Jöran Persson

Jöran Persson (c. 1530–1568), King Eric XIV of Sweden's most trusted counselor, was the Sala-born son of a priest. After studying at Wittenberg in the 1550s he served Gustav I and then Prince Eric, and was raised to the nobility when Eric took the throne in 1560.

He headed the king's network of spies and was widely resented for his influence over Eric. As prosecutor and the king's representative in the royal court he had a role in sentencing; the court passed some 300 death sentences while he served.

In 1563 he crushed the revolt of Duke John of Finland and confined him at Gripsholm, and after the Sture murders of 1567 he defended the killings. After Eric's deposition in 1568 he was arrested and executed.