Vasa definition of Vasa in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Vasa (vä`zə), Pol. Waza, royal dynasty of Sweden (1523–1654) and Poland (1587–1668). Gustavus I Gustavus I (gəstā`vəs)
..... Click the link for more information. , founder of the dynasty in Sweden, was succeeded by his sons Eric XIV Eric XIV, 1533–77, king of Sweden (1560–68), son and successor of Gustavus I. To strengthen the power of the crown, he limited (1561) the privileges of the royal dukes.
..... Click the link for more information. (reigned 1560–68) and John III (reigned 1568–92). John III married the sister of Sigismund II of Poland, and their son was elected (1587) king of Poland as Sigismund III Sigismund III, 1566–1632, king of Poland (1587–1632) and Sweden (1592–99). The son of John III of Sweden and Catherine, sister of Sigismund II of Poland, he united the Vasa and Jagiello dynasties.
..... Click the link for more information. . On John's death Sigismund succeeded to the Swedish throne, but his Catholicism led to his deposition (1599) in Sweden, where his uncle Charles IX Charles IX, 1550–1611, king of Sweden (1604–11), youngest son of Gustavus I. He was duke of Södermanland, Närke, and Värmland before his accession.
..... Click the link for more information. (reigned 1604–11) succeeded him. The house was thus split into a senior Catholic line (in Poland) and a cadet Protestant line (in Sweden), and the two lines engaged in chronic warfare. Charles IX of Sweden was succeeded by Gustavus II Gustavus II (Gustavus Adolphus), 1594–1632, king of Sweden (1611–32), son and successor of Charles IX.

Military Achievements

Gustavus's excellent education, personal endowments, and early experience in affairs of state prepared him for
..... Click the link for more information. ; on Gustavus's death (1632) his daughter Christina Christina (krĭstē`nə), 1626–89, queen of Sweden (1632–54), daughter and successor of Gustavus II.
..... Click the link for more information. ascended the throne. With Christina's abdication (1654) in favor of her first cousin, Charles X, the Swedish throne passed to the Zweibrücken Zweibrücken (tsvī'brü`kən), Fr. Deux-Ponts, city (1994 pop.
..... Click the link for more information. line of the house of Wittelsbach. In Poland, Sigismund III was succeeded (1632) by his son Ladislaus IV Ladislaus IV, 1595–1648, king of Poland (1632–48), son and successor of Sigismund III . His reign was marked by struggles with his subjects and wars with the Swedes, the Russians, and the Ottomans.
..... Click the link for more information. , who was succeeded (1648) by his brother John II John II (John Casimir), 1609–72, king of Poland (1648–68), son of Sigismund III . He was elected to succeed his brother, Ladislaus IV. The turbulent period of his reign is known in Polish history as the Deluge.
..... Click the link for more information. . John abdicated in 1668.