GUSTAV'US I. VASA (1496-1560). King of
Sweden from 1523 to 1560, and founder of the
royal House of Vasa. He was born at Lindholm, May 12, 1496, and was known in private life as Gustavus Ericsson. The name Vasa came into use after his accession to the throne, being derived, it is conjectured, from a black fascine in his arms, which was drawn so that it resembled a vase, and was changed to yellow by Gustavus, giving it the appearance of a sheaf. His father, Erik Johansson, was a patriotic member of the Swedish nobility who followed the Stures in the struggle of the Swedes for independence from Denmark. The young Gustavus began his studies at Upsala in 1509, and five years later entered the service of the Regent Sten Sture, distinguishing himself by gallantry in the battle of Bränkyrka, in which Sture defeated the forces of Christian II. of Denmark (1518). After the battle Christian sought an interview with Sture, and asked that six hostages be given for his safety, Gustavus was chosen as one of these hostages. As soon as they were on board the Danish ship it sailed away to Denmark, where the hostages were held in captivity. From this captivity Gustavus escaped to Lübeck in 1519, and returning to Sweden, finally found a refuge among the loyal peasantry of Dalecarlia, for the death of Sture in 1520 had given the country over to the Danes. In Dalecarlia he wandered for several months, in poverty and disguise, with a price set on his head. In November, 1520, ninety of the nobles and leaders of Sweden who had been summoned to attend the coronation of Christian II. were faithlessly beheaded. Among them were the father and the brother-in-law of Gustavus. The young fugitive vainly attempted to rouse the inhabitants of Dalecarlia to revolt, and was forced to seek refuge in the less frequented parts of the country, where for a month he earned his living as a field laborer, and more
than once owed his life and safety to the
generosity of the peasant women of the district. This
period of his life has been so long made the
subject of romance that it is difficult now to separate
the true from the false. Not until his
account of the tyranny of the Danes was
corroborated by the testimony of several fugitives
from Stockholm was the national enthusiasm
roused, and the men of Dalecarlia, at Mora, on
Christmas eve, 1520, proclaimed him head of
their own and other communes in Sweden. His
first victories over the Danes brought recruits
in large numbers. He defeated the Swedes at
Westeräs, took Upsala, and on August 24, 1521, was proclaimed Administrator of the Kingdom of Sweden. In June, 1523, the Swedish Diet at Strengnäs declared the union with Denmark dissolved, and proclaimed Gustavus Ericsson King of Sweden. Two weeks later he made his triumphant entry into Stockholm.