Born 1 of July 1481 at Nyborg Castle. Parents: King Hans of Denmark, Norway and Sweden and Kristina of Saxony.
Elected heir to the Swedish throne in 1497. King of Denmark and Norway in 1513. Crowned in Copenhagen 11 of June 1514, in Oslo 20 of July. King of Sweden 1 of November 1520 after defeating Sten Sture the younger; crowned on 4 of November. Deposed as King of Sweden in August 1521. Deposed as King of Denmark and Norway in 1523. New King of Sweden was Gustaf I and in Denmark and Norway, Kristian's uncle Fredrik I. He tried to regain his Norwegian throne in 1532, but was captured and imprisoned in Sönderborg's Castle. Died at Kalundborg on 25 of January 1559.
Married 12 of July 1515 to Elisabet (Isabella) of Habsburg (1501-1526); daughter of Filip the Fair, Archduke of Habsburg, King of Castilia 1504-1506, and Juana of Aragon and Castile. Children: Hans (1518-1532), Dorotea (1520-1580), Kristina (1521-1590).
When he was given the throne in 1520, he promised the Council amnesty for their previous actions. But he broke his promise, and several of the leading Noblemen were executed in Stockholm's blodshed. Therefore he is called Kristian the Tyrant in Sweden (but in Denmark he is called Kristian the Good).