Ida Königsmarck

Ida Königsmarck (died 1450), was a Swedish noble and fief-holder, known for her legendary defense of Kastelholm Castle on Åland in Swedish Finland during the Engelbrekt rebellion in 1433.

She was the daughter of Henning Königsmarck and married to Tomas Von Vitzen and (secondly) to Bengt Pogwisch. Her second spouse was the holder of the fief Kastelholm Castle, and upon his death in 1432, she took over his position as fief-holder. In 1433, the castle was besieged by the rebels during the Engelbrekt rebellion. Her defense of the castle was described in the Karlskrönikan (Charles Chronicle) and became legend.

Fru Yda en utlänsk Qvinna;

Bättre Konenungen henne trodde

Än någon then i Sverige bodde;

Thet var nu Svenskom til spott

At Qvinna skulle råda Riksens Slott

(Lady Ida a foreign woman:

Thought of better by the king

Than any living in Sweden;

This was now when the Swedes decided

That woman be entrusted with the defense of the royal castles)

Other sources claim that her son Otto Pogwisch organized the defense and that he surrendered to the rebels.

References

• Engelbrecht Engelbrechtssons historia, Eric Tundeld, 1784
• Svenskt biografiskt lexikon, band 21.