslo, Akerhus.
Her death 700 years ago will be marked by a number of festivities. A street in the centre of Oslo will be renamed after her, and a book will be published in May. The book, which is edited by Bjørn Bandlien, promises to present the newest research on Euphemia and her life and times. Also a concert with music by her brother is in the pipeline.
Read more:
Bandlien, Bjørn (ed) Dronning Eufemia. Oslos middelalderdronning. Oslo, Dreyers forlag 2012. In print.
In October a conference on the Eufemiavisorna and courtly culture will be held in Stockholm
