Erik XIV of Sweden
| Eric XIV | |
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_Domenicus_Verwildt.jpg)
Eric XIV by Domenicus Verwilt.
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| King of Sweden | |
| Reign | 29 September 1560 – 29 September 1568 |
| Coronation | 29 June 1561 |
| Predecessor | Gustav I |
| Successor | John III |
| Born | 13 December 1533 , Stockholm |
| Died | 26 February 1577 (aged 43) Örbyhus Castle, Örbyhus |
| Burial | Västerås Cathedral, Västerås |
| Spouse | Karin Månsdotter |
| Issue more... |
Virginia Eriksdotter Constantia, "Queen of Tividen" Princess Sigrid Prince Gustav |
| House | Vasa |
| Father | Gustav Vasa |
| Mother | Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Religion | Lutheran |
Eric XIV (Swedish: Erik XIV; 13 December 1533 – 26 February 1577) was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was deposed in 1568. Eric XIV was the eldest son of Gustav I (1496–1560) and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513–35). He was also ruler of Estonia, after its conquest by Sweden 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 deposed and imprisoned, was most likely murdered. An examination of his remains in 1958 confirmed that he probably died of arsenic poisoning.
Eric XIV was born at Tre Kronor castle, at 9 o'clock on the morning of 13 December 1533. Before the age of two, he lost his mother. In 1536, his father, Gustav Vasa, married Margaret Leijonhufvud (1516–51), a Swedish noblewoman.
Eric's first teacher was the learned German Georg Norman, whose services were shortly thereafter needed elsewhere within the Swedish state. He was replaced by French Calvinist Dionysius Beurraeus (1500–67). Dionysius taught both Eric and his brother John, and seems to have been appreciated by both. Eric was very successful in foreign languages and mathematics. He was also an informed historian, a good writer and familiar with astrology.
When Eric started to appear in public, he was referred to as the "chosen king" (Swedish: utvald konung) and after the meeting of parliament in Stockholm in 1560, he received the title of "hereditary king" (Swedish: arvkonung).
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