Erik Xiv

Erik XIV of Sweden (1533–1577) was a Swedish king. His reign lasted from 1560 AD until he was deposed by his brothers in 1568 AD. He was the oldest son of Gustav Vasa, commonly regarded the founder of modern Sweden.

He is quite infamous in Swedish history, as he suffered from schizophrenia and was mentally unstable in general. Among other things, he married his mistress Karin Månsdotter, which at the time was unacceptable. In 1566, his most well-known deed took place - The murders of several members of the Sture noble family, who had been prominent Sweden and who he was distantly related to. One of them he stabbed himself.

This act led to an uprising, in which his brother Johan deposed him and took the throne. For several years he lived imprisoned, until September 1577 when he died, according to folklore murdered with a poisoned bowl of pea soup. Centuries later, his body was exhumed - Tests showed lethal amounts of arsenic in him.

It is interesting to note that he was actually not the 14th king of Sweden with the name Erik - Like his brother Karl, he based these numbers of various legends and myths.