Crown of Eric XIV of Sweden (1560)

Eric XIV was the son of and successor to Gustavus Vasa, the founder of the dynasty. When he came to the throne in 1560 Eric ordered a new set of regalia for the coronation, the most famous item of which was this crown. On its base Eric had lions carved in the enamel, representing his other kingdom of Norway, as well as leopards, the symbol of Denmark - a gesture prompted by his inability to forgive the Kings of Denmark for having retained their coat of arms the three crowns emblematic of Sweden. Eric's successor, his brother John III, had Eric's monogram on the floweret replaced by pearls.

Eric's reign was disastrous. He strengthened the power of the crown, he limited the privileges of the royal Dukes and forbade the marriage of his half brother, John, Duke of Finland, to the sister of the King of Poland. When John disobeyed he was accused of treason, had his estates confiscated and was imprisoned with his wife. Having unsuccessfully sought the hand of Elizabeth I of England, Eric married his peasant mistress in 1568 and had her crowned Queen.

Eric engaged in unsuccessful wars and, aspiring to absolutism, ordered many arbitrary executions ... the cause of great unpopularity. His two brothers, seeing their liberty and their lives greatly threatened, rebelled against him. Eric was deposed in 1569 and thrown into a dungeon where he consoled himself with music and the composition of psalms. In 1577 he was poisoned, probably m the order of one of his brothers.

Since then the crown has served all the Kings of Sweden at their coronation. Since the abolition of that ceremony it has served at the enthronement ceremonies, including that of the present King, Carl XVI Gustaf.