page_title: Mariestad
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Mariestad / History
context_page_description: Mariestad is a locality and the seat of Mariestad Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 15,591 inhabitants in 2010. It was until 1997 the capital of the former Skaraborg County and an episcopal see in the Church of Sweden between 1583 and 1646.
context_section_description: The city was founded in 1583 by Duke Charles, who later became King Charles IX of Sweden. The city is named after his wife Marie of Pfalz. The coat of arms for Mariestad, an ox stepping out of the water, is said to be what Marie of Pfalz saw by the bay of Tidan in Mariestad when she first arrived there.
caption: Mariestad circa 1700, in Suecia antiqua et hodierna.
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