Catherine Jagiellon

Born 1 November 1526 into the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth's ruling house, Catherine Jagiellon married into Sweden's throne and became queen in 1569 as the wife of John III. She wielded real power over state affairs, using her position to open direct talks with the pope and push Counter-Reformation into Protestant Sweden. The campaign to reverse the Reformation from the queen's chambers created lasting tension in the realm. She bore a son, Sigismund III Vasa, who would eventually rule both Poland and Sweden. Catherine died 16 September 1583, her religious project unfinished but her dynastic…