Władysław IV Vasa or Ladislaus IV of Poland was King of Poland, Grand Duke of Lithuania and claimant of the thrones of Sweden and Russia. Born into the House of Vasa as a prince of Poland and of Sweden, Władysław IV was the eldest son of Sigismund III Vasa and Sigismund's first wife, Anna of Austria.
Portrait by Peter Paul Rubens (1620s)
Prince Władysław, aged about 10, c. 1605
Young Władysław
Art Collection of Prince Władysław Vasa (Royal Castle in Warsaw), according to artist's signature painted in Warsaw in 1626, depicts treasures purchased by the Prince during his journey across Europe.
The House of Vasa or Wasa was an early modern royal house founded in 1523 in Sweden. Its members ruled the Kingdom of Sweden from 1523 to 1654 and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1587 to 1668; its agnatic line became extinct with the death of King John II Casimir of Poland in 1672.
Eric XIV Vasa
John III Vasa, Queen Catherine Jagiellon and young Sigismund (future King of Poland and Sweden) in Gripsholm Castle
Sigismund III Vasa, King of Poland and Sweden, Grand Duke of Lithuania and Finland
Personal coat of arms