Swedish War of Liberation
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Swedish War of Liberation | |||||||||
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Part of Dano-Swedish wars | |||||||||
The Entry of Gustav Vasa into Stockholm Carl Larsson, oil on canvas, 1908 | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
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Strength | |||||||||
12,000 | 27,000 | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Less than 4,000 | About 10,000 |
The Swedish War of Liberation (1521–1523; Swedish: Befrielsekriget, lit. 'The Liberation War'), also known as Gustav Vasa's Rebellion and the Swedish War of Secession, was a significant historical event in Sweden. Gustav Vasa, a nobleman, led a rebellion and civil war against King Christian II. The war resulted in the deposition of King Christian II from the throne of Sweden, effectively ending the Kalmar Union that had united Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. This conflict played a crucial role in shaping Sweden's national identity and history.
Background
King Christian II, along with his ally, Swedish Archbishop
Economics
In the background was an economic power struggle over the mining and metal industry in Bergslagen,[1] Sweden's main mining region in the 16th century. This struggle significantly increased the financial resources available to the military, while also exacerbating existing conflicts over the Kalmar Union. The key players in this economic competition were:
- Christian II of Denmark/Norway, who asserted his claim to the throne of the Union, including Sweden. His marriage to Isabella of Austriain 1515 strengthened this alliance.
- The Sten Sture the Younger and later Gustav Vasa, creating a strong dependence on the League.
Christian II's planned invasion of Sweden, coupled with Fugger's intended takeover of the industry in Bergslagen, was financed both by the substantial dowry of Christian II's wife and by Fugger himself. However, Fugger withdrew from the battle in 1521 after being defeated by Gustav Vasa at the Battle of Västerås, relinquishing control of shipping from Bergslagen. As a result, Christian II lost both the resources needed to win the war against Gustav Vasa and the means to maintain his position in Denmark against his uncle, Frederick I of Denmark, by 1523.
The significant increase in funding and financial dependence allowed the parties to at times afford larger numbers of expensive hired
Rebellion 1521
The war began in January 1521, when Gustav Vasa was appointed hövitsman (commander) over Dalarna by representatives of the people in the northern part of the province. After Gustav Vasa captured the copper mine at Stora Kopparberget and the town of Västerås, more men joined his army. In 1522, the Hanseatic city of Lübeck formed an alliance with the Swedish rebels. After the capture of Stockholm in June 1523, the rebels effectively ruled Sweden, and on 6 June, Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden in the town of Strängnäs. By September, Gustav Vasa's supporters also controlled Swedish Finland. The Treaty of Malmö, signed on 1 September 1524, formalized Sweden's secession from the Kalmar Union.
Initially, Gustav's role in the war against Christian II was as one of several rebel leaders, each active in different parts of the country. The war that eventually led to his coronation was only partially instigated and led by him. The term "Gustav Vasa's War of Liberation", often used in historiography, derives primarily from the war's outcome—Gustav Vasa's ascension to the throne of an independent Sweden—rather than its initial impetus and course. Contemporary research also indicates that Gustav himself did not directly oversee any military operations, delegating such responsibilities to associates with greater military experience.[2]
Dalarna
The details of Gustav Vasa's activities in Dalarna in 1520 remain largely unknown due to the scarcity of sources. The most comprehensive account available was written during Gustav's reign by his close associate, Bishop Peder Andreæ Swart of Västerås, which some historians speculate was heavily influenced by Gustav himself.[3]
In 1520,
Upon his return to Mora, on New Year's Eve 1521, Gustav Vasa was appointed hövitsman by emissaries from all the parishes of northern Dalarna.
In March, Gustav Vasa left Mora with about 100 men and plundered Kopparberg. Soon after, the peasants of Bergslagen rallied to the cause, swelling Gustav Vasa's forces to over 1,000 men.
Battle of Brunnbäck Ferry
When news of the Swedish uprising reached Christian II, he sent a contingent of Landknechten to put down the rebellion. In April 1521, the Union forces clashed with Gustav Vasa's followers at Brunnbäck Ferry, resulting in the decisive defeat of the king's army. This triumph greatly boosted the morale of the Swedish rebels.
An emergency mint was set up in Dalarna to produce the copper coins needed to finance the war effort.
Battle of Västerås
The rebel army advanced south to Västerås, which they captured and plundered in the Battle of Västerås 29 April 1521. Upon hearing of Gustav Vasa's triumph, supporters of the Sture family decided to join the rebellion. Västerås marked a pivotal moment in Gustav Vasa's fortunes, as the rebels gained control of the shipping routes from Bergslagen and Fugger stopped funding Christian II.
In April, Gustav Trolle had been sent to Hälsingland, but when his two hundred cavalry encountered the thousand strong peasant army, they fled south. By the end of April 1521, Gustav Vasa had secured supremacy in Dalarna, with support from Gästrikland, Västmanland, and Närke, but without the fortresses.
On July 15, 1521, the Riksdag met in Stockholm and offered Gustav Vasa a free lease on Stockholm with forgiveness for all transgressions. As a gesture of goodwill, Gustav Trolle had Didrik Slagheck imprisoned, and was promised substantial supplies of malt and hops. Gustav Vasa hesitated and waited for developments. The rebellion soon reached Brunkeberg, although the peasants found it impossible to besiege the town.
The summer of 1521 brought relative peace. Many returned to their farms to help with the harvest.
After Västerås – Professional armies
The importance of peasant armies diminished in the conflict, and the war was fought primarily by German mercenaries and recruited Swedish soldiers, supplemented by cavalry from the Swedish nobility.[6]
1521 – Gustav Vasa becomes head of state
Lars Siggesson Sparre, who had previously been a hostage of Christian II but had defected to the king's side, now sided with Gustav Vasa. Hans Brask and Ture Jönsson Tre Rosor also switched allegiance to Gustav Vasa, and in the second half of August he was recognized as the leader of Sweden by the provinces of Gotland at a meeting in Vadstena. At the same time, the government appointed by Christian II withdrew from Swedish territory.
The assembly in
1522 – The Hansa joins
Just before Christmas in 1521,
The castles of
Negotiations began with Lübeck, which had its own interest in unimpeded trade, free from the restrictions imposed by the Danish king. In exchange for aid in the form of ships, soldiers, cannons and other essential supplies, Lübeck was promised exemption from customs duties in Sweden. From May, Lübeck took an active part in the conflict, and in the fall it intensified the siege of the Danish strongholds of Stockholm and Kalmar. At the same time, Gustav, Berend von Melen, and Lübeck strategized an operation to conquer
1523 – Gustav Vasa becomes king
The campaign against
Kalmar fell on 27 May 1523. Gustav Eriksson (Vasa) was proclaimed King of Sweden at the Riksdag in Strängnäs on 6 June 1523.
Stockholm was taken on June 17, and on Midsummer's Eve, June 23, 1523, the newly crowned King Gustav entered the capital. Throughout the summer and fall, the remaining fortresses in the Finnish part of the country surrendered,[8] and in late fall Gustav launched an unsuccessful attempt to capture Gotland from Denmark.[9]
1523 – Change of power in Denmark
The events in Sweden raised questions about the regime of Christian II in
Christian had attempted to limit the power of Lübeck and the Hanseatic League and to make Copenhagen a free staple city and trading center. However, with Frederik's accession to power, which effectively took place in April 1523, this policy changed. Lübeck, which had supported the Danish rebellion, was promised freedom from tariffs not only in Denmark and Norway, but also in Sweden. Initially, Frederick had plans to assert his authority as king in Sweden as well, but he abandoned these plans when Lübeck did not provide the support he expected. Lübeck had no interest in a revived Nordic Union, preferring to maintain good political relations and trade terms with all the Nordic countries.[11]
1524 – Peace
Gustav Vasa and Frederik I met in
Aftermath
The Count's Feud in Denmark 1536 – The Catholic Church and the Hanseatic League runs out of money
The Swedish War of Liberation ended with the
The financial resources of the
The new Baltic competition emerges
The resolution of old issues was finally achieved through the understanding between Gustav Vasa and Christian III, which led to a 25-year period of peace during their reigns.
After the deaths of Christian III and Gustav Vasa in 1559 and 1560, respectively, Sweden and Denmark-Norway were ruled by young and assertive monarchs: Eric XIV of Sweden and Frederick II of Denmark-Norway. Frederick II sought to revive the Kalmar Union under Danish leadership, while Eric sought to diminish Denmark-Norway's dominant position.[13]
By 1563, during the Northern Seven Years' War, Sweden and Denmark-Norway emerged as competitors for political and economic control of the Baltic region. In 1561, when a significant portion of the Order's northern Baltic states were secularized by Grand Master Gotthard Kettler, both Denmark-Norway and Sweden were drawn into the Livonian War,[14] marking the beginning of a competition that would continue through five major conflicts between the two countries until the Scanian War in 1679.
The Lutheran Reformation
The dependencies were strong and the pope was firm, which resulted in Sweden being under papal
The sovereign Swedish state
This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (January 2024) |
Five centuries later, it remains a significant national "paradigm shift".
The war freed Sweden from international economic and political dependencies, as well as the influence of outspoken enemies. This independence has lasted for 500 years, marked by local security and peace since 1523, with foreign armies absent from its soil except in border areas. There has also been general peace for over 200 years since 1814. The War of Liberation is widely revered by Swedes as the catalyst for their political and economic independence, shaping the structure and organization of their society today. Swedes see it as a national "paradigm shift", marking a radical change in social perspectives that still underpins the foundations of their society.
Battles
- Battle of Falun (February 1521)
- Battle of Brunnbäck Ferry (April 1521)
- Battle of Västerås (29 April 1521)
- Conquest of Uppsala (18 May 1521)
- Conquest of Kalmar (27 May 1523)
- Conquest of Stockholm (16–17 June 1523)
See also
References
- ISBN 9789197868136
- ^ Larsson (2002) page 60
- SELIBR 8595623.
- ^ Dick Harrison (15 June 2010). "Åkte Gustav Vasa verkligen Vasaloppet?". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ "Gustav Vasa couldn't ski?". Gustav Vasa in Dalarna. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
- ^ Larsson (2002) pages 66–67
- ^ Larsson (2002) pages 71–72
- ^ a b Befrielsekriget 1521–1523 Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek
- ^ Larsson (2002) pages 106–107
- ^ "888 (Salmonsens konversationsleksikon / Anden Udgave / Bind IV: Bridge—Cikader)". runeberg.org.
- ^ Larsson (2002) pages 70–72
- ^ Larsson (2002) page 108
- ^ Knud J. V. Jespersen, "The Dano-Swedish Wars" Archived 2010-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 7 March 2008
- ^ När Hände Vad?: Historisk uppslagsbok 1500–2002 (2002) pp. 42
- "Sweden". Myths of the Nations. Deutsches Historisches Museum. Retrieved 29 March 2007.
- Sundberg, Ulf (1998). "Befrielsekriget 1521–1523". Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 16 September 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
- Ganse, Alexander. "Swedish War of Liberation, 1521–1523". World History at KMLA. Retrieved 29 March 2007.
- Henrikson, Alf. "Svensk Historia". pp. 205–213. Retrieved 25 December 2009.