Klaus Fleming

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Baron Klaus Eriksson Fleming

In office
1571?[1] 1588?[2] – 1591?
Succeeded by Axel Nilsson Ryning

In office
1591? – ?
Preceded by Gustaf Olofsson Stenbock
Succeeded by Magnus Brahe

In office
1594 – ?

Born 1535
Parainen, Finland
Died April 13, 1597
Pohja, Finland
Spouse(s) Ebba Stenbock
Children Johan Fleming

Baron Clas Eriksson Fleming (Finnish: Klaus Fleming) (born 1535 in Parainen, Finland; died April 13, 1597 in Pohja, Finland) was a Finnish-born member of the Swedish nobility and admiral, who played an important role in Finnish and Swedish history during the rise of Sweden as a Great Power. He was a trustee of Swedish kings John III and Sigismund Vasa.

The regent duke Charles (later king Charles IX) insulting the corpse of Klaus Fleming. Albert Edelfelt’s painting,1878.

In 1569 Fleming became a member of the Privy Council, in 1571 he was made Lord High Admiral and in 1590 Lord High Constable. As the Governor of Finland and Estonia he carried the duties of the highest authority of Finland and Estonia for the Swedish realm, next only to the king of Sweden. He was a strong supporter of the legitimate king of Sweden Sigismund Vasa and for that an enemy of the duke Charles of Sudermania.

Fleming's father - a grandson of Björn Ragvaldsson - was the Councilor of State Erik Fleming (1487-1548), also a remarkable man and King Gustav Vasa's favourite.

When studying Swedish history of the time it is noteworthy to know there were many persons in similar position with the name Clas Fleming at the time. Clas Eriksson Flemming should not be mixed with Claes Larsson Fleming (1592-1644), admiral and advisor to the king, or Claes Fleming (1649-1685), nobleman and politician.

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  1. ^ "Nordisk Familjebok - Riksamiral" (in Swedish). Nordisk Familjebok at runeberg.org. 1916. http://runeberg.org/nfcc/0167.html. Retrieved 2009-05-14. 
  2. ^ Hofberg, Herman; Heurlin, Millqvist & Rubensson (1906). "Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon - Klas Fleming" (in Swedish). Svenskt biografiskt handlexikon at runeberg.org. http://runeberg.org/sbh/a0338.html. Retrieved 2009-05-14.