House of Vasa

The House of Vasa (Swedish: Vasaätten, Polish: Waza) was the Royal House of Sweden 1523-1654 and of Poland 1587-1668. It originated from a noble family in Uppland of which several members had high offices during the 15th century.

Kings and Queens of Sweden

• Gustav I (1523–1560)
• Eric XIV (1560–1568)
• John III (1568–1592)
• Sigismund (1592–1599)
• Charles IX (1599–1611; officially became king in March 1604)
• Gustavus Adolphus (Gustav Adolf the Great) (1611–1632)
• Christina (1632–1654)

In 1654 Christina, the daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, the Protestant Champion of the Thirty Years' War, abdicated, converted to Catholicism and left the country. The throne passed to her half-cousin Charles X of the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a cadet branch of the Wittelsbachs.

The kings of the house of Holstein-Gottorp, which produced the kings of Sweden from 1751 to 1818, emphasized their Vasa descent through a female line. The current ruling house of Bernadotte similarly claims a Vasa mantle: Charles XIV was an adopted son of Charles XIII; his son Oscar I married a Vasa descendant Josephine of Leuchtenberg; their grandson Gustav V married Victoria of Baden who was a great-grandchild of Gustav IV Adolf of the house Holstein-Gottorp.

Kings of Poland and Grand Dukes of Lithuania

• Sigismund III Vasa (1587–1632) (Son of John III)
• Ladislaus IV (1632–1648)
• John II (1648–1668)

John III of Sweden married Catherine Jagellonka, the sister of Sigismund II Augustus of Poland. When Sigismund II of Poland died without issue, the son of John III of Sweden and Catherine Jagellonka was elected King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania as Sigismund III in 1587. On John's death Sigismund also gained the Swedish throne.

Sigismund was Catholic however, which ultimately led to his losing the throne in Sweden. His uncle Charles IX succeeded him. We thus have two Houses of Vasa from this point onwards: the senior, Catholic branch ruling in Poland, and the cadet, Protestant branch ruling in Sweden. This arrangement led to numerous wars between the two states. After John, the Polish Vasa died out. See also Rulers of Poland.

See also

• Vasa, listing many things named for the House of Vasa
• Swedish monarchs family tree
• Warship Vasa
• Vaasa, Finland
• House of Vasaborg
• Vasa Order of America
• List of Swedish wars