John III Vasa - Definition and Overview

Johan III

Portrait by Johan Baptista van Uther (1582).
Reign	From September 29, 1568 - until November 17, 1592
Coronation	July 10, 1569
Royal motto	"Deus protector noster" ("God our protector")
Consorts	Catherine of Poland Gunilla Bielke
Royal House	Vasa
Date of Birth	December 20, 1537
Place of Birth	Stegeborg, Ostrogothia
Date of Death	November 17, 1592
Place of Death	Stockholm
Place of Burial	Uppsala Cathedral, Uppsala

John III of Sweden or Johan III of the Royal House of Vasa, was the king of Sweden (1568-1592). He was also the ruler of Finland as Duke John or Hertig Johan (1556-1563). In 1581 he made himself the Archduke of Finland. He is sometimes known under the name Johann III Vasa.

He was born on December 23, 1537 as the son of Gustav I of Sweden, and died on November 27, 1592. He married his first wife, Catherine Jagellonica of Poland (1526-1583), house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on October 4, 1562. In Sweden she is known as Katarina Jagellonica and she was the sister of king Sigismund II of Poland. Their children were:

1. Isabella (1564-1566)
2. Sigismund king of Sweden, and king of Poland (1566-1632)
3. Anna (1568-1625)

He married his second wife Gunilla Bielke (1568-about 1592) on February 21, 1584 and together they had the son:

1. Johan (1589-1618).

Together with his mistress Karin Hansdotter he had at least four illegitimate children:

1. Julius Gyllenhielm (1559-1581)
2. Augustus ( -1560)
3. Sofia ( -1583)
4. Lucretia ( -1585)

See also: History of Sweden - Foundation of Modern Sweden