Karin does not belong to the nobility but nevertheless marries the mentally ill king Erik XIV and becomes queen of Sweden. The king's skilled counsellor Göran Persson wants a royal policy supporting the people and supported by it. But in relation to the nobility the king oscillates between provocative strength and unpredictable weakness. Göran arranges that some very powerful noblemen are killed. Subsequently the king tries to have them convicted of high treason by the parliament. He forgets the manuscript, mixes up all facts, and the noblemen are acquitted. But Göran speedily gathers another parliament and has them convicted. Meanwhile Erik apologises because of the unjust murders. Hence Erik is dethroned and imprisoned. Göran is executed. Karin is restricted to a castle in Finland. In the prison Erik believes that he is still the king and gives the guards presents such as all fishes in the Baltic Sea.
Ulla Jacobsson
as Karin Månsdotter
Jarl Kulle
as King Erik of Sweden
Ulf Palme
as Göran Persson
Stig Järrel
as Olof Gustavsson Stenbock
Olof Widgren
as Vicar
Erik Strandmark
as Welam Welamsson
Bengt Blomgren
as Max
Åke Claesson
as Svante Sture
Per Oscarsson
as Anders
Birgitta Valberg
as Queen
Ulla Sjöblom
as Agda
Aurore Palmgren
as Göran Persson's mother
