“ The animosity of the king toward his brothers increased with years, and finally led to violent measures. John, who had married Catharine, daughter of Sigismund I., king of Poland, without Eric's consent, was besieged in his castle at Abo, and condemned to an imprisonment of four years, and the others were in constant fear of their lives. ”

“ During nearly his whole reign he was engaged in wars with Denmark and Poland, in the course of which the Swedes acquired from the latter country the Baltic provinces of Livonia and Revel, although at great cost of men and money, whole provinces having been depopulated to supply the army. ”