Erik XIV of Sweden

The man was the eldest son of Gustaf Vasa, and despite pursuing marriage plans to various ladies (Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I among them) married to a commoner. He ended up deposed by his brother (and others who said he was crazy) imprisoned and presumably poisoned by a bowl of pea soup. His widow retired to estates given her by the crown, and his son was even engaged for a time to Xenia Godunova, while his daughter served in the households of successive consorts of Sweden.

What would be the consequences of Erik being successful against his brother's revolt (could he)? What if he'd remained king (besides no disastrous PU with Poland)? Was Erik as crazy as they claimed? And would Erik's son, Gustaf, be acknowledged as his heir (similarly to how Erik himself had been)? Or would the Swedes prefer one of Erik's brothers?
 
It's common knowledge in Sweden that he had some kind of mental illness. But it was his restrictions of the nobility that led them to revolt, as well as him marrying Karin Månsdotter, a move of utter stupidity. If he had won against John then perhaps his son Gustav would have become king after him. But his brothers would have been a problem too.
 
I've often speculated about a match between him and Elizabeth I of England. An Anglo-Swedish Union would be a force to contend with.
 
This would mean Poland would have parts of Silesia as well if ruled by the Polish Habsburgs, I think both Vasas and Polish Habsburgs would want Silesia in their Poland, most likely upper Silesia for Poland to completely control the Vistula.
 
I've often speculated about a match between him and Elizabeth I of England. An Anglo-Swedish Union would be a force to contend with.

It would. Except Lizzy made it very clear to him that she would not agree to a marriage with a prince who sat in another realm half the time. And she entreated him to accept her friendship and not push for more than propriety allowed in such regard. Of course, against his father's wishes, Erik was actually about to hop on a boat to England to pay court to Liz in person. But then Gustaf died and Erik was unable to do so.

Without Sigismund Vasa Polish throne likely goes to Habsburgs, so indirect Habsburg-wank.

Um...sorry to sound daft, but why? Sigmund AT LEAST had a blood claim to the Jagiellons, the Habsburgs' proximity was a smidge further. Besides, wouldn't Poland prefer Sigmund over Maximilian? OTL he became king of Poland before he was king of Sweden, and he still defeated Max.

Of course, this is assuming that Erik doesn't do what he apparently planned to OTL, namely divorce the duke and duchess of Finland, and hand her off to Ivan the Terrible to be his new wife.

It's common knowledge in Sweden that he had some kind of mental illness. But it was his restrictions of the nobility that led them to revolt, as well as him marrying Karin Månsdotter, a move of utter stupidity. If he had won against John then perhaps his son Gustav would have become king after him. But his brothers would have been a problem too.

Okay, so he should avoid Ms. Månsdotter? Or can he still make a comeback from such a faux pas? What if she dies during her first pregnancy? Erik will moon awhile, but which of the foreign candidates might be the best bet? And if he defeated Johan would the nobles simply shift support to Magnus/Carl? Or might Erik break them completely?
 
If Eric crushed his brothers' rebellion John is likely killed or imprisoned, Sigismund, if still alive in 1587 is also either prisoner or at least carefuly watched by uncle-would he let his nephew, whose father he executed for treason to be elected king of powerful neigbour?
Unless John with family managed to escape to Poland after failed rebellion. That would be interesting scenario-as Sigismund Augustus' brother-in-law he could be elected to the throne of PLC. He tried IOTL in first elections but his lutheran faith eliminated him as serious candidate-but now, being exile, not Swedish king conversion would be less problematic to him. IOTL he hoped for some sort of Catholic-Lutheran reconciliation and decided that his kids will be raised as Catholics.
Anyway Polish-Swedish relations from 1570s to 1590s will be far worse than IOTL, perhaps there is still Swedish-Muscovite alliance against Polish-Danish one?
 
If Eric crushed his brothers' rebellion John is likely killed or imprisoned, Sigismund, if still alive in 1587 is also either prisoner or at least carefuly watched by uncle-would he let his nephew, whose father he executed for treason to be elected king of powerful neigbour?
Unless John with family managed to escape to Poland after failed rebellion. That would be interesting scenario-as Sigismund Augustus' brother-in-law he could be elected to the throne of PLC. He tried IOTL in first elections but his lutheran faith eliminated him as serious candidate-but now, being exile, not Swedish king conversion would be less problematic to him. IOTL he hoped for some sort of Catholic-Lutheran reconciliation and decided that his kids will be raised as Catholics.
Anyway Polish-Swedish relations from 1570s to 1590s will be far worse than IOTL, perhaps there is still Swedish-Muscovite alliance against Polish-Danish one?

Now that would be interesting. And considering Sigismund II's OTL plan to name Janos II Zápolya as his heir, if Johan, Katarzyna and their kids are in Poland, Sigismund might name his nephew/brother-in-law heir from the get-go (I know the monarchy was elective, but if OTL's Sigismund III is johnny on the spot, as well as not being the heir to another throne, could earn him some serious brownie points over a foreign candidate like Henri de Valois or Maximilian of Austria.)

How do you think Erik would react to this? Obviously a dramatic cooling in relations between Sweden and Poland immediately, but how long would that last? I would think that the minute Ivan Grozniy starts looking not so friendly, a Polish-Swedish alliance would make sense, no?

Also, if Erik sees off a rebellion by Johan, does that mean his arse is safe on the throne? Or do the disaffected just start supporting Magnus/Carl? Obviously a Stockholm Bloodbath 2.0 won't go over well, and it's reportedly the Sture murders that sent him off the deep end OTL, so what would be his next step in ruling?
 
Also, if Erik sees off a rebellion by Johan, does that mean his arse is safe on the throne? Or do the disaffected just start supporting Magnus/Carl? Obviously a Stockholm Bloodbath 2.0 won't go over well, and it's reportedly the Sture murders that sent him off the deep end OTL, so what would be his next step in ruling?

Magnus was mentaly unstable and that was commonly known around the nobility(since Erik is known to have written about it it can not have been a secret) so no support for Magnus. Carl is another issue. He did not do anyting until Sigismund wanted to impose Catholicism in Sweden and then he rebelled iirc
 
Magnus was mentaly unstable and that was commonly known around the nobility(since Erik is known to have written about it it can not have been a secret) so no support for Magnus. Carl is another issue. He did not do anyting until Sigismund wanted to impose Catholicism in Sweden and then he rebelled iirc
Sigismund did not want to impose Catholicism in Sweden! He only wanted Catholicism to be tolerated in Sweden, and even that was too much for Swedes to accept, so they rebelled. Sigismund was not Catholic zealot like people tend to think today. His own sister converted to Lutheranism and he tolerated it and kept good relations with her.
 
The religious issue is a valid point. Gustaf I broke with Rome, and Erik IIRC formally established what became the church of Sweden, so if he (or his son if he stays married to Karen Månsdotter) marries a foreign bride (with the exception of Christine of Hesse and Anna of Saxony, all considered for Erik were Catholic) what might this mean? Does he go hardline Protestant? Or does he also appeal for toleration?

I personally like the idea of the Protestant Anna Wasa marrying Prince Gustaf as a way of securing peace between Sweden and Poland (although IDK if either the peace or the marriage will happen).
 
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