Almarestäket
Encyclopedia
Almarestäket, or Stäket, is a strait at the inlet of Lake Mälaren
in mid-east Sweden. A fortress existed there between about 1370 and 1517, also named Almarestäket.
A place mentioned as Stocksund
by Old Norse author Snorre Sturlasson was once believed to be located here, but is now believed to have been located in Norrström
, 2 km to the west.
The strait was of importance before Stockholm
was founded in the 14th century, as it guarded the waterway to the significant Swedish medieval cities Uppsala
and Sigtuna
. For instance, an attack on Sigtuna by Baltic
Vikings in 1187 led to a battle at Almarestäket, resulting in the death of Archbishop Johannes
.
. It was located on the small island Stäkesön in the middle of the strait. It became the residence of the Swedish Archbishop until 1517, when the Archbishop Gustav Trolle
locked himself in there to avoid trial, and the government demanded the immediate demolition of the fortress. The procedure was formally unauthorized because at the time State property was to be separate from Church property. As a revenge for this and other perceived injustices, Trolle, assisted by the Danish King Christian II
, took revenge in the Stockholm Bloodbath
of 1520.
) was built in Sweden. The area was again being built upon in the 1970s, when the highway was built.
Mälaren
Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
in mid-east Sweden. A fortress existed there between about 1370 and 1517, also named Almarestäket.
A place mentioned as Stocksund
Stocksund
Stocksund is an upper-class or upper middle-class suburb in Metropolitan Stockholm, Sweden.Located immediately across the Edsviken from Bergshamra, Stocksund is one of four parts of Danderyd Municipality north of Stockholm....
by Old Norse author Snorre Sturlasson was once believed to be located here, but is now believed to have been located in Norrström
Norrström
Norrström in central Stockholm connects Lake Mälaren with the Baltic Sea. It runs from Riddarfjärden, north of Gamla stan, to Saltsjön. Two islands lie within it, Strömsborg and Helgeandsholmen. It is one of two natural waterways between Mälaren and the Baltic sea, the other being Söderström south...
, 2 km to the west.
The strait was of importance before Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
was founded in the 14th century, as it guarded the waterway to the significant Swedish medieval cities Uppsala
Uppsala
- Economy :Today Uppsala is well established in medical research and recognized for its leading position in biotechnology.*Abbott Medical Optics *GE Healthcare*Pfizer *Phadia, an offshoot of Pharmacia*Fresenius*Q-Med...
and Sigtuna
Sigtuna
Sigtuna is a locality situated in Sigtuna Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden with 18 inhabitants in 2005. It is the namesake of the municipality even though the seat is in Märsta....
. For instance, an attack on Sigtuna by Baltic
Baltic region
The terms Baltic region, Baltic Rim countries, and Baltic Rim refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.- Etymology :...
Vikings in 1187 led to a battle at Almarestäket, resulting in the death of Archbishop Johannes
Johannes (archbishop of Uppsala)
Johannes was the second Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden. His short-lived reign was between 1185 and 1187.His name is sometimes spelled as Johan, the Swedish form of Johannes, but since the Swedish language had yet to be established it is of little importance. About Johannes little is known...
.
Fortress
There was a fortress built here in the late 14th century, under the reign of Albert of SwedenAlbert of Sweden
Albert was King of Sweden from 1364 to 1389 and Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin from 1384 to 1412.-Background:...
. It was located on the small island Stäkesön in the middle of the strait. It became the residence of the Swedish Archbishop until 1517, when the Archbishop Gustav Trolle
Gustav Trolle
Gustav Eriksson Trolle was Archbishop of Uppsala, Sweden, in two sessions, during the turbulent Reformation events.After returning from studies abroad, in Cologne and Rome, he was in 1513 elected vicar in Linköping. One year later he became Archbishop of Uppsala...
locked himself in there to avoid trial, and the government demanded the immediate demolition of the fortress. The procedure was formally unauthorized because at the time State property was to be separate from Church property. As a revenge for this and other perceived injustices, Trolle, assisted by the Danish King Christian II
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
, took revenge in the Stockholm Bloodbath
Stockholm Bloodbath
The Stockholm Bloodbath, or the Stockholm Massacre , took place as the result of a successful invasion of Sweden by Danish forces under the command of King Christian II...
of 1520.
Trench
There was a trench dug here sometime in the 17th or early 18th century, as a defence structure. Most of it was filled up in 1875 when the main line railroad (Västra StambananVästra stambanan
The Western Main Line is the main railway line between Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden. The line is electrified and consists entirely of double track, except the four-track sections between Gothenburg Central Station and Olskroken , in Järna Station , and south of Stockholm, between...
) was built in Sweden. The area was again being built upon in the 1970s, when the highway was built.
External links
- article Almarestäket from Nordisk familjebokNordisk familjebokNordisk familjebok is a Swedish encyclopedia, published between 1876 and 1957.- History :The first edition was published in 20 volumes between 1876 and 1899. The first edition is known as the "Iðunn edition" because of the picture of Iðunn on the cover...
(in Swedish)