King Gustav Vasa is one of Sweden’s most important monarchs and in this two-part series
we will cover his wars against Denmark, as well as how his reign laid the foundation for the Swedish empire.
The three Scandinavian kingdoms Sweden, Norway, and Denmark had ever since the late fourteenth century been part of a political union known as the Kalmar Union.
Historical background
The original idea behind the union was that the three kingdoms would be united under one king, yet retain their own laws, and customs.
This way, the union was intended to ensure peace between the three kingdoms, as well as protection from outside forces.
From its inception, however, the union was plagued by conflict, especially between Denmark and Sweden.
Several kings, most of whom were Danes, were accused of levying unjust taxes on the Swedish peasantry
as well as dragging Sweden into wars of aggression without the consent of the Swedish Reikscouncil.
The tensions led to many peasant uprisings occuring in Sweden throughout the fifteenth century
that often were supported by swedish noblemen who took advantage of the unrest to improve their political positions.
In the mid fifteenth century, a nobleman called Karl Knuttson Bonde declared himself king of Sweden
with support from large sections of the land’s clergy and nobility.
Despite bloody conflicts with the danish crown, he managed to hold on to the title until his death in 1470
, and even after his death the kings of Denmark were not accepted as the rulers of Sweden.
Though the union remained in some sense, the swedish throne was empty, and would remain empty until the early sixteenth century.
Instead, Sweden was governed by the reikscouncil, a governmental body consisting of Sweden's bishops, and members of its high nobility.
At the turn of the sixteenth century, the council was divided into two factions known as the unionists who wanted the council to swear allegiance to the crown of Denmark
, and the separatists who wanted Sweden to cut all ties to Kalmar union in favor of becoming an independent kingdom.
In 1512, the leader of the unionist faction, Erik Trolle, managed to become the leader of the council
, giving the unionists the upper hand, and increasing the likelihood that the danish monarchs once again would rule over Sweden.
The election, however, was revoked by the leader of the separatists, Sten Sture, who rallied the peasantry, and enough of the nobility to his side,
and forcefully removed Trolle from his position as the head of the council, and claimed the positi on for himself.
Around the same time, a new king was crowned in Denmark called Christian II.
Witnessing the political intrigues that were happening in Sweden, as well as his predecessor’s inability to regain control of the country
he realized that he would never gain the Swedish crown through diplomatic means.
Between 1517, and 1520, Christian launched several invasion attempts against Sweden, most of whom were pushed back by the separatist forces.
In 1520, however, Sten Sture, the leader of the separatists died in battle, leaving the separatists disorganized and leaderless.
This made them unable to mount an effective defence, and the danish king soon laid siege to Stockholm.
Realizing that he wouldn't be able to storm the city, Christian decided to pardon the separatists in exchange for their surrender.
The separatists leaders agreed, and Christian was crowned king of Sweden soon after.
A feast was arranged which lasted for three days at Stockholm castle, attended by unionists, and former separatists alike.
Unfortunately for the separatists, the danish king would soon reveal his true intentions regarding their pardon.
In the middle of the third night, the doors of Stockholm castle were shut, and the former separatists were arrested by the king's soldiers.
What had been a celebration turned into a trial as the danish kings, as well as the swedish unionists, launched accusations against their former enemies.
When the trial was over king Christian sentenced all of the separatist leaders to death.
On a cold November day, most members of the old council were beheaded at the main square in Stockholm.
The executed included bishops, noblemen, servants, administrators, as well as the mayor of Stockholm.
In total around eighty to a hundred people were killed, most through beheading, and the streets ran red with blood.