Swedish prince. He belonged to the Vasa Dynasty and was Duke of East Gothland (Östergötland). He was the second son of King John III in that king's second marriage to Queen Gunnilda. He ran his duchy practically independently and was considered capable. He is known to history mainly due to the serious complications his existence caused for the inheritance to the Swedish throne. When his father had died and his half-brother Sigmund, King of Poland through maternal inheritance, also had gained the throne of Sweden, but soon was deposed there, John would have been the legal successor. His uncle Duke Carl however, laid claim to power first as regent and then as king, having waited with the second step, he said "to be sure that John is satisfied". For compensation in land, the latter officially renounced his claim to the throne in 1604 and eventually joined the government of Sweden. For yet more compensation he confirmed having relinquished any claim to the throne when his cousin Gustav II Adolph became king in 1611. He had important buildings erected and was vital to the development of the city of Norrköping. His marriage to his first cousin was not a success and they had no children. When he died, and Gustav Adolph's younger brother Carl Philip also died four years later, that king officially discontinued the practice where royal Swedish princes were given provinces of their own to run as their duchies.
Swedish prince. He belonged to the Vasa Dynasty and was Duke of East Gothland (Östergötland). He was the second son of King John III in that king's second marriage to Queen Gunnilda. He ran his duchy practically independently and was considered capable. He is known to history mainly due to the serious complications his existence caused for the inheritance to the Swedish throne. When his father had died and his half-brother Sigmund, King of Poland through maternal inheritance, also had gained the throne of Sweden, but soon was deposed there, John would have been the legal successor. His uncle Duke Carl however, laid claim to power first as regent and then as king, having waited with the second step, he said "to be sure that John is satisfied". For compensation in land, the latter officially renounced his claim to the throne in 1604 and eventually joined the government of Sweden. For yet more compensation he confirmed having relinquished any claim to the throne when his cousin Gustav II Adolph became king in 1611. He had important buildings erected and was vital to the development of the city of Norrköping. His marriage to his first cousin was not a success and they had no children. When he died, and Gustav Adolph's younger brother Carl Philip also died four years later, that king officially discontinued the practice where royal Swedish princes were given provinces of their own to run as their duchies.
Bio by: Count Demitz
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