Gustav of Sweden (1568–1607)

This detail comes from an 1870s glass painting by Wladimir Swertschkoff in the Cathedral of Turku pictures Karin Månsdotter "rejecting the crown". At her side are the two children Sigrid Eriksdotter Vasa and Gustav Eriksson Vasa.

Prince Gustav of Sweden, or Gustav Eriksson Vasa who was born January 28, 1568 and died in February 1607, was a Swedish prince and the son of king Eric XIV of Sweden and Karin Månsdotter.

Gustav was sent outside of Sweden in 1575, to protect him from King John III who feared that the supporters of Eric would try to benefit his son with the crown. Gustav came to Poland where he lived in poverty and despair. At some time during his stay he became a Catholic. He married Brita Karth. They had 4 children, Eric, Lars, Carl and Catharina.

Ivan IV of Russia attempted to persuade Gustav to help him in his political ambitions around the Baltic, but the attempts (which included both promises and several years exile) failed.

In August 1599 Gustav arrived to Moscow for marriage with tsar Boris Godunov's daughter Ksenia. But he lived there dissolute life, for example, inviting in his russian house his old lover Brita and their children, and showing them to people in carriage harnessed as for tsarina. And tsar broke the engagement of his beloved daughter.

As a compensation the homeless Gustav received principality of Uglich, where he lived until beginning of reign of False Dmitry, who ordered to arrest him by demands of his ally — Sigismund III Vasa (cousin of Gustav and son of king John III). After death of False Dmitry the new tsar, Vasili IV of Russia, released Gustav and send him to live in small city of Kashin, Russia.

Gustav Eriksson Vasa died in February 1607 in Kashin and was buried at February 22.

Prince Gustav is the main character of the famous polish novel "Broken star" by Jadwiga Żylińska.