Magnus, Duke of Östergötland
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| Swedish Royalty |
| House of Vasa |
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| Gustav I |
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| Eric XIV |
| John III |
| Sigismund |
| Charles IX |
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| Gustavus Adolphus |
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| Christina |
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Magnus Vasa (July 25, 1542 – June 26, 1595), prince of Sweden, Duke of Östergötland from 1555. Magnus was the third son of king Gustav Vasa. His mother was queen Margareta Leijonhufvud.
Magnus had a mental illness and was the only of Gustav Vasa's sons, except for Karl and Sten who died in infancy, that didn't become king of Sweden. Due to this, he is not remembered today. He lived at Vadstena Castle in Vadstena. He was unmarried for all his life, but had some illegitimate children, three daughters are known today.
There are many stories about the 'Mad Duke', for example when he saw a mermaid in the castle moat and threw himself out of a window. He nearly drowned. There are no proof of the story, but it might come from when he in 1563 fell in the moat, during the construction of the castle drawbridge.
Magnus died at the Manorhouse of Kungsbro, outside Linköping, in 1595 and is buried in the Bridgettine Abbey Church in Vadstena.
