Editing Gustav Vasa (section)

===Supporting the Sture party===
Since the end of the 14th century, Sweden had been a part of the Kalmar Union with Denmark and Norway. The Danish dominance in this union occasionally led to uprisings in Sweden. During Gustav's childhood, parts of the Swedish nobility tried to make Sweden independent. Gustav and his father Erik supported the party of Sten Sture the Younger, regent of Sweden from 1512, and its struggle against King [[Christian II of Denmark]]. Following the [[battle of Brännkyrka]] in 1518, where Sten Sture's troops beat the Danish forces, it was decided that Sten Sture and King Christian would meet in [[Österhaninge]] for negotiations. To guarantee the safety of the king, the Swedish side sent six men as hostages to be kept by the Danes for as long as the negotiations lasted. However, Christian did not show up for the negotiations, violated the deal with the Swedish side and took the hostages aboard ships carrying them to [[Copenhagen]]. The six members of the kidnapped hostage were [[Hemming Gadh]], Lars Siggesson (Sparre), Jöran Siggesson (Sparre), Olof Ryning, Bengt Nilsson (Färla) – and Gustav Eriksson. Gustav was held in [[Kalø Castle]] where he was treated very well after promising he would not make attempts to escape. A reason for this gentle treatment was King Christian's hope to convince the six men to switch sides, and turn against their leader Sten Sture. This strategy was successful regarding all men but Gustav, who stayed loyal to the Sture party.<ref>Larsson 2005, pp. 38ff.</ref>
[[File:ChristianII of denmark.jpg|left|150px|thumb|[[Christian II of Denmark|Christian II]], Gustav Vasa's main antagonist]]
In 1519, Gustav Eriksson escaped from Kalø. He fled to the Hanseatic city of [[Lübeck]] where he arrived on 30 September. How he managed to escape is not certain, but according to a somewhat likely story, he disguised himself as a [[bullocky]]. For this, Gustav got the nicknames "King Oxtail" and "Gustav Cow Butt", something he indeed disliked. When a swordsman drank to His Majesty "Gustav Cow Butt" in Kalmar in 1547, the swordsman was killed.<ref>Larsson 2005, p. 42.</ref>

While staying in Lübeck, Gustav could hear about developments in his native Sweden. While he was there, Christian II mobilised to attack Sweden in an effort to seize power from Sten Sture and his supporters. In 1520, the forces of King Christian were triumphant. Sten Sture died in March, but some strongholds, including the Swedish capital Stockholm, were still able to withstand the Danish forces. Gustav left Lübeck on a ship, and was put ashore south of [[Kalmar]] on 31 May.<ref>Larsson 2005, pp. 43–45.</ref>

It seems Gustav stayed largely inactive during his first months back on Swedish soil. According to some sources, Gustav received an invitation to the coronation of Christian. This was to take place in the newly captured Stockholm in November. Even though King Christian had promised amnesty to his enemies within the Sture party, including Gustav Eriksson, the latter chose to decline the invitation. The coronation took place on 4 November and days of festivities in a friendly spirit followed. When the celebration had lasted a few days, the castle was locked and the former enemies of King Christian were imprisoned. Accusations against the old supporters of Sten Sture regarding heresy were brought forward. The following day the sentences were announced. During the Stockholm Bloodbath, close to 100 people were executed on [[Stortorget]], among them Gustav Eriksson's father, Erik Johansson, and uncle, [[Per Brahe the Elder|Joakim Brahe]]. Gustav himself was at the time staying at Räfsnäs, close to [[Gripsholm Castle]].<ref>Larsson 2005, pp. 45ff.</ref>
[[Image:King Gustav Vasa of Sweden Addressing Men from Dalarna in Mora (Johan Gustaf Sandberg) - Nationalmuseum - 19512.tif|right|200px|thumb|Gustav Eriksson addressing men from Dalarna in Mora. Painting by Johan Gustaf Sandberg.]]