Marichen Cornelia Martine Altenburg (24 November 1799 – 3 June 1869) was the mother of playwright
Henrik Ibsen and belonged to the
patriciate of Skien. She is considered the model for the character Åse in
Peer Gynt and
Inga of Varteig in
The Pretenders, and indeed, she would "echo through her son's work in unremitting portrayals of suffering women." Henrik Ibsen himself confirmed that Åse in
Peer Gynt was based on his mother.