SWEDEN AFTER THE BLOODBATH.

The article focuses on the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520 and its pivotal role in Sweden’s path to independence under Gustav I Vasa. Following the execution of Swedish rebels by Christian II of Denmark and Norway, widespread outrage united Swedish resistance, leading to Gustav Vasa’s rise as leader and eventual king in 1523. Gustav’s reign established a hereditary monarchy, centralized administration, and initiated the Swedish Reformation, shaping the nation’s early modern identity. His legacy, celebrated as the "father of modern Sweden," has been variously interpreted over time, with 20th-century critiques highlighting his authoritarian rule and contemporary political groups invoking his image to support nationalist agendas.