Gustaf Wasa was born at Lindholm on Ascension Day, 1496. His family was consipicuous in 15th-century politics. Gustaf's youthful experiences gave a lifelong distrust of everything Danish,
strengthened by the fact that, in 1516, King Christian---to whom he had been sent as a hostage---treacherously carried him prisoner to Denmark. Detained for twelve months on the island fortress of Kalo, he contrived to escape to Lubeck in September 1519. On May 20, 1520, he
chartered a ship to Kalmar, one of the few Swedish fortresses which held out against Christian II.

While hunting near Lake Malar, news of the Stockholm massacre was brought to him. Gustaf appealed to the sturdy yeoman of the dales, and finally drove the Danes out of Sweden (1521-1523). After his
coronation on June 6, 1523, order had to be evolved from the chaos in which Sweden had been plunged by the disruption of the union. The royal authority had to be restored, which had been in abeyance for 90 years. However, an effective reforming monarchy must stand upon a sound financial basis, and the usual revenues of the crown were so diminished that they did not cover half the daily expenses of
government. New taxes could only be imposed with extreme caution. The lack of capable trustworthy administrators threw the burden of government on to the shoulders of the young king. His time was taken up travelling about the kingdom and doing purely clerical work for want of competent assistance.
This lack of native talent compelled Gustaf to employ the services of such foreign adventurers as Berent von Mehlen, Johann von Hoja, Konrad von Pyhy, and others.

The rupture of Gustaf with the Holy See was a purely political act as Gustaf, personally, had no strong dogmatic convictions. When the Protestant hierarchy was forcibly established in Sweden, matters were
considerably complicated by the absolutist tendencies of Gustaf. The incessant labour and constant anxiety, which were the daily portion of Gustaf Wasa during the 37 years of his reign, told at last even upon his magnificent constitution. In the spring of 1560, conscious of a decline of his powers, Gustaf summoned his last Diet to give an account of his stewardship.

On June 16 1560, the assembly met at Stockholm. Ten days later, supported by his sons, Gustaf greeted the estates in the great hall of the palace, where he gave a retrospect of his reign. Four days later the Diet passed a resolution confirming the hereditary right of Gustaf's son, Prince Eric, to the throne. The old king's last anxieties were now over and he could die in peace. He expired on
September 29, 1560.

Gustaf was thrice married. In 1533, his first wife Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg, bore him his eldest son, Eric. This union was neither long nor happy; the blame for its infelicity is generally attributed
to the lady, whose abnormal character was reflected and accentuated in her son. Much more fortunate was Gustaf's second marriage with his own countrywoman, Margaretha Leijonhufvud, who bore him five sons and five daughters. After her death he wedded her niece, Catharina Stenbock, who survived him by more than 60 years.
 

Source: Leo van de Pas