Jagiellons and Vasas in Poland, Finland and Sweden: our common heritage

Drottningholm is the present-day residence of the Kingdom of Sweden. The King and Queen live here: on an island, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, surrounded by nature. However, the place itself is closely linked to Catherine Jagiellon, as the residence was built specifically for her. When John III Vasa and Catherine left the prison at Gripsholm and were crowned rulers of Sweden, a period of uninterrupted prosperity began for the royal couple. It was then that John founded a beautiful residence on the island for his wife to appreciate and commemorate her loyalty and devotion during difficult times. As a reminder, when Eric's troops arrested John, Catherine was allowed to leave and return to her homeland. However, the loyal and proud daughter of the Jagiellon dynasty chose to share her husband's misfortune and imprisonment. The scene immortalized in Polish chronicles, where Catherine removes her wedding ring with her vows engraved on it, a sign that she remains faithful to her husband through thick and thin, until death do them part, has become legendary. Today, Drottningholm Palace is a different place, as Catherine's palace did not survive the fire that consumed the old building (in 1661). Nevertheless, it remains an important place of remembrance for the brave and loyal queen and delights visitors. NAWA Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej Drottningholm Slott

Today we present documents commemorating the marriage of Catherine Jagiellon and (then) Duke John of Finland. It includes a prenuptial agreement and a document listing the princess's dowry. The second documen: a prenuptial agreement was drafted in accordance with the conditions set by King Sigismund Augustus, Catherine's brother and her guardian after the death of her parents. As a reminder, after Bona's death, Catherine and Anna remained in Masovia for some time, and King Sigismund did not arrange for their marriage. When an embassy from Sweden arrived in Vilnius in 1562, seeking the hand of one of the princesses, the elder, Anna, waived her priority marriage so that Catherine could at least marry. It was not customary to marry the younger royal daughter before the older one, but the king granted her request. Catherine married John on October 4, 1562, in Vilnius, and then set off on a sea voyage to Finland on the ship Ursus Finlandicus, whose name was commemorated in a poem by Henryk Moller celebrating the marriage 📜📃

Royal residences are renowned for their opulence! Expensive furnishings, furniture, tableware, and even stoves were exquisitely crafted in the era of Renaissance kings. Castles in Poland, Lithuania, and Sweden delight visitors with the exquisite craftsmanship of the objects collected within. Today, we present several photos of the Wawel tapestries. These were woven tapestries placed on the walls. They were decorated with biblical scenes, royal coats of arms, and the initials of rulers. Referring to the previous post, we present the coats of arms of Poland and Lithuania – now depicted as a powerful, united state: the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Perhaps the most striking, however, are the animals depicted on the tapestries. Some are realistic (such as an owl, an otter, and a deer), but dragons, strange snakes with ears, and a unicorn can also be found on these tapestries. Tapestries were fashionable not only in the 16th century but also later. However, their themes remained unchanged over the centuries. Thus, the Bible, mythology, and nature were the main themes depicted. This is not surprising, as in times when travel was restricted, art sought to depict more inaccessible or exotic parts of the world. The Drottningholm tapestry in Stockholm features not only mythological heroes but also a magnificently depicted camel, while the royal palace boasts a tapestry with a quite successful image of a spotted leopard. 🦁🦉🦄 NAWA Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej Zamek Królewski na Wawelu Drottningholm Slott Kungliga Slotten

Let's pause and examine the rich heraldry of Catherine Jagiellon's tombstone in Uppsala Cathedral. In addition to the Vasa coat of arms, placed directly above the tombstone and topped with a crown, whose field features the crowned lions of the Folkungs and three crowns, as well as the sheaf adopted as its symbol by the dynasty's father, Gustwa Vasa, we also find the emblems of the Jagiellonian and Sworza families. Thus, we have Polish eagles – associated with Polish heraldic tradition for centuries – but also the Lithuanian chasing, which was incorporated into the Polish coat of arms already during the reign of Jagiełło, the founder of the royal house of Jagiellon. Furthermore, both on the tombstone and on the floor, we also find a snake – the emblem of the Italian Sworza house, as Catherine's mother was Bona, a member of that family. Another touching touch is the panorama of the Jagiellonian royal seat above the queen's resting place: the city of Kraków, where Catherine spent her childhood and youth. This demonstrates the sincere devotion of Catherine's husband, king Jan III Vasa, to his wife. It was he who funded the tombstone, which was created by Master Willem Boy, a Flemish artist active in Sweden between 1558 and 1592. He also designed the tombstone for Gustav, founder of the Vasa dynasty, and his wives 👑 NAWA Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej Uppsala University Uppsala domkyrka

Swedish kings lie in state in Uppsala Cathedral ⛪️. Gustav Vasa, the dynasty's progenitor, lies there, flanked by his two wives, and John III Vasa, depicted on a tomb sculpture in a rather... relaxed pose. Opposite lies a Swedish queen of Polish descent: Catherine Jagiellon, John's wife. Above her monument, in addition to her coats of arms, is a panorama of royal Kraków: the strong fortress of the Jagiellon dynasty and golden plaques commemorating the queen. Catherine was John's beloved wife. The marriage, though entered into for political reasons, was a happy one, though initially nothing foreshadowed the royal couple's happiness, much less a royal crown 👑 Uppsala University NAWA Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej

On World Book Day, we reflect on ancient books waiting to be discovered and researched. Many such books are located in Sweden, where they are being cataloged and have researchers passionately researching their history Peter Sjökvist Joanna Zatorska 🩷. Unfortunately, many books written in Polish, which came to this country as spoils of war, still await someone to study them and save them from oblivion 📜📚

"Zielnik": a monumental medicine book dedicated to Anna Vasa. This It's a copy from the Carolina Rediviva library in Uppsala. Who put the herbs there and why? Perhaps we'll find out as we research the book 🌼🪻🌷 NAWA Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej

Visitors to the Royal Palace (Swedish: Kungliga slottet), probably Stockholm’s greatest attraction, should also pay attention to the palace museums: the Museum Three Crowns (Swedish: Tre Kronor, Polish: Trzy Korony), as well as the Royal Treasury (Skattkammaren). There, one can see exhibits connected not only with Swedish history but also with the history of Poland, specifically the fate of Catherine Jagiellon.

Built in the 13th century, probably on the initiative of Birger Jarl, the Three Crowns Castle has not survived to the present day: it was consumed by a fire that broke out on May 7, 1697. The blaze almost completely destroyed the medieval castle, and therefore a new structure, the palace that still stands today, was erected in its place. In the Tre Kronor Museum, visitors can view the remains of the oldest building in which Swedish kings resided until its destruction. Among the exhibits are fragments of the castle’s decorations dating from the time of King John III Vasa (including preserved ornamentation from the royal chapel) and Queen Catherine Jagiellon (a reconstructed decorative plaster panel bearing the queen’s monogram crowned with a royal crown).

The Treasury displays the crowns and royal insignia of several Swedish rulers. Among them are the crown, scepter, orb, and symbolic keys to the city belonging to King Eric XIV, the half-brother of John III Vasa. Eric XIV was the eldest son of Gustav Vasa, the founder of the dynasty, and it was natural that he would inherit the Swedish throne after his father. This indeed happened, and at first nothing foreshadowed the tragedy that would later unfold. Although the young king initially appeared to be a talented monarch, aspiring to turn his country into a dominant power in the Baltic, he gradually descended into madness—historians still debate its causes. His illness led him to distrust even his most loyal servants and advisors.

The murder of Nils and Svante Sture, members of a powerful and respected noble family, shocked public opinion at the time. The unfortunate “mad king,” feeling surrounded by conspirators and traitors and fearing the loss of power, imprisoned his younger brother John, together with his wife Catherine Jagiellon, in Gripsholm Castle near Stockholm. The Duke of Finland and his spouse remained in captivity for over four years (from August 1563 to the autumn of 1568).

Nowy projekt realizowany dzięki stypendium Polonista NAWA (Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej) : "Polska i Szwecja: razem dla wspólnego dziedzictwa". W ramach projektu zostaną przygotowane i nagrane wykłady związane z polskimi zabytkami w Szwecji, ale także związane ze wspólną historią zapisaną na kartach polskich kronik. Zostaną także zbadane wybrane książki znajdujące się w bibliotece Carolina Rediviva, a także przygotowany zostanie artykuł poświęcony unikatowemu egzemplarzowi "Zielnika" dedykowanego Annie Wazównie zdeponowanego w tejże bibliotece. Wykonawczynią projektu jest dr Ewa Cybulska-Bohuszewicz. Rozpoczął się on 1 kwietnia i potrwa do końca sierpnia.

A new project, funded by the NAWA Polonist scholarship, is entitled: "Poland and Sweden: Together for a Shared Heritage". The project will include preparing and recording lectures related to Polish monuments in Sweden, as well as those related to the shared history recorded in Polish chronicles. Selected books from the Carolina Rediviva library will also be examined, and an article will be written about a unique copy of the "Herbal Collection" dedicated to Anna Vasa, which is deposited at the library. The project is lead by dr Ewa Cybulska-Bohuszewicz. It began on April 1st and will run until the end of August.

New material devoted to the beliefs of the Finns. Link in the 1st comment.