Elin Andersdotter

Elin Andersdotter (died 1569), was a Swedish courtier. She served as Chief Court Mistress to queen Karin Månsdotter of Sweden. She is known for being a leading actor in the 1569 Plot to free and reinstate the imprisoned and deposed king Erik XIV of Sweden. Life Elin Andersdotter was reportedly the widow of a certain Gerdt Svärdfejare from Vadstena, and remarried at an unknown time to a man by the name Hans Andersson. She is first mentioned as a part of the staff of the royal mistress Karin Månsdotter in 1566. Described as a loyal servant, she received several gifts from Karin. When Karin Månsdotter became queen, Elin Andersdotter was named mistress of the Robes. This was an unusual position for a commoner, but the court appointed to Karin Månsdotter, herself originally a commoner, when she became queen, was quite small, smaller than those of her royal sisters-in-law, and mainly consisting of her former staff of commoners. In 1568, Erik XIV was deposed and imprisoned alongside Karin Månsdotter, who was however allowed to keep her staff.