Name Margrethe Roskilde | ||
Margrethe of Roskilde, also called Margrethe of Ølse (d. 1176), was a Roman Catholic Danish local saint. She has been referred to as the only female saint in Denmark.
Margrethe was related to Bishop Absalon of Roskilde, and married to Herlog i Ølsemagle in Kjøge. In 1176, she was murdered by her spouse, who hanged her corpse to make it appear as if she had committed suicide. As a suicide, she was buried outside of church blessing at the beach of Ølsemagle Strand. When miracles appeared by her grave, Absalom conducted an investigation, which exposed the murder upon the confession of Herlog. Her remains were then reburied in the Roskilde cathedral. A chapel to her honor was erected upon the beach of her former grave. Though never canonized by the Pope, she became the object of worship in Denmark. Reportedly, she was often called upon by women in childbirth.