His reign is sometimes referred to as the beginning of the modern state of Sweden, which included the King's break with the Roman Catholic Church during the Protestant Reformation and the foundation of the Church of Sweden.
O seu reinado ás veces é referido como o comezo do estado moderno de Suecia, que incluíu a ruptura coa Igrexa católica romana durante a reforma protestante e a fundación da Igrexa de Suecia.