Eric XIV (1533-1577), king of Sweden. He succeeded his father, Gustavus Vasa, in 1560. He appears to have made overtures to Elizabeth of England and to Mary, Queen of Scots, and finally made a peasant girl his queen. He was a licentious man, given to violent paroxysms of fury, in which his wife alone was able to control him. His subjects, unable to endure misgovernment, shut him up in prison and seated his brother John on the throne. The captive Eric was fond of books, of writing, and of music. He died from a cup of poison.