Gustav I Vasa 2 3
- Born: 12 May 1496, Lindholmen, Sweden
- Marriage (1): Catherina of Saxe-Lauenburg on 24 Sep 1531
- Marriage (2): Margareta Lejonhufvud on 1 Oct 1536 1
- Died: 29 Sep 1560 aged 64
General Notes:
Founder of the the modern Swedish state, the Swedish royal house of Vasa and creator of an independent Sweden. Gustav was born to a noble family. He fought in the army against Christian II, king of Denmark, who had invaded Sweden. From 1521 to 1523, Gustav led a successful revolt and drove the Danes out of Sweden. His victory resulted in the dissolution of the Union of Kalmar, which in 1397 had placed Sweden and Norway under the Danish crown. Gustav was administrator of the kingdom from 1521 to 1523, when the national assembly, the Riksdag, elected him king. His election ended the Kalmar Union of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. In 1527 he founded a national Protestant church. With a newly strengthened navy, he defeated Lübeck (1537), freeing Swedish commerce from the power of the Hanseatic League. In 1544 he made the Swedish crown hereditary through his line, the house of Vasa, ending the election of Swedish kings. Gustav was succeeded by his son, Eric XIV.
Noted events in his life were:
• Acceded: 1523. King of Sweden.
Gustav married Catherina of Saxe-Lauenburg, daughter of Magnus of Saxe-Lauenburg and Katharina of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, on 24 Sep 1531. (Catherina of Saxe-Lauenburg was born in 1513 and died on 23 Sep 1535.)
Gustav next married Margareta Lejonhufvud on 1 Oct 1536.1 (Margareta Lejonhufvud was born on 1 Jan 1514 and died on 26 Aug 1551 1.)
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