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History, The Riddarholmen Church
Today, the church has three naves but originally it had two. It was not until the 1400s that south nave was built.
The floor of the church was originally paved with cobble stones but today is made up of grave slabs from different epochs.
A burial and memorial church
Since 1807 the church has functioned solely as a burial and memorial church and regular mass is not performed here. The church is primarily known as the final resting place of the Swedish kings.
The first king to be buried here was Magnus Ladulås (died 1290). He rests in the chancel in front of the alter to the left and at his right side lies Karl Knutsson Bonde (died 1470).
The mausoleums were built in 1573 and 1574 by Johan III. The kings' original graves are situated under the mausoleums. If one stands facing the alter one can see the Gustavian chapel built 1629-1643.
“Gustavus Adolphus Magnus"
Gustav II Adolf (died 1632) rests in the large Italian marble sarcophagus with the inscription “Gustavus Adolphus Magnus".
In the lower crypt, which is not open to visitors, lies king Adolf Fredrik (died 1771), Gustaf III (died 1792), Gustav IV Adolf (died 1837) and Karl XIII (died 1818).
The Karolinska chapel
Across from the Gustavian chapel is the Karolinska chapel, built 1671-1743. Karl XII (died 1718) rests in a black marble sarcophagus.
By the left and respectively right walls stand the sarcophaguses of Fredrik I (died 1751) and Ulrika Eleonora the Younger (died 1741).
In the Karolinska crypt, which is situated under the Karolinska chapel, rests Karl X Gustav (died 1660) and Hedvig Eleonora (died 1715), Karl XI (died 1697) and Ulrica Eleonora the Elder (died 1693) as well as five of their children who died in infancy.
The Bernadotte chapel
The Bernadotte chapel, built 1858-1860, is situated on the same side of the church as the Gustavian chapel. The dynasty's earliest ancestor, Karl XIV Johan (died 1844), rests in a stately sarcophagus of Älvedalen porphyry.
In front of him lies Queen Desideria (died 1860) in a sarcophagus of green marble from Kolmården. By the walls stand brown limestone sarcophaguses for other Bernadotte dynasty regents.
The last monarch to be buried in the Riddarholm Church was Gustav V (died 1950).
The Royal graveyard at Haga
Gustaf VI Adolf (died 1973) and both of his consorts Crown Princess Margareta (died 1920) and Queen Louise (died 1965) were buried at the Royal graveyard at Haga.
As the custom of burying members of royalty at Haga continued a Christian tradition was adopted and a new royal tradition was cultivated.
The Haga wall
The seraphim shields that belong to the Royal Family members buried at Haga are now gathered on a wall at the Ridderholm Church.
The Haga Wall, as it is called, is situated close to the Bernadotte chapel. Crown Princess Margareta's shield on the Haga Wall is unique amongst the church's shields.
It is not a seraphim shield. Instead of the Order of the Seraphim's chain of angels and crosses around her coat of arms is a heraldic garland of marguerites.
Dante's Divine Comedy
Inspiration for the relief above came to sculptor Liss Eriksson from the Order of the Seraphim's world of symbolism - Dante's Divine Comedy.
It depicts the scene where Dante and Beatrice reach the ninth heaven, governed by the Seraphim, the holiest of all choirs of angels.
In Beatrice's beautiful eyes, Dante sees the reflection of light - a point of eternal light - the Holy Spirit.