Editing Gustav Vasa (section)

==Gustav as king==
Gustav proved an energetic administrator with a ruthless streak not inferior to his predecessor's, brutally suppressing subsequent uprisings ([[Dalecarlian Rebellions|three in Dalarna]] – which had once been the first region to support his claim to the throne – one in [[Västergötland]], and [[Dacke War|one in Småland]]). He worked to raise [[taxation in Sweden|taxes]] and bring about a Reformation in Sweden, replacing the prerogatives of local landowners, noblemen and clergy with centrally appointed governors and bishops. His 37-year rule, which was the longest of an adult Swedish king to that date (subsequently passed by [[Gustav V]] and [[Carl XVI Gustav]]) saw a complete break with not only the Danish – Norwegian supremacy but also the [[Roman Catholic Church]], whose assets were nationalised, with the Lutheran Church of Sweden established under his personal control. He became the first truly [[autocratic]] native Swedish sovereign and was a skilled [[bureaucrat]] and propagandist, with tales of his largely fictitious adventures during the liberation struggle still widespread to this day. In 1544, he abolished [[Medieval Sweden]]'s [[elective monarchy]] and replaced it with a [[hereditary monarchy]] under the [[House of Vasa]], which held the Swedish throne until 1654. Three of his sons, [[Erik XIV]], [[John III of Sweden|John III]] and [[Charles IX of Sweden|Charles IX]], held the kingship at different points.<ref name=snl>{{cite web|url =https://snl.no/Gustav_1_Vasa|title=  Gustav 1 Vasa|publisher =  Store norske leksikon |author=  Magne Njåstad
|access-date=August 1, 2018}}</ref>

Gustav Vasa has subsequently been labelled the founder of modern Sweden, and the "[[Father of the Nation|father of the nation]]". Gustav liked to compare himself to [[Moses]], whom he believed to have also liberated his people and established a sovereign state. As a person, Gustav was known for ruthless methods and a bad temper, but also a fondness for music and had a certain sly wit and ability to outmaneuver and annihilate his opponents. He founded one of the oldest orchestras of the world, ''[[Kungliga Hovkapellet]]'' (Royal Court Orchestra); thus Royal housekeeping accounts from 1526 mention twelve musicians including [[wind instrument|wind players]] and a [[timpani]]st but no [[string instrument|string players]].<ref>Gunilla Petersén, "[http://www.hovkapellet.com/sv/om_orkestern/om_orkestern.do#english From the History of the Royal Court Orchestra 1526–2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930024143/http://www.hovkapellet.com/sv/om_orkestern/om_orkestern.do#english |date=30 September 2008 }}"</ref> Today, ''Kungliga Hovkapellet'' is the orchestra of the [[Royal Swedish Opera]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ne.se/lang/gustav-vasa|title=Gustav Vasa – Uppslagsverk – NE.se}}</ref><ref>''Brev av Gustav Vasa (Letters of Gustav Vasa)'' edited by [[Nils Edén]], [[Norstedts]], Stockholm, 1917</ref>