Gustav Vasa - Definition and Overview

Gustav Vasa

Reign	June 6, 1523–September 29 1560 (Regency from August 1521)
Coronation	January 12, 1528
Royal Motto	Omnis potestas a Deo est (All power is of God)
Queens	Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg Margareta Leijonhufvud Katarina Stenbock
Royal House<td>Vasa
Birth<td>Probably May 12 1496 (Lindesholm, Uplandia)
Death<td>September 29 1560 (Stockholm, Sweden)
Place of Burial<td>Uppsala Cathedral, Uppsala

Gustav I of Sweden, Gustav Vasa or Gustav Eriksson Vasa (1496 - 1560), became king of Sweden in 1523 and was the first monarch of the house of Vasa. He had become regent of Sweden in 1521 after leading the rebellion against the sitting monarch of the Kalmar Union. He also introduced Protestantism in Sweden.

Gustav's first wife was Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513-1535), whom he married on 24 September 1531. They had a son:

1. Eric XIV (1533-1577)

On 1 October 1536 he married his second wife, Margareta Leijonhufvud (1514 - 1551). Their children were:

1. John III (Johan III) (1537-1592)
2. Katharina (1539-1610)
3. Cecilia (1540-1627)
4. Magnus (1542-1595)
5. Carl (1544)
6. Anna Maria (1545-1610)
7. Sten (1546-1549)
8. Sofia (1547-1611)
9. Elisabeth (1549-1598)
10. Charles IX (Carl IX) (1550-1611)

In 1552 he married his third wife, Katarina Stenbock (1535-1621).

Commemorative coin on the 4th centennial of Gustav Vasa's regency (1921)

See also

• Vasaloppet
• HMS Wasa
• Vasa (city)