Gustavus I, the founder of the family, is known in history as Gustavus Vasa. He was born at Lindholmen, May 12, 1496, and died at Stockholm, September 29, 1560. He studied at Upsala. He is a heroic figure in history. Since the Union of Calmar in 1397 Sweden had been subject to Denmark. Vasa placed himself at the head of a Swedish party. After various strokes of fortune and misfortune, during one period of which he worked, disguised as a laborer, in the mines of Dalecarlia, he secured the independence of his country. He was elected king in 1523. He was of the party that carried Sweden into the Lutheran church.

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