n.
born July 1, 1481, Nyborg, Den.
died Jan. 25, 1559, Kalundborg
King of Denmark and Norway (151323) and of Sweden (152023).
He succeeded his father, John, as king of Denmark and Norway. In 1517 he invaded Sweden, defeating the forces of the Swedish regent, and was crowned Sweden's king in 1520. However, he ordered a massacre of Swedish nobles (the Stockholm Bloodbath) that helped incite a successful Swedish war for independence, marking the end of the Kalmar Union in 1523. That year a revolt in Denmark forced Christian to flee to the Netherlands. After attempting to regain his kingdom, he was arrested by Danish forces in 1532 and spent the rest of his life imprisoned in Danish castles.