Swedish War of Liberation
Encyclopedia
The Swedish War of Liberation (1521–23), , was a civil war in which the Swedish nobleman Gustav Vasa
successfully deposed the Danish king Christian II
as regent of the Kalmar Union
in Sweden
. The war started in January 1521 when Gustav Vasa was appointed "hövitsman" over Dalarna. After Gustav Vasa sacked the mine of Kopparberget and the city of Västerås
, more men joined his army. In 1522, the Hanseatic
city of Lübeck allied themselves with the Swedish side. After the capture of Stockholm in June 1523, Sweden was effectively liberated and, on June 6, Gustav Vasa was elected to King of Sweden in the city of Strängnäs
. By September, Swedish Finland
was also liberated. By the Treaty of Malmö
signed on September 1, 1524 Sweden seceded
from the Kalmar Union.
province
of Dalarna
, disguised as a farmer to avoid detection by Danish scouts. In December, Gustav Vasa arrived in the city of Mora, where he asked the peasantry for their help in his revolt against the Danish
leader, Christian II. The peasants refused his request, so Gustav Vasa decided to travel north to find men for his revolt. Shortly thereafter, a couple of refugees arrived in Mora, where they told the peasantry about the brutality of Christian II and his men. The people of Mora then decided to find Gustav Vasa and join his revolt, they sent two skilled skiers to find him. In Sälen
, they finally caught up with him.
Back in Mora, on New Year's Eve, 1521, Gustav Vasa was appointed to "hövitsman" by envoys from all the parishes of North Dalarna.
In February, Gustav Vasa marched out from Mora with a couple of 100 men and sacked Kopparberget, shortly thereafter, the peasantry of Bergslagen joined the revolt. Gustav Vasa's army had now grown to over 1,000 men.
Ferry, and the Danes were crushed. This victory greatly improved Swedish morale.
In Dalecarlia, an emergency mint was established in order to produce the copper coins necessary to finance the war.
By the end of April 1521, Gustav Vasa controlled Dalarna, Gästrikland, Närke, and Västmanland.
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....
successfully deposed the Danish king Christian II
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
as regent 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...
in Sweden
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....
. The war started in January 1521 when Gustav Vasa was appointed "hövitsman" over Dalarna. After Gustav Vasa sacked the mine of Kopparberget and the city 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...
, more men joined his army. In 1522, the Hanseatic
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
city of Lübeck allied themselves with the Swedish side. After the capture of Stockholm in June 1523, Sweden was effectively liberated and, on June 6, Gustav Vasa was elected to King of Sweden in the city of Strängnäs
Strängnäs
Strängnäs is a locality and the seat of Strängnäs Municipality, Södermanland County, Sweden with 12,296 inhabitants in 2005. It is located by Lake Mälaren and is the episcopal see of the Diocese of Strängnäs, a former Roman Catholic and present Lutheran Diocese, with the Strängnäs Cathedral, built...
. By September, Swedish Finland
Österland
Österland or Österlanden , one of the four traditional lands of Sweden, was a medieval term used for the southern part of Finland. It gradually fell out of use by the 15th century...
was also liberated. By the Treaty of Malmö
Treaty of Malmö
The Treaty of Malmö , signed on 1 September 1524, ended the Swedish War of Liberation. Denmark-Norway acknowledged the independent status of Sweden, which in turn renounced claims to Scania and Blekinge. The difficult question of the control of Gotland was deferred to later occasion, to be refereed...
signed on September 1, 1524 Sweden seceded
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
from the Kalmar Union.
Dalarna
In 1520, Gustav Vasa traveled to the SwedishSweden
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....
province
Provinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
of 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....
, disguised as a farmer to avoid detection by Danish scouts. In December, Gustav Vasa arrived in the city of Mora, where he asked the peasantry for their help in his revolt against the Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
leader, Christian II. The peasants refused his request, so Gustav Vasa decided to travel north to find men for his revolt. Shortly thereafter, a couple of refugees arrived in Mora, where they told the peasantry about the brutality of Christian II and his men. The people of Mora then decided to find Gustav Vasa and join his revolt, they sent two skilled skiers to find him. In Sälen
Sälen
Sälen is a locality situated in Malung-Sälen Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden with 508 inhabitants in 2005.In the winter tens of thousands of tourists enter the area. Sälen is noted for hosting the start of Vasaloppet, the oldest , longest , and largest cross country ski race in the world...
, they finally caught up with him.
Back in Mora, on New Year's Eve, 1521, Gustav Vasa was appointed to "hövitsman" by envoys from all the parishes of North Dalarna.
In February, Gustav Vasa marched out from Mora with a couple of 100 men and sacked Kopparberget, shortly thereafter, the peasantry of Bergslagen joined the revolt. Gustav Vasa's army had now grown to over 1,000 men.
Battle of Brunbäcks färja
When news about the Swedish revolt reached Christian II, he sent a force of Landknechten to crush the rebellion. In April 1521, the Danish forces confronted Gustav Vasa's men at BrunnbäckBrunnbäck
Brunnbäck is a small community in Sweden, eight kilometers southeast of Avesta in Dalarna at a crossing of Dalälven.In 1521, at the Battle of Brunnbäck Ferry, Swedish rebel troops under Peder Svensson and Olof Bonde defeated a Danish host by encirclement, cementing the Swedish Rebellion and...
Ferry, and the Danes were crushed. This victory greatly improved Swedish morale.
In Dalecarlia, an emergency mint was established in order to produce the copper coins necessary to finance the war.
Västerås
The Swedish army continued south to Västerås, which they conquered and sacked. When words of Gustav Vasa's success spread across Sweden, the supporters of the Sture family decided to join the revolt.By the end of April 1521, Gustav Vasa controlled Dalarna, Gästrikland, Närke, and Västmanland.
Battles
- Battle of Falun (February 1521)
- Battle of Brunnbäck FerryBattle of Brunnbäck FerryThe Battle of Brunnbäck Ferry was the first major battle in the Swedish War of Liberation, between rebels rallied by Gustav Vasa that had marched down from occupied Falun and Danish troops from Västerås...
(April 1521) - Battle of VästeråsBattle of VästeråsThe Battle of Västerås was a battle in the Swedish War of Liberation that took place on Badelundaåsen, north of Västerås, Sweden on April 29, 1521...
(April 29, 1521) - Conquest of UppsalaConquest of UppsalaThe Conquest of Uppsala was a part of the Swedish War of Liberation that took place on May 19, 1521. After defeating a Danish counter-attack outside Västerås, sent two of his military commanders, Jöns Olofsson and Lars Eriksson, to take control of the western province of Uppland...
(May 18, 1521) - Conquest of KalmarConquest of KalmarThe Conquest of Kalmar took place on May 27 1523 during the Swedish War of Liberation . In the beginning of 1523, Kalmar and Stockholm remained as the only real Danish strongholds in Sweden. The situation in Kalmar is tense, with many German Landsknechte mercenaries in Danish hire stationed in the...
(May 27, 1523) - Conquest of StockholmConquest of StockholmThe Conquest of Stockholm was a battle in the Swedish War of Liberation that took place in Stockholm, Sweden on June 17, 1523. The Swedish forces had for a long time laid siege to Stockholm, which was the last Danish stronghold in Sweden. The city waited for reinforcement from Denmark, but none came...
(June 16–17, 1523)