ERIC XIV. 7 7) , king of Sweden, was the only son of Gustavus Vasa and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg. He became king in 1561, and owing to his morbid fear of the nobility, he gave his confidence to Goran Persson, an upstart. Having quar relled with, and imprisoned, the royal duke John, Eric harassed the aristocracy, and finally in 1566 imprisoned many of them at Uppsala. He murdered Nils Sture with his own hand and ordered the despatch of other prisoners. The order for the detention of the prisoners was ratified by the estates after the murders had taken place, and probably in ignorance of them, under pressure from Goran Persson. Two years later Eric's insanity was so apparent that a committee of senators was appointed to govern the king dom, and finally on Sept. 3o, 1568, he was replaced by the royal duke John, who became John III. In spite of several rebellions, John retained his throne, and on Feb. 24, Eric died sud denly in his prison at Orbyhus, poisoned, it is said, by his governor, Johan Henriksen.