Swedish War of Liberation

Swedish War of Liberation
Part of Dano-Swedish wars

The Entry of Gustav Vasa into Stockholm
Carl Larsson, oil on canvas, 1908
Date1521–23
LocationScandinavia
Result Treaty of Malmö: Regained Swedish independence, dissolution of Kalmar Union, Sweden renounced its claims to Scania and Blekinge.
Belligerents
 Sweden
Free City of Lübeck (from 1522)		  Denmark
 Kalmar Union
Commanders and leaders
 Gustav Vasa
 Christina Gyllenstierna
 Anna Eriksdotter		  King Christian II
 King Frederick I
Gustav Vasa addressing the Dalecarlians in Mora.
Johan Gustaf Sandberg, oil on canvas, 1836.

The Swedish War of Liberation (1521–23) Swedish: Befrielsekriget, ("The Liberation War"), was a rebellion and a civil war in which the Swedish nobleman Gustav Vasa successfully deposed the Danish-Norwegian king Christian II as regent of the Kalmar Union in Sweden. The war started in January 1521 when Gustav Vasa was appointed hövitsman (commander) over Dalarna by representatives of the population in the northern part of the province. After Gustav Vasa sacked the copper mine of Kopparberg and the town of Västerås, more men joined his army. In 1522, the Hanseatic city of Lübeck allied with the Swedish rebels. After the capture of Stockholm in June 1523, the rebels effectively controlled Sweden, and on 6 June Gustav Vasa was elected King of Sweden in the town of Strängnäs. By September, Swedish Finland was also controlled by Gustav Vasa's supporters. By the Treaty of Malmö signed on 1 September 1524, Sweden seceded from the Kalmar Union.

Dalarna

In 1520, Gustav Vasa traveled to the Swedish 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 who would support 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 about 100 men and sacked Kopparberg, 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 Brunnbäck 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

References