John III of Sweden

John III of Sweden or Johan III of the Royal House of Vasa, was the king of Sweden (1568-1592). He was also the ruler of Finland as Duke John or Hertig Johan (1556-1563). In 1581 he made himself the Archduke of Finland. He is sometimes known under the name Johann III Vasa.

He was born on December 23, 1537 as the son of Gustav I of Sweden, and died on November 27, 1592. He married his first wife, Catherine of Poland (1526-1583), house of Jagiello, in Vilnius on October 4, 1562. In Sweden she is known as Katarina Jagellonica and she was the sister of king Sigismund II of Poland. Their children were:

1. Isabella (1564-1566)
2. Sigismund king of Sweden, and king of Poland (1566-1632)
3. Anna (1568-1625)

He married his second wife Gunilla Bielke (1568-about 1592) on February 21, 1584 and togeather they had the son:

1. Johan (1589-1618).

Togeather with his mistress Karin Hansdotter he had at least four illegitimate children:

1. Julius Gyllenhielm (1559-1581)
2. Augustus ( -1560)
3. Sofia ( -1583)
4. Lucretia ( -1585)

See also: History of Sweden - Foundation of Modern Sweden