Swedish Kings and Queens

The first king of Sweden is usually said to be Olof Skutkonung but in reality there had been several rulers before him, although most of their names and dates of rule are uncertain. It was Olof who first converted to Christianity in the early 11th century. Competing dynasties ruled Sweden until 1397, when Sweden, Denmark and Norway were united under Queen Margareta (Margrethe) of Denmark.

The Swedes were generally unhappy with this union, called the Union of Kalmar, and over the next century they instead followed the rule of regents and even elected a counter-king, Karl II. Finally the union was overthrown in 1523 by Gustav I Vasa, who became their new king. Under strong rulers Sweden became a major European power in the 17th-century.

In 1818 Karl XIV Johan, one of Napoleon's marshals, was chosen to be king. His line has ruled since that time, though the powers of the monarchy are now largely ceremonial.

Note that there are some numbering inconsistencies. Kings Eric XIV and Karl IX adopted their numbers based on a legendary history of Sweden. Their predecessors of the same names were posthumously given numbers by counting backwards.

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NameYearsOther Names
Adolf Fredrik1751-1771(Adolph, Frederick, Friedrich)
Albrekt of Mecklenburg1364-1389(Albert)
Anund Jakob1022-1050
Anund the Russian1070-1075
Birger1290-1318
Birger Jarl1250-1266
Carl XVI Gustaf1973-(Charles, Karl, Folke, Hubertus)
Emund the Old1050-1060
Erik IX the Holy1156-1160(Eric)
Erik the Victoriousc. 970-c. 995(Eric)
Erik VII1066-1067(Eric)
Erik XIII of Pomerania1396-1439(Eric)
Erik VIII the Pagan1066-1067(Eric)
Erik X1208-1216(Eric)
Erik XI1222-1229; 1234-1250(Eric)
Erik XII1357-1359(Eric)
Erik XIV1560-1568(Eric)
Filip1105-1118(Philip)
Fredrik I1720-1751(Frederick, Friedrich)
Gustaf VI Adolf1950-1973(Oscar, Fredrik, Wilhelm, Olaf)
Gustav I Vasa1521-1560
Gustav II Adolf1611-1632(Gustavus, Adolph, Adolphus)
Gustav III1771-1792(Gustavus)
Gustav IV Adolf1792-1809(Adolph)
Gustav V1907-1950(Oscar, Gustaf, Adolf)
Håkan the Red1070-1079(Haakon)
Halsten1067-1070; 1079-1084(Alstan, Hallsten)
Inge I the Elder1079-1084; 1087-1105
Inge II the Younger1110-1125
Johan II1497-1501(Hans, John)
Johan I1216-1222(John)
Johan III1568-1592(John)
Karl I (or VII)1161-1167(Charles)
Karl II (or VIII)1448-1457; 1464-1465; 1467-1470(Carl, Charles)
Karl IX1604-1611(Carl, Charles)
Karl X Gustav1654-1660(Carl, Charles)
Karl XI1660-1697(Carl, Charles)
Karl XII1697-1718(Carl, Carolus, Charles)
Karl XIII1809-1818(Carl, Charles)
Karl XIV Johan1818-1844(Carl, Charles, Jean, Baptist, Baptiste, John, Jules, Julius)
Karl XV1859-1872(Carl, Charles, Ludvig, Eugen)
Knut I1167-1196(Canute)
Knut II the Long1229-1234(Canute)
Kristian I1457-1464(Christian)
Kristian II1520-1521(Christian)
Kristina1632-1654(Christina, Alexandra, Augusta)
Kristofer of Bavaria1441-1448(Christoffer, Christopher)
Magnus I the Strong1125-1130
Magnus II1160-1161
Magnus III Ladulas1275-1290
Magnus IV1319-1364
Margareta1389-1412(Margaret, Margrete, Margrethe)
Olof Skötkonung995-1022(Olaf)
Oscar I1844-1859(Josef, Joseph, François, Frans)
Oscar II1872-1907(Fredrik)
Ragnvald1125-1126
Sigismund1592-1599(Sigmund, Zygmunt)
Sten Sture the Elder1470-1497; 1501-1503
Sten Sture the Younger1512-1520
Stenkil1060-1066
Svante1504-1512
Blot-Sven1084-1087(Sweyn)
Sverker I the Elder1133-1156
Sverker II the Younger1196-1208
Ulrika Eleonora1718-1720(Ulrica, Eleanor)
Valdemar1250-1275(Waldemar)