GUSTAVUS I. king of Sweden, son of Eric de Vasa duke of Gripsholm. Christian II. king of Denmark having made himself master of the kingdom of Sweden, confined Gustavus at Copenhagen; but he making his escape, wandered a long time in the forests, till the cruelties of the tyrant having occasioned a revolution, he was first declared governor of Sweden, and in 1513, elected king. This prince introduced Lutheranism into his dominions, which in a little time spread itself all over the kingdom. He died in 1560; having made his kingdom hereditary, which was before elective. See SWEDEN.

GUSTAIVUS Adolphus, furnamed the Great, king of Sweden, was born at Stockholm in 1594, and succeeded his father Charles in 1611. He espoused the cause of the Protestants in Germany, who were oppressed and almost entirely ruined by the emperor Ferdinand. He was a great warrior, and gained many victories, of which an account is given under the article SWEDEN. He was at last killed in the battle of Lutzen, where his troops got the victory, and defeated two of the emperor's armies.