What was Helena’s family name before she married? I’ve come across more than one variant of this question on the Internet. It’s difficult to answer because it assumes that Swedish 16th century naming practices were the same as the ones we use in English today. They weren’t. Swedish naming practices in the 16th century were […]
Category Archives: Helena
Helena, Marchioness of Northampton
Helena, Marchioness of Northampton (c.1549-1635) was born Elin Ulfsdotter (Bååt) at Fyllingerum in Östregötland, Sweden in 1549 or 1550. She came to England in the train of Princess Cecilia Gustavsdotter (Vasa) in 1565. She was probably a maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth I between 1565 and 1571 and certainly a lady-in-waiting from 1572 (at […]