Dyveke Sigbritsdatter

Dyveke was a commoner, the daughter of the Dutch merchant Sigbrit Willoms, who lived in Bergen in Norway.

They met in Bergen, and Christian took Dyveke with him to Oslo, where he was regent, and to Copenhagen, when he became king in 1513.

The mother of Dyveke, Sigbrit, acted as an advisor to the king, which was much disliked, especially by the nobility, and every effort was therefore made to separate Dyveke and Christian, which would ensure the departure also of Sigbrit from the court.

Though Christian married Isabella of Austria and had her crowned in 1515, he refused to end his relationship with Dyveke.

Her death led to the execution of nobleman Torben Oxe but his guilt has never been proved, and both an initiative by the court of the Emperor Maximilian I or even an accidental poisoning have been suggested as an explanation.