Berengaria of Portugal

Berengaria of Portugal, born in 1198, was a notable infanta who ascended to the role of Queen of Denmark as the second wife of Valdemar II. Her marriage in May 1214 followed the tragic death of Valdemar's first wife, Dagmar of Bohemia, and marked the beginning of her brief yet impactful queenship.

Born into the illustrious House of Burgundy, Berengaria was the daughter of King Sancho I of Portugal and Dulce of Aragon. Following the death of her father in 1211, she became an orphan, navigating a tumultuous family landscape where her brother Afonso II sought to manage their inherited estates. Initially placed under the care of her elder sister Theresa, Berengaria's life took a significant turn when she was married off to Valdemar II, a union orchestrated to strengthen alliances against France.

During her time as queen, Berengaria was described as exceptionally beautiful and made several charitable donations to churches and monasteries. She is recognized as the earliest Danish queen to have worn a crown, a symbol of her royal status. Her legacy includes her children with Valdemar, who would go on to become influential Danish kings, including Eric V, Abel, and Christopher I, as well as a daughter, Sophie, who married John I, Margrave of Brandenburg.

Tragically, Berengaria's life was cut short in 1221, likely due to complications from childbirth, at the tender age of twenty-three. She was laid to rest in St. Bendt's Church in Ringsted. Over the centuries, her portrayal in Danish ballads and chronicles has been mixed, often depicting her as a hard and selfish figure, a stark contrast to her predecessor. However, modern historians argue that these negative images lack contemporary evidence and should be viewed as legendary rather than factual.