Editing Christian II of Denmark (section)

=== Stockholm Bloodbath===
{{Main|Stockholm Bloodbath}}
[[File:Stockholm Bloodbath.jpg|thumb|The Stockholm bloodbath depicted in a 1676 engraving by Dionysius Padtbrugge.]]
Three days after the coronation, Archbishop Trolle accused the followers of Sture of heresy for their part in the rising against him.  Gyllenstierna used the fact that the [[Riksdag of the Estates|Swedish Diet]] had made a 'swearing in common' ''(sammansvärjning)'' in 1517, which had bound the nobles to Sture's cause, in defence of her husband's followers.  However, Christian seized on this as an opportunity to cement his control over Sweden by removing his opponents.  He convened an ecclesiastical court which condemned all parties to the swearing in common.  On 8 and 9 November eighty-two Swedish noblemen were executed at Stockholm castle, including the bishops of [[Skara]] and [[Strängnäs]].  As well as Sture's supporters, who had formed Trolle's original list, Christian's suspicious nature led him to even execute supporters of the Kalmar Union.  The bodies of [[Sten Sture the Younger|Sten Sture]] and his child were dug up and burnt. Gyllenstierna and other noble Swedish ladies were sent as prisoners to Denmark.{{sfn|Lockhart|2007|pp=15–16}}{{sfn|Bain|1911|p=275}}

The bloodbath, rather than cementing Christian's control of the Swedish throne, led in short order to Sweden's secession from the Kalmar Union.  [[Didrik Slagheck]], whom Christian appointed to the bishopric of Skara and as one of the three regents of Sweden, proved brutal and inept.  The remaining Swedish nobility, appalled by the bloodbath, rose against Christian and the Swedish Diet elected [[Gustav Vasa]] regent and subsequently King of Sweden.{{sfn|Lockhart|2007|p=16}} On account of the massacre Christian is remembered in Sweden as ''Christian the Tyrant'' (''Kristian Tyrann'').{{sfn|Reiter|1943}}