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| Reign | From November 17, 1592 - until July 24, 1599 in Sweden From August, 1587 - until April 19, 1632 in Poland |
| Coronation | On February 19, 1594 in Sweden. December 1587 in Poland |
| Royal motto | "Pro jure et populo" ("For justice and people") |
| Consorts | Anna Habsburzanka Constance of Austria |
| Royal House | Vasa |
| Date of Birth | June 20, 1566 |
| Place of Birth | Gripsholm Palace, Sudermannia |
| Date of Death | April 19, 1632 |
| Place of Death | Warsaw, Poland |
| Place of Burial | Cathedral of Krakow |
King Sigismund of Sweden, Sigismund III of Poland-Lithuania, (June 20, 1566 - April 19, 1632), was the son of King John III of Sweden (1537-1592), of the House of Vasa, and his first wife Catherine Jagellonica of Poland (1526-1583). He ruled in Poland-Lithuania, where he was known as Zygmunt III Waza, from 1587 to 1632 and in Sweden from 1592 until he was deposed in 1599.
Royal titles in Latin: Vladislaus Quartus Dei gratia rex Poloniae, magnus dux Lithuaniae, Russiae, Prussiae, Masoviae, Samogitiae, Livoniaeque, necnon Suecorum, Gothorum Vandalorumque haereditarius rex
English translation: Vladislaus IV by God's grace king of Poland, grand duke of Lithuania, Ruthenia, Prussia, Masovia, Samogitia, Livonia, and also hereditary king of the Swedes, Goths and Vandals.
He was born at Gripsholm during his parents' imprisonment by King Eric XIV. Although Sweden was protestant, Sigismund was raised as a catholic. This fact combined with the troublesome personal union would later strike back at his attempts to find support in Sweden.
His mother was the daughter of Sigismund I the Elder and his wife Bona Sforza. The Jagiellon dynasty had held the crown of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth since the first ruler Ladislaus II had received it via his wife Jadwiga in 1386. Sigismund was elected king in 1587.
On his father's death Sigismund was offered the Swedish throne, and he was crowned in 1594. He tried to rule Sweden from Poland but his uncle, Duke Charles, took full control of Sweden. In 1598 Sigismund tried to defeat him with a mixed army from Sweden and Poland but was defeated in the battle of Stångebro. Sigismund was restrained from ruling Sweden from abroad, but nevertheless returns to Poland, so in 1599 he was deposed. The kingship was ultimately ceded to Charles. Sigismund however did not relinquish his claims to the Swedish throne, which led to very harsh relations and several wars between the two countries, to end only after the Great Northern War.
It was under Sigismund's rule that Warsaw was created Polish capital, in 1609. He died at the age of 65 in the royal castle in Warsaw.
Many historians believe that Sigmund viewed Poland only as a tool that would allow him to eventually regain the throne of Sweden. To this end he tried to strenghten his royal power and allied himself with Hapsburgs and Counter-Reformation forces. His politics were opposed by many from szlachta, most notably the chancellor Jan Zamojski. While Sigmund never managed to regain the Swedish throne, his politics of personal ambition did suceed in provoking a long series of conflicts between the Commonwealth and Sweden. While the Commonwealth Sejm managed to thwart many ambitious (and dangerous) offensive plans of Sigmund (and later of his son, Wladislaw), the Vasa dynasty nonetheless suceeded in partially drawing the Commonwealth into the Thirty Years War. This sensless conflict with Sweden culminated well after the Sigmunds death in the the Deluge of 1650s.
Sigismund married twice. Firstly, on May 31, 1592, to Anna Habsburzanka (Anna of Austria) (1573-1598), daughter of Archduke Karl II of Austria (1540-1590) and his wife Maria Anna of Bavaria (1551-1608). They had five children:
And secondly, on December 11, 1605, to his first wife's sister, Constance of Austria (1588-1631). They had seven children:
| Preceded by: John III | King of Sweden | Succeeded by: Charles IX |
| Preceded by: Stephen Báthory | King of Poland | Succeeded by: Ladislaus IV |
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