Gustav Vasa

Full Name: Gustav Vasa or Gustav I, born Gustav Eriksson
Profession: King of Sweden

Nationality:

Biography: Gustav Vasa is the founder of modern Sweden and the "father of the nation." He led the Swedish War of Liberation against Denmark and Norway, following the Stockholm Bloodbath where many Swedish nobles, including his father, were executed. This dissolved the Kalmar Union which had bound the three nations under a single monarch since 1397.

Elected king in 1523, Gustav's reign marked Sweden's final break from the Kalmar Union, a union of Scandinavian countries under Danish rule. He established a hereditary monarchy, replacing the previous elective system. Gustav centralized power by appointing governors to replace local landowners and by nationalizing church assets during the Reformation, which established the Lutheran Church of Sweden.

Known for his ruthless methods, Gustav suppressed several uprisings during his reign. He was also recognized for his administrative skills and use of propaganda. Meanwhile, Gustav founded the Royal Court Orchestra and has been portrayed in folklore, national narratives, and on Swedish currency.

Gustav Vasa died in 1560 and is buried in the Cathedral of Uppsala. During his life he married three times and fathered several children, including three future kings of Sweden: Eric XIV, John III, and Charles IX.

Born: May 12, 1496
Birthplace: Rydboholm Castle, Uppland, Sweden
Star Sign: Taurus

Died: September 29, 1560 (aged 64)