Gustav I, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known as Gustav Vasa, was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560, previously self-recognised Protector of the Realm from 1521, during the ongoing Swedish War of Liberation against King Christian II of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Gustav rose to lead the rebel movement following the Stockholm Bloodbath, where his father was executed. Gustav's election as king on 6 June 1523 and his triumphant entry into Stockholm eleven days later marked Sweden's final secession from the Kalmar Union. As king, Gustav proved an energetic administrator with a ruthless streak not inferior to his predecessor's, brutally suppressing subsequent uprisings. He worked to raise taxes and bring about a Reformation in Sweden, replacing the prerogatives of local landowners, noblemen and clergy with centrally appointed governors and bishops.
| Predecessor: | Christian II |
| Successor: | Eric XIV |
| Born: | 12 May 1496, Rydboholm Castle, Uppland or, Lindholmen, Uppland, Sweden |
| Died: | September 29, 1560, Tre Kronor, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Burial: | 21 December 1560, Uppsala Cathedral, Uppsala, Sweden |
| Spouse: | Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg, Margaret Leijonhufvud, Catherine Stenbock |
| Issue: | Eric XIV of Sweden, John III of Sweden, Katharina Vasa, Cecilia, Margravine of Baden-Rodemachern, Magnus, Duke of Östergötland, Anna, Countess Palatine of Veldenz, Sophia, Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg, Elizabeth, Duchess of Mecklenburg-Gadebusch, Charles IX of Sweden |
| House: | Vasa |
| Father: | Erik Johansson Vasa |
| Mother: | Cecilia Månsdotter |
| Religion: | Lutheran (1523-1560), prev. Roman Catholic (1496-1523) |
About Gustav I of Sweden
King of Sweden from 1523 until his death in 1560 who led the rebel movement following an event known as the Stockholm Bloodbath. He helped end Medieval Sweden's elective monarchy in favor of hereditary monarchy.
Before Fame
He had previously served as Protector of the Realm during the Swedish War of Liberation.
Achievement
He was featured in a number of paintings during his reign that have since been lost, but recreated in watercolor.
Family Life
He was born Gustav Eriksson in the Vasa noble family. His father was Erik Johansson Vasa and his mother was Cecilia Månsdotter Eka. He married three times.
Associations
He served as King of Sweden like Gustav III after him.
Information related to Gustav I of Sweden
- City of Vasa - Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. It received its charter in 1606, during the reign of Charles IX of Sweden and is named after the Royal House of Vasa. Vaasa has a population of 67,588, and is the regional capital of Ostrobothnia.
- Early Vasa era - The Early Vasa era is a period that in Swedish and Finnish history lasted between 1523–1611.
- Vasa - Vasa or Wasa is a Swedish warship built between 1626 and 1628. The ship foundered after sailing about 1,300 m into her maiden voyage on 10 August 1628.
- Vasaloppet - Vasaloppet is an annual long distance cross-country ski race held on the first Sunday of March. The 90 km course starts in the village of Sälen and ends in the town of Mora in northwestern Dalarna, Sweden.
- Burials at Uppsala Cathedral
- Swedish rebels
- People of the Swedish War of Liberation
- Protestant Reformers
- House of Vasa
- Rulers of Finland
- Converts to Lutheranism from Roman Catholicism
