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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Catherine Jagiellon, Queen Consort of Sweden: Counselling Between the Catholic Jagiellons and the Lutheran Vasas

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Catherine Jagiellon (1526–83), was a Catholic Polish-Lithuanian princess married to a Lutheran Swedish Prince, John Vasa, Duke of Finland and later King of Sweden. Her case provides important insights into the impact of confessional differences within a royal marriage of the sixteenth century and their consequences for counsel. The chapter highlights the significance of Catherine’s network of confidants, and the role of her entourage in providing political support. While she was not always a successful counsellor, evidence from her correspondence demonstrates that she was a careful manager of her self-presentation in a range of delicate situations.