In 1460s, Arvid sympathized and somewhat supported King Charles VIII of Sweden ("Karl Knutsson (Bonde)") in his opposition against the Kalmar Union. He was married with Beata Ivarsdotter, daughter of Ivar Axelsson Tott of Lilloe in Skåne, fiefholder of Gotland, who was in almost open opposition against Danish central government. Ivar Axelsson Tott was King Charles chief ally in late 1460s, had once been promised succession after him by King Charles, but Charles' nephew Sten Sture the Elder managed to wrest the regentship. Iver supported Arvid's election to regent to replace Sten Sture. They succeeded once in a coup at Stockholm, after which the Swedish High Council chose Arvid, but they soon lost their base to Sten Sture who had the support of burghers and peasantry.