Gustav Eriksson Trolle (1488-1533) was Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, in two sessions, and involved in the turbulent events at the break between Catholicism and Lutheranism in Scandinavia.
After studies in Cologne and Rome, he in 1513 was elected vicar of Linköping, and one year later Archbishop of Uppsala. In 1515 he got into an argument with the Swedish regent Sten Sture the Younger, who spread the rumour that he was allied with the King Christian II of Denmark. True or not, it resulted in Trolle being removed from his office and put under siege in his castle Stäket . In the winter of 1517, Stäket was demolished by orders from the Swedish government.
The Danish threat grew stronger, and Trolle was among those who spoke in favour of the Danish King. In 1520, Christian II entered Sweden, and Trolle was rewarded by being appointed Archbishop of Uppsala again. He crowned Christian King of Sweden on November 4, 1520. This, and subsequent events, suggest they had a deal before Christian entered Sweden.
Trolle named those who were responsible for his last years of suffering and the demolition of Stäket, and King Christian had them (around 100 persons in total) executed in the so called Bloodbath of Stockholm on November 10, 1520.
Christian returned home a few months later and Trolle was one of those put in charge of the government. But he was unpopular, and in September the following year he was forced to leave Sweden, and move to Denmark where he lived for several years. In 1526 he then met with Christian in the Netherlands. Christian had been dethroned from Denmark, but was eager to get back in power. He renounced his Lutheran faith so that he could gain the support of the Catholic Church. He gained an army and marched to conquer Norway in 1530.
After a few years of feuds, Trolle was mortally wounded in a battle at Øksnebjerg , on Fyn, Denmark, 1535. He was buried at the cathedral in Schleswig.
He was by Olaus Petri described as a stiff and obstinate man. For a long time after his death, he was regarded as a traitor to the Swedish people. This was also the prevailing view among the Swedish 19-th century historians such as Anders Fryxell .
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