Nils Sture
Encyclopedia
Nils Stensson Sture may have been Daljunkern, a revolt-leader in Sweden
.
Nils was born in 1512 as eldest son of the new ruler of Sweden, Sten Sture the Younger
, Lord of Ekesiö, the country's Regent from January 1512 to his death on 3 February 1520; and his wife Dame Kristina Nilsdotter, a great-granddaughter of the late king Charles VIII of Sweden
.
The boy received his name Nils in honor of both his late maternal grandfather Nils Gyllenstierna and his late paternal great-grandfather Nils Bosson Sture.
In early 1520, the Danish attacked Sweden, and Nils's father the regent Sten Sture died from battle wounds. The boy Nils was sent to safety in Danzig, under guardianship of Chancellor Peder Sunnanväder. Later they returned, but king Christian II
arrested them and the boy was kept in custody in Denmark. In 1524 he was released by Frederick I, the new Danish king. Nils got to Kalmar Castle
, which was held by sir Berend van Melen, a supporter of the Sture
s, who then rebelled against the Stures' kinsman Gustav, the new king of Sweden
. Kalmar capitulated after king's troops isolated it, and young Nils was taken to Gustav's royal court. As pageboy, he is mentioned having shown difficult behavior.
The question whether Nils Sture died at the age of 14 years or younger, before the revolt; or was Daljunkern ("The young lord from Dalarna
"), the symbolical head of the 1527 revolt against king Gustav I of Sweden
and claimant of the throne, is controversial among current historians.
The rebel leader signed his letters "Nils Sture", but the traditional view, based on king Gustav's later propaganda, has been that Daljunkern was an impostor, a common farmhand named Jöns Hansson. However, critical research has questioned that, and indications have been found to support that actually Daljunkern was Nils Sture and not an impostor. Actually, in his contemporaneous letters, Gustav I himself did not refute the revolt leader's identity as Nils Sture. The historian and author Lars-Olof Larsson has been the leading proponent for Daljunkern having been the genuine Nils Sture.
If Nils Sture survived one or a few years longer than official propaganda says and actually was Daljunkern, then his biography goes on with the young man who attempted in 1527 to start revolt with Dalarna
as base, to depose Gustav I from the throne.
Among the reasons for popular rural dissatisfaction was that Gustav I started to deprive the church of its worldly possessions, such as farmland.
The 1527 events started in February when bishop Peder Sunnanväder and archdean
Canute Micaeli of Västerås
, opponents of Gustav's measures, were tried and executed. Soon after this Daljunkern surfaced in Dalarna.
In June 1527 king Gustav had the Riksdag of the Estates
pass laws transferring ecclesiastical property and taxes to the king.
The revolt began in conservative Dalarna and spread to some other places. Daljunkern led the revolt as pretender to the regency, claiming to be the lawful heir of Sten Sture.
In January 1528 he published a letter of three pages, proclaiming his position, and his promises to his supporters, including freedom from taxes for ten years. Gustav I began to prepare an army to subjugate Dalarna.
Daljunkern fled to Norway
, where he was treated as son and heir of Sten Sture the Regent, for example by Olavus, archbishop of Nidaros, by Dr Vincent Lunge, the governor of Bergen
castle and leading potentate of the Norwegian high council, and the latter's mother-in-law the lady Inger of Austraat.
In February 1528, a rebel campaign was launched from Norway to Sweden. The campaign, led by Peder Gröm, was an utter failure. Later the same month, at Stora Tuna, under orders from king Gustav, leaders of the revolt were punished, including priest Jon of Sverdsjoe parish.
Daljunkern then fled from Norway to Germany, but was apprehended at Rostock
, and later in 1528 executed after pressure from King Gustav.
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....
.
Nils was born in 1512 as eldest son of the new ruler of Sweden, Sten Sture the Younger
Sten Sture the Younger
Sten Sture the Younger , Lord of Ekesiö , was a Swedish statesman and regent of Sweden, under the era of the Kalmar Union.-Life:...
, Lord of Ekesiö, the country's Regent from January 1512 to his death on 3 February 1520; and his wife Dame Kristina Nilsdotter, a great-granddaughter of the late king Charles VIII of Sweden
Charles VIII of Sweden
Charles VIII of Sweden , Charles I of Norway, also Carl, , was king of Sweden and king of Norway ....
.
The boy received his name Nils in honor of both his late maternal grandfather Nils Gyllenstierna and his late paternal great-grandfather Nils Bosson Sture.
In early 1520, the Danish attacked Sweden, and Nils's father the regent Sten Sture died from battle wounds. The boy Nils was sent to safety in Danzig, under guardianship of Chancellor Peder Sunnanväder. Later they returned, but king Christian II
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
arrested them and the boy was kept in custody in Denmark. In 1524 he was released by Frederick I, the new Danish king. Nils got to Kalmar Castle
Kalmar Castle
Kalmar Castle is a castle in Kalmar, the province of Småland in Sweden. - History :During the twelfth century a round defensive tower was built on Kalmarsund and a harbour constructed. At the end of the thirteenth century King Magnus Ladulås had a new fortress built with a curtain wall, round...
, which was held by sir Berend van Melen, a supporter of the Sture
Sture
Sture was the name of two influential families in Sweden from the late 15th century to the early 16th century. One member of one of these families and two members of the other served as Regents of Sweden in the Kalmar Union between 1470 and 1520...
s, who then rebelled against the Stures' kinsman Gustav, the new king of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
. Kalmar capitulated after king's troops isolated it, and young Nils was taken to Gustav's royal court. As pageboy, he is mentioned having shown difficult behavior.
The question whether Nils Sture died at the age of 14 years or younger, before the revolt; or was Daljunkern ("The young lord from Dalarna
Dalarna
', 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....
"), the symbolical head of the 1527 revolt against king Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden
Gustav I of Sweden, born Gustav Eriksson of the Vasa noble family and later known simply as Gustav Vasa , was King of Sweden from 1523 until his death....
and claimant of the throne, is controversial among current historians.
The rebel leader signed his letters "Nils Sture", but the traditional view, based on king Gustav's later propaganda, has been that Daljunkern was an impostor, a common farmhand named Jöns Hansson. However, critical research has questioned that, and indications have been found to support that actually Daljunkern was Nils Sture and not an impostor. Actually, in his contemporaneous letters, Gustav I himself did not refute the revolt leader's identity as Nils Sture. The historian and author Lars-Olof Larsson has been the leading proponent for Daljunkern having been the genuine Nils Sture.
If Nils Sture survived one or a few years longer than official propaganda says and actually was Daljunkern, then his biography goes on with the young man who attempted in 1527 to start revolt with Dalarna
Dalarna
', 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....
as base, to depose Gustav I from the throne.
Among the reasons for popular rural dissatisfaction was that Gustav I started to deprive the church of its worldly possessions, such as farmland.
The 1527 events started in February when bishop Peder Sunnanväder and archdean
Archdean
Archdean is a discontinued Catholic ecclesiastical officeEven in the 20th century it was maintained as a dignity among the canons of a cathedral chapters, occasionally alongside a dean .* Not to be confused with Archdeacon...
Canute Micaeli of 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...
, opponents of Gustav's measures, were tried and executed. Soon after this Daljunkern surfaced in Dalarna.
In June 1527 king Gustav had the Riksdag of the Estates
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...
pass laws transferring ecclesiastical property and taxes to the king.
The revolt began in conservative Dalarna and spread to some other places. Daljunkern led the revolt as pretender to the regency, claiming to be the lawful heir of Sten Sture.
In January 1528 he published a letter of three pages, proclaiming his position, and his promises to his supporters, including freedom from taxes for ten years. Gustav I began to prepare an army to subjugate Dalarna.
Daljunkern fled to Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, where he was treated as son and heir of Sten Sture the Regent, for example by Olavus, archbishop of Nidaros, by Dr Vincent Lunge, the governor of Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
castle and leading potentate of the Norwegian high council, and the latter's mother-in-law the lady Inger of Austraat.
In February 1528, a rebel campaign was launched from Norway to Sweden. The campaign, led by Peder Gröm, was an utter failure. Later the same month, at Stora Tuna, under orders from king Gustav, leaders of the revolt were punished, including priest Jon of Sverdsjoe parish.
Daljunkern then fled from Norway to Germany, but was apprehended at Rostock
Rostock
Rostock -Early history:In the 11th century Polabian Slavs founded a settlement at the Warnow river called Roztoc ; the name Rostock is derived from that designation. The Danish king Valdemar I set the town aflame in 1161.Afterwards the place was settled by German traders...
, and later in 1528 executed after pressure from King Gustav.