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King Eric XIV

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Monarch

The Resume

    (December 13, 1533-February 26, 1577)
    Born in Stockholm, Sweden
    King of Sweden (1560-1568)
    Son of King Gustav I and Queen Catherine
    Married to Karin Månsdotter

Why he might be annoying:

    He pursued several royal women, including Queen Elizabeth I Tudor, Mary, Queen of Scots, Renata of Lorraine, Christine of Hesse, and Anna of Saxony. He had no success with any of them.
    Queen Elizabeth in particular strung him along for several years.
    He suffered from insanity and may have been schizophrenic.
    He sentenced two guards to death for annoying him.
    He flew into rages over small things such as whispering and coughing.
    He was a heavy drinker.
    He had a beard that made him look villainous.
    He imprisoned and murdered three members of the noble Sture family, believing they were trying to usurp his throne.
    When the king's former tutor tried to talk some sense into him, the king killed him, too.
    He also imprisoned his half-brother, John.
    He clashed with the Swedish nobility.
    He was overthrown and replaced by his brother John.
    According to legend, he was poisoned to death by pea soup laced with arsenic.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He probably inherited mental instability from his father.
    He married a commoner.
    His wife was said to be a good influence on him.
    He had a lot of friends from humble backgrounds.

Credit: Truffle


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 38.46% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 20 Votes: 90.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 18 Votes: 61.11% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 118 Votes: 46.61% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 114 Votes: 46.49% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 113 Votes: 50.44% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 23 Votes: 52.17% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 40 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 19 Votes: 73.68% Annoying