 | Stockholm Bloodbath: Encyclopedia II - Stockholm Bloodbath - Background
Stockholm Bloodbath - Background
Stockholm Bloodbath - Political Factions in Sweden
The Stockholm Bloodbath was a consequence of the conflict between Swedish pro-unionists (in favour of the Kalmar Union, then dominated by Denmark) and anti-unionists (supporters of Swedish independence), and also between the anti-unionists and the Danish aristocracy, which in other aspects was opposed to King Christian. The anti-unionist party was headed by Sten Sture the younger, and the pro-unionist party by archbishop Gustavus Trolle.
Stockholm Bloodbath - Military Interventions of King Christian
King Christian, who had already taken measures to isolate Sweden politically, intervened to help archbishop Trolle, who was under siege in his fortress at Stäket, but he was defeated by Sture and his peasant soldiers at Vedila, and forced to return to Denmark. A second attempt to bring Sweden back under his control in 1518 was also countered by Sture's victory at Brännkyrka. Eventually, a third attempt made in 1520 with a large army of French, German and Scottish mercenaries proved successful.
Sture was mortally wounded at the battle of Bogesund, on January 19. The Danish army, unopposed, was approaching Uppsala, where the members of the Swedish Riksdag had already assembled. The senators agreed to render homage to Christian, on condition that he gave a full indemnity for the past and a guarantee that Sweden should be ruled according to Swedish laws and custom. A convention to this effect was confirmed by the king and the Danish Privy Council on March 31.
Sture's widow, Dame Christina Gyllenstjerna, was still resisting in Stockholm with support from the peasants of central Sweden, and defeated the Danes at Balundsås on March 19. Eventually, her forces were defeated at the battle of Uppsala ("Good Friday", April 6).
In May the Danish fleet arrived, and Stockholm was attacked by land and sea. Dame Christina resisted for four months longer, and finally surrendered on September 7, on the condition that an amnesty would be granted. On November 1 the representatives of the nation swore fealty to Christian as hereditary king of Sweden, though the law of the land actually provided that the Swedish crown should be elective.
Other related archives1518, 1520, 1911 Britannica, 8th, 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica, April 6, Brännkyrka, Christian II of Denmark, Danish, French, German, Gustav Vasa, Gustavus Trolle, History of Denmark, History of Stockholm, History of Sweden, January 19, Kalmar Union, March 19, March 31, November 1, November 10th, November 4, November 4th, November 7, Pope, Privy Council, Riksdag, Scottish, September 7, Skara, Sten Sture, Sten Sture the younger, Stockholm, Strängnäs, Sture party, Stäket, Sweden, Uppsala, amnesty, anointed, archbishop, aristocracy, banquet, battle of Bogesund, beheaded, bishops, burgomasters, captains, clergy, councillors, death, drowned, dusk, elective, executed, fealty, fortress, hereditary king, heretics, indemnity, interdict, invasion, mercenaries, nobility, oath, promise, proscription, public domain, siege, vengeance, widow
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Background", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
