Eric XIV of Sweden
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. 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.
| Eric XIV | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Domenicus Verwilt, 1561 | |
| King of Sweden | |
| Reign | 29 September 1560 – January 1569 |
| Coronation | 29 June 1561 |
| Predecessor | Gustav I |
| Successor | John III |
| Born | 13 December 1533 Tre Kronor Castle, Stockholm, Sweden |
| Died | 26 February 1577 (aged 43) Örbyhus Castle, Örbyhus, Sweden |
| Burial | 1 April 1577 |
| Spouse | Karin Månsdotter |
| Issue more... | Virginia Eriksdotter Constantia, "Queen of Tividen" Princess Sigrid Prince Gustav |
| House | Vasa |
| Father | Gustav I of Sweden |
| Mother | Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg |
| Religion | Lutheran |
| Signature | |
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.