Beate Clausdatter Bille

Beate Clausdatter Bille (30 April 1526 – 18 October 1605) was a Danish noblewoman and vassal who was born into the noble Bille family and married into the Brahe family. As a member of the royal court, she was Chief Court Mistress to Queen Sophie from 1584 to 1592. She married statesman Otte Brahe and became a feudal fiefholder in her own right following the death of her husband.

She and her husband Otte had 12 children, 8 of whom survived into adulthood, including the influential scientists and astronomers Tycho and Sophia Brahe.

Biography Beate Clausdatter Bille was born on 30 April 1526 at Skarhult Castle into the noble Bille family. Her father, Claus Bille, was a member of the Riksråd and her mother, Elisabeth Ulfstand, came from the Ulfstand family. She had two brothers: Jens Bille and Steen Bille (1527–1586).

She and Otte had 12 children, 8 of whom survived into adulthood: Lisbet Brahe (1545–1563), Tycho Brahe (1546–1601), Steen Ottesen Brahe (1547–1620), Axel Brahe (1550–1616), Margaret Brahe (1551–1516), Jørgen Brahe (1554–1601), Knud Brahe (1555–1615), and Sophia Brahe (1556/1559–1643). Two of their sons, Steen and Axel, followed in their father's footsteps to become members of the Riksråd. Sophia and Tycho became influential renaissance scientists and astronomers. She administered the fiefs of Froste in Scania and Vissenbjerg Birk on Funen until 1575, and in Scania until 1592. When her sister-in-law, Inger Oxe, resigned as Queen Sophie's Chief Court Mistress in 1584, Bille took over her role. She was the Chief Court Mistress for 8 years, until 1592. While at court, she was a noted supporter of the arts. She, perhaps on behalf of the Queen, encouraged Anders Sørensen Vedel to publish his collection of folk songs. Vedel dedicated one of his devotional books to her in 1592.

Otto Brahe and Beate Bilde's tombstone at Kågeröd ChurchShe died at on 18 October 1605 and is buried with her husband in Kågeröd Church in Scania.