Drake

The Drake dynasty was the first ruling dynasty of post-Kalmar Union Sweden. They were nobles from the province of Osterbotten and were selected by the other nobles to be rulers. On 27 September 1492, they also became rulers of Poland through election via the Sejm. They lost the throne of Sweden and their main male line on 16 August 1560 when Johan III died without an heir, leading to Gustav III of York to take over the country.
==History==
The Drake family were the noble family ruling in Osterbotten for a long time. On 1 April 1445, the Council of Nobles chose Gustav Drake of Osterbotten to lead the newly independence Sweden, and thus he became Gustav I Drake. During his reign, he married a distant relative of his, Christina Drake, and had three sons: Gustav, Sigismund, and Magnus. Christina would rule as Regent for Gustav as he was a minor at the time. Gustav II had no children throughout his reign, and neither did Sigismund, who died before he could become king. The line of succession then called for Magnus to be the new king, who was crowned Magnus IV. He married Anne York and had two children, Charles and Johan. Anne also led the country as Regent since Magnus IV died unexpectedly and Charles was also still a minor.
As he was not the direct descendant of Gustav II and thus not a member of the main male line, some people considered Charles I (and by extension Johan) to be part of a cadet branch of the Drake Dynasty. Many scholars were divided on this topic, and those who supported the cadet branch story named Charles I's branch the Drake-York, mainly to honor his mother's rule.
On 16 August 1560, Johan III unexpectedly died, and without any heir the crown passed through Anne I to his cousin Gustav III, thus ending the Drake family rule of Sweden.
==List of notable people==
===Sweden===
*Gustav I (1 April 1445 - 8 March 1455)
*Christina I (8 March 1455 - 6 June 1461)
*Gustav II (6 June 1461 - 27 November 1520)
*Magnus IV (27 November 1520 - 4 August 1529)
*Charles I (28 November 1536 - 1 February 1556)
*Johan III (1 February 1556 - 16 August 1560)
===Poland===
*Jan I Kazimierz (27 September 1492 - 29 Jnue 1512)
===Non-Rulers===
*Michael Drake (Polish heir)
*Sigismund Drake (Swedish heir, died before ascending to the throne)
Category:Dynasties