The Vasa Coat of Arms

The House of Vasa was the Royal House of Sweden (1523-1654) and of Poland (1587-1668).

Table of contents
1 Kings and Queens of Sweden
2 Kings of Poland
3 See also

Kings and Queens of Sweden

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 cousin Charles X of the House of Palatinate (Pfalz-Zweibrücken), a cadet branch of the Wittelsbachs.

Kings of Poland

John III of Sweden married Catherine Jagiello, the sister of Sigismund II of Poland, and when Sigismund died without a male heir, their son was elected king of Poland 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

Preceded by the:
House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Gluckberg-Beck		 List of Swedish monarchs Succeceded by:
House of Palatinate