Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie
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At length, emerg<strong>in</strong>g from his place of security, he<br />
roused the peasantry of the Swedish prov<strong>in</strong>ces to<br />
attempt the restoration of their country's<br />
<strong>in</strong>dependence. He defeated the troops of Christian<br />
<strong>in</strong> several engagements, <strong>and</strong> after an arduous<br />
struggle he overthrew the tyrant, received the<br />
crown of <strong>Sweden</strong>, <strong>and</strong> erected the country <strong>in</strong>to an<br />
<strong>in</strong>dependent sovereignty. The loss of the throne of<br />
<strong>Sweden</strong> brought after it to Christian II. the loss of<br />
<strong>Denmark</strong>. His oppressive <strong>and</strong> tyrannical measures<br />
kept up a smolder<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>surrection among his<br />
Danish subjects; the dissatisfaction broke out at last<br />
<strong>in</strong> open rebellion. Christian II. was deposed; he<br />
fled to the Low Countries, where he renounced his<br />
<strong>Protestantism</strong>, which was a decided<br />
disqualification <strong>in</strong> the eyes of Charles V., whose<br />
sister Isabella he had married, <strong>and</strong> at whose court<br />
he now sojourned.<br />
Seated on the throne of <strong>Sweden</strong> (1523), under<br />
the title of Vasa I., Gustavus addressed himself to<br />
the Reformation of his k<strong>in</strong>gdom <strong>and</strong> Church. The<br />
way was paved, as we have already said, for the<br />
Reformation of the latter, by merchants who visited<br />
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