“Optime educatus” : Book historical perspectives on Prince Sigismund’s education in sixteenth-century Sweden

Abstract

The article analyses some aspects of writing in Prince Sigismund Vasa’s (1566-1632) education in the latter half of sixteenth-century Sweden. The focus is on the rare, hand-written material of his youth, which reflects the educational ideals, practices and strategies in the inter-confessional Jagiellon–Vasa family and at their court(s) in the context of a complex political situation. One example is young Sigismund’s salutation to the Pope included in her mother’s, Catherine Jagiellon’s (1526-1583), letter. In addition, two letters held at the Riksarkivet (Swedish National Archives), Stockholm, categorized as “royal autographs” are explored and transcribed for the first time.