History of Sweden
The Gustav Years:
Gustav Vasa was born in 1496 at his father's manor, Rydboholm on the 12th of May 1496.
During this time, Denmark and Norway had formed a Union and wanted to take control of Sweden. At the time, Sweden was led by a man called Sten Sture the Elder ( chancellor of Sweden).
Denmark and Norway elected a new king, Hans, who wanted to rule Sweden too. This proved difficult times for Sweden and for Sten Sture for Sweden was at war with Russia at that time, but in 1497 they made peace and established a new border at the Neva river. When Sten Sture returned to Sweden, he was asked to resign. He refused to resign and started to fight.
The newly-crowned King, Hans, marched on Stockholm, took the city and proclaimed himself King of Sweden. He was accepted only on the pardonning of the rebels. Of Sten Sture, he was made a servant to the King, effectively stopping any further rebellion. This was known as the "Kalmar Recess".
Following this, Swedish nobles, Sten Sture and others renounced their fidelity notice to the King saying he broke the agreement (on failure of promises made)
Between 1502-1519 - power of Sweden went back and forth between Norway and Denmark - despite the failed intervention by the Hanseatic League. Gustav fled the country (later to return to be King).
In 1521, Gustavus Vasa wanted to regain control of his country. He summoned an army of 4,000 men who headed to Stockholm for revenge. They took Stockholm in 1521 with financial help from Lübeck.
The Danes finally surrenderd in 1523 and Gustavus Vasa was crowned King of Sweden. The generation of Vasa descendants ruled Sweden for the next centuries
The Stockholm Bloodbath 1520:
After the battle against the Danish King Kristian II on the lake Åsunden, near Bogesund Sten Sture the younger was wounded and died on the return journey to Stockholm.
On the 4th of November 1520, Kristian II was crowned King and a feast was held to his honour during 3 days. All the nobles and respected people in Stockholm took part in the feast. At dinnertime the 7th of November, the feast stopped, and all the guest were taken by force to the courtroom. There Kristian II judged the people that had stood behind Sten Sture the younger and also judged them for heretic, and the punishment was death.
High and prominent members of society were executed in the main square over a period of two days, including Gustav's father and brother-in-law. His estates and family fortune were confiscated and his life was in danger.
January 1521, Gustavus Vasa was elected as the leader in Dalarna. He had gone there to gather support to overthrow the Danish tyrant King. Many tales sprang up about his adventures there, but the longest surviving memory of Gustav is the Vasaloppet - a cross-country ski race tracing the same route as Gustav did in his run from the King.
February 1521 - Gustav's and the peoples rebellion began. By New Year's Day 1522, the rebels had captured Nyköping, Västerås and Örebro. But the castle in Stockholm, Kalmar and Älvsborg still remained in the hands of the Danes. Gustavus had problems, he lacked weapons and needed mercenaries. He contacted the German city of Lübeck. Christian was, during that time, planning a Scandinavian trade league.
The purpose of this league was to drive out the Lübecks from the Scandinavian trading. When this was known, the two German coastal cities, Lübeck and Danzig, signed a pact to support Vasa's rebellion.
During the following summer, Gustavus Vasa, his men and help from Lübeck conquered the castles which still had been in the hands of the Danes.
Saturday the 6th of June 1523, Gustavus Vasa was elected King of Sweden. Sweden was at last a free country. The 6th of June then became Sweden's National Day.
To this day, Swedes celebrate the break from Denmark.
King Gustav's rule was harsh, very harsh, but he succeeded in uniting Sweden for the first time in its history and making it a rich country. He was seen as a good ruler by some, but a tyrant by others. Only 27 when he took the throne, he soon became a great negotiator and a good businessman, but ruthless with insurrection and people going against his wishes.
http://www.utb.boras.se/uk/se/projekt/history/ns4.htm. Please go to this link to read more of King Gustav - Sweden's first King.
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