Sigismund I of Sweden

Sigismund I of Sweden, (June 20, 1566 - April 19, 1632), was the son of John III of Sweden (1537-1592), of the House of Vasa, and his wife Katarina of Poland[?] (1526-1583). He ruled as King Sigismund III of Poland or Zygmunt III of Poland from 1587 to 1632 and as King Sigismund I of Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599.

His mother was the daughter of Sigismund I Jagiello and his wife Bona Sforza. The Jogailos royal house of Lithuania had held the crown of Lithuania-Poland Commonwealth since the first ruler Wladislaw Jogaila had received it via his wife Hedwig in 1383. Sigismund was elected king of Lithuania-Poland Commonwealth in 1587.

He married, firstly, on May 31, 1592, Anna of Austria (1573 - 1598), daughter of Archduke Karl II of Austria[?] (1540-1590) and his wife Maria Anna of Bavaria (1551-1608).

Their children were:

1. Anna Maria (1593-1600)
2. Katharina (1594-1594)
3. Ladislaus IV of Poland (1595-1648), (reigned 1632-1648)
4. Katharina (1596-1597)
5. Kristofer (1598-1598)

On his father's death Sigismund was offered the Swedish throne, and he was crowned in 1594. He tried to rule Sweden from Poland but his uncle (duke Charles, later king Charles IX) took full control of Sweden. In 1598 Sigismund tried to defeat him with a mixed army from Sweden and Poland but was defeated in the battle of Stångebro[?].

He married, secondly, on December 11, 1605, his first wife's sister, Constance of Austria (1588 - 1631).

Their children were:

1. Johan Kasimir (1607-1608)
2. Johan II Casimir of Poland (1609-1672), (reigned 1648-1668)
3. Johan Albert (1612-1634)
4. Karl Ferdinand (1613-1655)
5. Alexander Karl (1614-1634)
6. Anna Konstantia (1616-1616)
7. Anna Katharina Konstanze (1619-1651)

See also: History of Sweden - Foundation of Modern Sweden, Unions of Sweden[?]

Preceded by: John III	List of Swedish monarchs	Succeeded by: Charles IX
Preceded by: Stephen Bathory	List of Polish rulers	Succeeded by: Ladislaus Vasa