Page 42 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

40  INTRODUCING SWEDEN

Gustav Vasa making his ceremonial entry into Stockholm, Midsummer Day, 1523
The Vasa Era concentrate central power in Stockholm.
Among the nobles fortunate to avoid This effective dictatorship also resulted in
execution in the Stockholm Bloodbath was the Swedish parliament’s decision in 1544 to
the young Gustav Eriksson. At the end of make the monarchy hereditary.
1520 Gustav organized an army to oust the Descendants of Gustav Vasa oversaw the
Danish King Christian from Sweden. Gustav rise of Sweden into one of Europe’s great
was successful and on 6 June 1523 – powers. During the reign of Gustav’s
later to become Sweden’s National eldest son Erik XIV (r. 1561– 69), there
Day – he was named king. On were wars against Denmark, Lübeck
Midsummer Day the new monarch, and Poland. His brothers dethroned
Gustav Vasa, made his ceremonial him. Erik died in prison, possibly by
entry into war-torn Stockholm. eating pea soup poisoned by his
When Gustav Vasa took the throne, brother Johan III. During the reign of
he discovered a nation in financial Karl IX, the third son, Sweden waged
crisis. He called on parliament to war against Denmark and Russia.
pass a controversial law transferring
the property of the church to the Portrait of Erik XIV Gustav II Adolf and Kristina
state, which then became the (1561) When the next king, Gustav II Adolf,
country’s most important source of came to power in 1611, Sweden was
economic power. Another important result involved in wars against Russia, Poland and
of this policy was the gradual separation Denmark. This reign came to be as remark-
from Catholicism and the adoption of the able as that of his grandfather and under
Lutheran State Church, which was to his rule Sweden steadily increased its
remain tied to the state until 2000. influence over the Baltic region. It was also
During his reign, Gustav Vasa implemented in the 17th century that Stockholm started
tough economic policies in order to to develop into the country’s political and

1617 Death penalty introduced for
1568 Erik XIV imprisoned by his
1523 Gustav Vasa 1542 Nils Dacke 1560 Gustav brothers at Gripsholms Slott 1611 Gustav II conversion to Catholicism
is chosen as king leads a peasants Vasa dies Adolf becomes 1632 Gustav II
and marches revolt in Småland Vasa coat 1577 Erik XIV dies, king Adolf killed at
into Stockholm of arms probably poisoned Battle of Lützen
1525 1550 1575 1600
1544 Hereditary 1570 Nordic Seven
monarchy 1561 Eric XIV is Years War ends 1587 Johan III’s son
1527 Reformation established for crowned king and Sigismund chosen
parliament confiscates Gustav Vasa’s his brothers’ 1569 Johan III as king of Poland
church property descendants powers curbed crowned in 1612 Axel Oxenstierna
Stockholm made State Chancellor

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
History Portrait template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.2)
Date 20th August 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm