Some famous historical individuals are the subject of metaphorical worship by their fans. Others have paid authors to depict themselves with superhuman characteristics. In the 19th century people might have believed such descriptions. However, that was due to poor knowledge of the limits of the humanly possible. I at least don’t believe in them. On example is Götstaff Erichson who is considered the founder of modern Sweden. I think the most remarkable with him was him being unusually tall. He was around 1.9 meters (8 feet 3) which was even rarer then.
That said, Götstaff was definitely a skilled ruler. He was not particularly well-educated. But he had learn a great deal which was useful from an old man who had worked for the pope earlier. Both were captured by Denmark’s king Christian Hanssen. Unlike his mentor Götstaff managed to escape. The mentor was later killed on Christian’s order. Even later Christian would be crowned king of Sweden too. Götstaff did not came to the coronation party which turned out to be smart. Christian then made a massacre on Sweden’s highest nobility. Since Götstaff was not there he escaped the massacre. In contrast his own mum and sister were among the victims. Thereby he got a personal reason to want to overthrow Christian.
One need to know about the situation before Götstaff made himself king. At the end of the 14th century Denmark, Norway and Sweden were united. By chance Margarete Valdemarsdatter came to take over all three thrones. This was formalised in 1397 in the form of the Kalmar Union. However, it could only hold together through her political skill. Such governments don’t survive. The result was more than a century of repeated civil wars. Götstaff led the uprising finally leading to the Kalmar Union being dissolved. The day when he rode into Stockholm is considered Sweden’s Independence Day.
To put an end to the Kalmar Union benefited the peoples all over the Nordic countries. This largely stopped internal fighting. Such harmed the population where the soldiers advanced. Götstaff also did something good specifically for Sweden. Instead of taking support from the nobility he created a system of bailiffs. This was the beginning of an administration consisting neither of officers or politicians. Such professional government officials benefited the people though competency.
Götstaff made the position of king hereditary which have had mixed results. This facilitated the change from one head of state to the next. On the other hand a king who was incompetent risked being overthrown. The person has then been succeeded by a family member. This happened to his oldest son Erich who came to develop mental illness. Which led to power struggle between him and his half-brother Johan. Kings being overthrown for political reasons has occurred too. Johan’s son Sigismund later lost power to his uncle Carl.
A historical person’s professional skill can only be fairly compared to other contemporaries. It has been claimed that the smartest person who ever existed was Isaac Newton. I don’t doubt his geniality. But it appears even greater because competitors were unskilled. What is now seen as modern science was then in the process of developing. Something he contributed considerably to.
Uploaded on the 30th of September 2025.
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