Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson
Encyclopedia
Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson (1390s – May 4, 1436) was a Swedish
rebel leader and later statesman. He was the leader of the Engelbrekt rebellion
in 1434 against Eric of Pomerania
, king of the Kalmar Union
.
. Originally his family was of German origin having migrated to Sweden in the 1360s. The family coat of arms showed one of three half-lilies formed within a triangle.
Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson was dissatisfied by misdeeds of the Danish local bailiffs and heavy taxation. In 1426 he started a rebellion
with the support of mine workers and peasants from his home area. Engelbrekt set against the king's bailiff in Västerås
, Jösse Eriksson, who was blamed for the distress that mining men suffered under his rule. The rebellion grew into a massive force sweeping the country.
In 1435 Engelbrekt was appointed Rikshövitsman a military office at a Riksdag
in Arboga
that is often considered the first Riksdag in Sweden. However, he was not able to withstand the Swedish nobility, who wanted to exploit the rebellion. He was somewhat forced into the background. The Nobility and Clergy decided to support Karl Knutsson Bonde, who in 1436 was risen to the position of Rikshövitsman.
On May 4, 1436 Engelbrekt was assassinated at Engelbrektsholmen, an islet in Lake Hjälmaren
by the aristocrat Måns Bengtsson, who lived in the nearby Göksholm
Castle. Engelbrecht was buried in Örebro church. Måns Bengtsson was a Swedish knight and chief judge in traditional Swedish province of Närke
. He was a member of the family Natt och Dag
, a family from Östergötland
which belongs to the Swedish noble class.
His bronze statue by Swedish sculptor Carl Gustaf Qvarnström (1810–1867), was unveiled in Örebro
in 1865. There are also statues of Engelbrekt in Stockholm
, Arboga
and Falun
. No contemporary images of Engelbrekt are known.
Engelbrekt is also the subject of Engelbrekt, an opera by Swedish composer Nathaniel Berg (1879–1957). (Engelbrekts församling) a parish in the Diocese of Stockholm, together with Engelbrekt Church (Engelbrektskyrkan), take their name from the hero.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
rebel leader and later statesman. He was the leader of the Engelbrekt rebellion
Engelbrekt rebellion
The Engelbrekt rebellion was a rebellion in 1434-1436 led by Swedish nobleman Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson against Eric of Pomerania, the king of the Kalmar Union...
in 1434 against Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania
Eric of Pomerania KG was King Eric III of Norway Norwegian Eirik, King Eric VII of Denmark , and as Eric King of Sweden...
, king of the Kalmar Union
Kalmar Union
The Kalmar Union is a historiographical term meaning a series of personal unions that united the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway , and Sweden under a single monarch, though intermittently and with a population...
.
Biography
Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson was a mine owner and a nobleman from the historical Swedish province of DalarnaDalarna
', English exonym: Dalecarlia, is a historical province or landskap in central Sweden. Another English language form established in literature is the Dales. Places involving the element Dalecarlia exist in the United States....
. Originally his family was of German origin having migrated to Sweden in the 1360s. The family coat of arms showed one of three half-lilies formed within a triangle.
Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson was dissatisfied by misdeeds of the Danish local bailiffs and heavy taxation. In 1426 he started a rebellion
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
with the support of mine workers and peasants from his home area. Engelbrekt set against the king's bailiff in Västerås
Västerås
Västerås is a city in central Sweden, located on the shore of Lake Mälaren in the province Västmanland, some 100 km west of Stockholm...
, Jösse Eriksson, who was blamed for the distress that mining men suffered under his rule. The rebellion grew into a massive force sweeping the country.
In 1435 Engelbrekt was appointed Rikshövitsman a military office at a Riksdag
Riksdag of the Estates
The Riksdag of the Estates , was the name used for the Estates of the Swedish realm when they were assembled. Until its dissolution in 1866, the institution was the highest authority in Sweden next to the King...
in Arboga
Arboga
Arboga is a locality and the seat of Arboga Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 10,369 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:The city of Arboga is known to have existed as a town since the 13th century but the area has been inhabited since around 900 AD...
that is often considered the first Riksdag in Sweden. However, he was not able to withstand the Swedish nobility, who wanted to exploit the rebellion. He was somewhat forced into the background. The Nobility and Clergy decided to support Karl Knutsson Bonde, who in 1436 was risen to the position of Rikshövitsman.
On May 4, 1436 Engelbrekt was assassinated at Engelbrektsholmen, an islet in Lake Hjälmaren
Hjälmaren
Lake Hjälmaren is Sweden's fourth largest lake. It is situated adjacent to Lake Mälaren through which it drains into the Baltic Sea, west of Stockholm...
by the aristocrat Måns Bengtsson, who lived in the nearby Göksholm
Göksholm
Göksholm is a medieval Swedish castle located at the southern beach of lake Hjälmaren. It is the oldest privately-owned building in Sweden that has been inhabited continuously.Göksholm's oldest parts can be dated to 13th century...
Castle. Engelbrecht was buried in Örebro church. Måns Bengtsson was a Swedish knight and chief judge in traditional Swedish province of Närke
Närke
' is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Svealand in south central Sweden. It is bordered by Västmanland to the north, Södermanland to the east, Östergötland to the southeast, Västergötland to the southwest, and Värmland to the northwest...
. He was a member of the family Natt och Dag
Natt och Dag
Natt och Dag [Direct translation: Night and Day], is a Swedish Noble family and the oldest still existing family of pure Swedish extraction; officially known since the year 1280, according to documents at the Swedish National Archives.- History :...
, a family from Östergötland
Östergötland
Östergötland, English exonym: East Gothland, is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden in the south of Sweden. It borders Småland, Västergötland, Närke, Södermanland, and the Baltic Sea. In older English literature, one might also encounter the Latinized version, Ostrogothia...
which belongs to the Swedish noble class.
Legacy
Over the next few decades, he became a national hero. Engelbrekt was depicted in history as the public protector and opponents of the Kalmar Union. Posterity has regarded Engelbrekt as one of the great heroes of Swedish history and his rebellion has been viewed the start of the national awakening of the Swedes, which would later triumph in the victory of King Gustav Vasa. Engelbrekt himself had no such ideas, which must have been anachronistic at the time; however his rebellion gave peasants a voice in Swedish politics which they never lost afterwards. The Engelbrekt rebellion caused the unity of the Kalmar Union to erode, leading to the expulsion of Danish forces from Sweden. Although later Danish kings regained influence over Sweden, the rebellion had set a precedent for Swedish claims to sovereignty.His bronze statue by Swedish sculptor Carl Gustaf Qvarnström (1810–1867), was unveiled in Örebro
Örebro
-Sites of interest:Örebro's old town Wadköping is located on the banks of Svartån . It contains many 18th and 19th century wooden houses, along with museums and exhibitions....
in 1865. There are also statues of Engelbrekt in Stockholm
Stockholm City Hall
Stockholm City Hall is the building of the Municipal Council for the City of Stockholm in Sweden. It stands on the eastern tip of Kungsholmen island, next to Riddarfjärden's northern shore and facing the islands of Riddarholmen and Södermalm. It houses offices and conference rooms as well as...
, Arboga
Arboga
Arboga is a locality and the seat of Arboga Municipality in Västmanland County, Sweden with 10,369 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:The city of Arboga is known to have existed as a town since the 13th century but the area has been inhabited since around 900 AD...
and Falun
Falun
Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County...
. No contemporary images of Engelbrekt are known.
Engelbrekt is also the subject of Engelbrekt, an opera by Swedish composer Nathaniel Berg (1879–1957). (Engelbrekts församling) a parish in the Diocese of Stockholm, together with Engelbrekt Church (Engelbrektskyrkan), take their name from the hero.
Other source
- Harrison, DickDick HarrisonDick Walther Harrison, is a Swedish historian who was born in Huddinge, Stockholm County, Sweden and spent much of his youth in Staffanstorp in Skåne. On June 12, 2010 he married Katarina Lindbergh in Kalmar Cathedral...
Sveriges historia medeltiden (Stockholm: Liber. 2002)ISBN 91-47-05115-9 - Moberg, VilhelmVilhelm MobergKarl Artur Vilhelm Moberg was a Swedish author and historian, most commonly associated with his four novels known as The Emigrants Series.-Early life:...
Min svenska historia, II. Från Engelbrekt till och med Dacke (Stockholm: Norstedt. 1971) - Larsson, Lars Olof Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson och 1430-talets svenska uppror (P.A. Norstedt. 1984) ISBN 978-9118432125
- Lindkvist, Thomas Sveriges medeltid (Solna: Almqvist & Wiksell, 1990) ISBN 978-91-21-10557-3
- Lönnroth, ErikErik LönnrothErik Lönnroth was one of the most notable Swedish historians of the 20th century. He was a life member of the Swedish Academy from 1962 and member of various faculties.-Background:...
Från svensk medeltid (Stockholm: Aldus/Bonniers, 1961)