Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp

Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp
Portrait by Nicolas Vallari
Queen consort of Sweden
Tenure24 October 1654 – 13 February 1660
Coronation27 October 1654
Queen regent of Sweden
Tenure13 February 1660 - 18 December 1672
MonarchCharles XI
Tenure5 April - 15 December 1697
MonarchCharles XII
Born(1636-10-23)23 October 1636
Palace of Gottorp, Schleswig
Died24 November 1715(1715-11-24) (aged 79)
Sweden
Spouse
(m. 1654; died 1660)
IssueCharles XI of Sweden
HouseHolstein-Gottorp
FatherFrederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp
MotherDuchess Marie Elisabeth of Saxony
SignatureHedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp's signature

Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp (23 October 1636 – 24 November 1715) was Queen of Sweden from 1654 until 1660 as the wife of King Charles X Gustav. She served as regent during the minority of her son, King Charles XI, from 1660 until 1672, and during the minority of her grandson, King Charles XII, in 1697. She also represented Charles XII during his absence in the Great Northern War from 1700 until the regency of her granddaughter Ulrika Eleonora in 1713. Hedwig Eleonora was described as a dominant personality, and was regarded as the de facto first lady of the royal court for 61 years, from 1654 until her death.