Christian II of Denmark

After conquering Sweden, Christian II invited Swedish nobles to a coronation banquet in Stockholm, then arrested and executed about 80-90 people, including bishops and leading figures of the Swedish independence party. This massacre aimed to crush Swedish resistance but instead galvanized opposition.

Following the Stockholm Bloodbath, a Swedish rebellion led by Gustav Vasa succeeded in driving out Danish forces. Christian II was deposed in Denmark by his uncle Frederick I, who took the throne. Christian fled to the Netherlands, seeking support from his brother-in-law, Emperor Charles V.

During his reign, Christian II showed early support for Lutheran ideas, inviting reformers and translating the New Testament into Danish. Though his deposition interrupted this, his actions laid groundwork for the official Reformation under his successor, Christian III.

Christian II launched a military expedition from the Netherlands to reclaim his thrones, landing in Norway. He failed to gain sufficient support and was captured by his rival, Frederick I. He was imprisoned for the rest of his life, first at S