Eric XIV of Sweden

Eric XIV
Portrait by Domenicus Verwilt, 1561
King of Sweden
Reign29 September 1560 –
January 1569
Coronation29 June 1561
PredecessorGustav I
SuccessorJohn III
Born13 December 1533
Tre Kronor Castle, Stockholm, Sweden
Died26 February 1577 (aged 43)
Örbyhus Castle, Örbyhus, Sweden
Burial1 April 1577
Spouse
(m. 1568)
Issue
more...
Virginia Eriksdotter
Constantia, "Queen of Tividen"
Princess Sigrid
Prince Gustav
HouseVasa
FatherGustav I of Sweden
MotherCatherine of Saxe-Lauenburg
ReligionLutheran
SignatureEric XIV's signature
Image of King Eric on a wall of Stockholm Palace

Eric XIV (Swedish: Erik XIV; 13 December 1533 – 26 February 1577) was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was captured in a rebellion led by his brother John in 1568 and formally deposed 26 January 1569.[1] Eric XIV was the eldest son of Gustav I (1496–1560) and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513–1535). He was also ruler of Estonia, after it placed itself under Swedish protection in 1561.

While he has been regarded as intelligent and artistically skilled, as well as politically ambitious, early in his reign he showed signs of mental instability, a condition that eventually led to insanity. Some scholars claim that his illness began early during his reign, while others believe that it first manifested with the Sture murders.

Eric, having been imprisoned and deposed, was most likely murdered. An examination of his remains in 1958 confirmed that he probably died of arsenic poisoning.[2]

  1. ^ Andersson, Ingvar (1953). "Erik XIV". Svenskt biografisk lexikon. Archived from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ Lars Ericson in Johan III, ISBN 91-85057-47-9, p. 109