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Johan II Ulv
Johan II Ulv, elected King of Sweden
Upon learning of Margrethe’s death, Einar saw that he was immediately crowned in Copenhagen. With their capable queen regent now dead, a majority of the Swedish nobility saw the opportunity to increase their kingdom’s power and autonomy in the union. A delegation led Nils Stensson Ulv arrived at Copenhagen, demanding that the king allow the highest Swedish nobles to nominate their own Riksmarsk, or Lord High Constable, from among their own ranks. Einar’s response was swift and brutal: all 12 men were immediately arrested. Three would be executed annually until Sweden fully submitted to the authority of Copenhagen.With the Swedish delegation's failure and their resulting captivity, the high lords of the realm immediately chose to elect their own king in opposition to Einar at the 1404 Riksdag in Uppsala. Johan Nilsson was chosen, and thereafter he would be known as Johan II Ulv.
Recognizing the unpredictable and violent nature of King Einar, Johan looked to avoid an extended presence in the capital. His court was set up at the highly fortified Nyköping Castle, which he purchased a year before from the Grips using his own personal fortune. Although Johan intended on crowning himself king of Norway, the Norwegians were quick to swear allegiance to King Einar. Norway would thereafter see itself aligned to the Danish cause.
Johan, who had no intention of submitting without a fight, responded with stone-cold silence as Einar carried out his promised executions. His father, Nils Stensson Ulv , was the first to lose his life. Diplomatic attempts at knitting the Union back together finally collapsed in spring of 1406. Exasperated at the perceived arrogance and insolence of the Swedish magnates, King Einar finally declared war and invaded. However, rather than simply forcing the Swedes back into the fold, it was Einar’s intention to dismember the kingdom wholly, forever eliminating the power bases that so vexed both him and Queen Margrethe for years.
The Kalmar War: 1406-1409
Much like the concurrent decades-long conflict between France and England, Scandinavian historians have deemed the so-called “Kalmar War” as a one of the first European conflicts that had a distinctly “nationalistic” edge to it. If asserting Sweden as the dominant kingdom in the Union was not to be, then Johan Ulv had every intention of liberating it from the Danish yoke.
The initial invasion was swift and resulted in the early capitulation of Älvsborg province to Norwegian forces. With troops hastily assembled at Nyköping, Johan personally led his troops into southern Sweden. His very first victory was seen at Skara, which was then under siege by a combined Danish-Norwegian force. Johan’s armies acted as the hammer, with the walls of Skara serving as the anvil.
Ulrika Karlsdotter (Or, Ulrika The Elder), Queen of Sweden
As Johan continued to prove his mettle in the south, he looked to simultaneously solidify his hold over the throne. Increasing his legitimacy involved engaging the House of Oxenstierna for marriage 1407, and Johan married Ulrika Karlsdotter at a small ceremony in fall of the same year. A woman of strong faith and conviction, Ulrika rallied allies to Johan's cause. She stayed at Vadstena during her husband’s campaign in Skåneland.
The Scanian Campaign
Following his successes in Västergötland, Johan launched a successful campaign into Skåneland. With the Danish armies retreating to Copenhagen, the region quickly fell into Swedish hands with only a minimal amount of resistance. Johan would spend the winter in the region as Denmark slipped into internal chaos.
Einar’s Assassination
As the war effort swiftly turned against the Danes, the irrational and tyrannical nature of King Einar began to make itself even more evident. Executions of dissenters were commonplace, creating an atmosphere of fear and generalized hatred towards the king.
His attempts at establishing a centralized state based solely around “The King and the Folk” was an affront to many powerful Danish and Norwegian families. Without a meaningful Danish middle class to support his ambitions, the nobles had the space to almost openly plot the death of their friendless ruler. On the morning of February 21st, 1408, servants entered the king’s chambers to find him dead in his own bed, seemingly slashed across the throat. Queen Irma Gryf soon assumed the position of regent over young King Inge, and quickly had him removed from the capital. Despite the chaos, the war effort continued under his name.
End of the War and The Treaty of Brömsebro
After a slew of victories in southern Sweden and Finland, the Swedes finally had enough ground to sue for peace. In the immediate term, the Danes would accept the dissolution of the Kalmar Union and recognize Swedish independence. Furthermore, Denmark would pay Sweden an indemnity in exchange for the return of Skåneland.
Advisors close to the king such as Tord Jensson Bonde initially pushed for the immediate annexation of Skåneland, wishing to tap into the trade revenues of the Öresund. In defending his choice, the Johan cited Denmark’s naval dominance, his unwillingness to rule over an embittered population, and the financial strain the region caused Sweden under Magnus IV. Regardless of his justifications, his decision was largely viewed as a poor one by his contemporaries, who criticized the king as being indolent or even craven.
Johan’s Rule
Johan largely pursued an isolationist policy in ruling Sweden, wanting to avoid the foreign interventions that so tore the nation apart in the previous century. The king had the intention of ruling “a quiet land with a quiet people”, viewing expansionist wars as an unnecessary expense of state resources and lives. As such, military alliances were not a priority. Although travelers and merchants were welcome, Johan banned foreigners from holding high offices nationwide. Only a select number of international states participated in an involved diplomatic relationship with Sweden during Johan’s reign, with a few Hanseatic cities in the Empire and the Teutonic Order being among them. Some contemporary observers have noted that the kingdom during this period was one of “darkness” with little to no room for those of foreign stock.
Monetary reform and strengthening Swedish coin was one of the main goals of Johan's administration.
Johan’s late rule was marked by levels of ruthlessness that bordered on cruelty. The diplomatic enthusiasm that was so present in the king during the time of Queen Margrethe gave way to a severeness that made itself especially present during times of stress. The nobility received the brunt of the king’s ruthless streak as he brutally suppressed dissenters before they could act. It has been hypothesized that the execution of his father and his response of inaction sparked a depression that would last the rest of his life.
Johan’s final act would be to secure the succession of his daughter and only child, Ulrika Ulv, at the Västerås Riksdag of 1417. Paired with the diplomatic and coercive efforts of King Johan, the relatively successful regency of Queen Margrethe existed as a recent memory in the minds of many Swedish nobles, and most accepted Ulrika as heiress. However, their continued support would only depend on her picking a co-ruler from among their ranks when the time came.
Death and Evaluation
King Johan died at Nyköping Castle on 31 March 1419 at the age of 47. Diplomatic towards his friends and ruthless towards his homegrown opponents, many Johan was able to be the builder of the modern Swedish state. However, his choice of isolationism has come under scrutiny by historians. Although it was successful in flushing foreign influences from state management, it has been argued that it denied Sweden from projecting any meaningful influence over Northern Europe during the early half of the 15th century.
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Einar is dead!
And Sweden is free!
Still, boo! Take Skane.
Or perhaps Russia and Finland are better targets?
And Sweden is free!
Still, boo! Take Skane.
Or perhaps Russia and Finland are better targets?
Ulrika I Ulv (Part 1)
Ulrika I Ulv (also known as Ulrika the Younger, or Ulrika the Stern), elected Queen of Sweden
Upon her father's death in 1419, her mother served as a regent until she came of age in 1422.
The status of the realm, 1423.
As queen regnant, her first decision was to move the royal court from her father's favorite seat at Nyköping Castle to Tre Kronor Castle in Stockholm, which functioned up until that point as only the de jure capital of of the kingdom. With a permanent seat on the Baltic, foreign dignitaries would be given almost immediate access to the Swedish monarch. Furthermore, Stockholm’s geographical centrality in the kingdom signified the “unity” achieved under the Ulv monarchs.
A model of Tre Kronor Castle in the Middle Ages.
The Marriage Question
Ulrika immediately encountered conflict with the Estates of the Realm as it concerned the royal marriage. Although an actual betrothal was lacking, the Västerås Riksdag of 1417 stipulated that the Ulrika was to marry a member of the local nobility lest her position of queen be declared invalid. The queen was instead determined to reverse the policy of isolation set in place by her father and acquire a foreign match.
Weaponizing her ties to the Oxenshierna family, Ulrika was able to nullify her marriage requirements at the Stockholm Riksdag of 1421. Francizek von Schauenburg, second son of the reigning Duke of Wolgast, was chosen as king and prince-consort. Francizek was granted elevated to the Duchy of Södermanland and married to Ulrika on 8 April, 1422. The marriage would prove to be an unhappy one, however. Annoyed at being ruled by his queenly wife and frustrated by their lack of offspring, Francizek would spend the majority of his time at his estates in Pomerania, returning to Sweden only for the most important functions. The queen herself appeared to be relatively unbothered by the state of affairs.
Dano-Swedish War (1424 - 1427)
Relations between Denmark and Sweden remained frigid after the Kalmar War. Confident due to his geographical advantage over Sweden, King Inge III of Denmark and Norway declared war and invaded.
Queen Ulrika always begrudged her father’s decision to return Skåneland after the Kalmar War, referring to the Swedish gains in the Treaty of Brömsebro as “a paltry insult”. As such, the queen relished at the opportunity of a war against the Danes, but was reluctant to initiate one due to King Inge’s alliance with Wladyslaw of Poland. As the defending party, Ulrika had the room to maneuver into Skåneland with minimal diplomatic repercussions. The Republic of Pskov, with whom Ulrika established an alliance with in 1423, joined the war.
The Danes invaded Västergötland via Halland. The queen ordered magnate Johan Fleming to lead a sizeable army of 11,000 men into the region with the intention of relieving Älvsborg and initiating an offensive into Skåneland. After defeating the Danish general Eilert Bielke in battle, Fleming swept into Halland and Skåne, taking the towns and fortresses of Halmstad, Helsingborg, Lund, and Malmö. A second army composed of Småland militiamen took Blekinge, swiftly securing all the region for the Swedes.
Battle of Västergötland
The lack of an organized Danish response allowed for an attempted invasion of Norway. With the intention of marching upon Oslo, Johan Fleming captured the small town of Kungahälla in Bahus province, putting the town to the torch. Scouts positioned at the border informed Fleming of a Danish army led by the previously defeated and disgraced Bielke. His army of approximately 7,600 had the apparent intention of recapturing Skåneland, noting the difficulties the Swedes would have in maneuvering across the rough Norwegian coastline.
The invasion of Norway
Fleming immediately switched courses and led his armies north to Älvsborg province, catching the Danes at a surprise. Although the bloodletting was significant on both sides, the Swedes were eventually victorious, and managed chase the fleeing Danes into Halland, nipping at their heels.
The war situation immediately before the Treaty of Lund. 3 January, 1427
With victory assured, Queen Ulrika was finally willing to sue for peace. The Treaty of Lund (1427) called for the immediate cession of Halland, Skåne, and Blekyng from Denmark to Sweden. King Inge protested, complaining that ceding Skåne to the Swedes would leave Copenhagen open to a naval assault. The queen was insistent with her demands however, and the Danish party eventually yielded.
Sweden after the Treaty of Lund, 1427.
Growing influence and Centralization
As an elected monarch, Queen Ulrika’s authority was, at least at first, limited by the proximity of her magnates and the Riksrådet. It was only through willpower that she was able to successfully appropriate fiefdoms statewide, with the resulting estates often doled out to Ulv family members and allies. Furthermore, Ulrika presided over the full annexation of the former Gotlander Republic into the kingdom proper. Although the island was fully under the sovereignty of the crown, the Gotlanders and burghers of Visby were given relative autonomy in managing their own affairs.
Hjärne War
The Hjärne War was a present uprising based in Finland, named after Karl Hjärne, seneschal of Åbo. The relationship between the landed Finnish peasantry and the crown saw a decline under the reign of Ulrika, primarily due to her relatively unforgiving nature and her deference to the decisions of local lords in the more far-flung parts of the realm. The perceived indifference of the queen resulted in rioting across southern Finland, with a full-blown revolt starting in Åbo in January 1444.
With the local garrison unprepared, the rebels quickly took the city and the surrounding province. With Uusima falling by mid-June of 1444, Viborg Castle in the east was open for the capturing. Queen Ulrika admonished the local Finnish gentry for their slow response in subduing the rabble and ordered a personal army to be assembled by late summer.
In August, Karl Hjärne landed in Finland with the goal of crushing the peasant army before retaking the captured provinces. The rebels were engaged and defeated outside Borgå (Finnish: Porvoo), pursued back to Åbo, and then finally crushed to the last man. By May of 1445, all the rebel strongholds were retaken by Hjärne. As a reward for his efforts, Karl Hjärne was granted Viborg Castle and the surrounding lands as a fief.
Suffering numerous miscarriages and stillbirths by age 39, the queen reluctantly gave up the hope of ever giving Sweden a child of her own body. As such, Karl Knutsson, her nephew and godson, was more-or-less declared heir presumptive and granted Åbo Castle, Tavastia Castle, along with the entire Duchy of Finland.
Tavastia Castle (Häme Castle), one of the seats of Karl Knutsson.
With Denmark defeated and the common folk pacified, Ulrika began to look eastward towards Sweden's old enemy, the Republic of Novgorod.
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Ulrika I Ulv (Part 2)
Alexander Nevsky, Prince of Novgorod
With Black Death finally reaching Northern Europe in 1350, hostilities between the two powers came to standstill. Although a tenuous peace remained, border friction, tense standoffs, and cross-border raiding were an ever-present reality. All Swedish monarchs following Magnus IV would ensure that Viborg Castle was constantly manned in the event of an invasion.
Swedish-Novgorodian War (1446-1449)
It was in 1446 that active hostilities would finally resume between the two powers. Novgorod’s long-standing alliance with the Teutonic Order, which effectively blocked Sweden from any eastward expansion, collapsed. Queen Ulrika responded with an almost immediate declaration of war against the Republic, citing her intention to seize Karelia around Lake Ladoga and claim the area’s valuable fur trade for herself.
The situation in the east, 1446.
By the time Ulrika arrived in the east to oversee the war effort, soldiers under Hjärne had already gone on the offensive in Karelia. Korela Fortress was eventually taken after a lengthy siege, placing the Swedes in charge of Kakisalmi province. The following sack of the fortress and surrounding villages was a markedly brutal affair, with a number of peasants being put to the sword.
The main Novgorodian army under Vladimir von Lacy attempted to ambush Hjärne under the walls of Korela, but to no avail. Thousands of Novgorodians perished to Swedish arms. The following Swedish penetration into Russia proper saw the fall of Izhora. With the mouth of the Gulf of Finland secured, Veliky Novgorod itself itself lied open for the taking. Ulrika ordered for the capturing and sacking of the famed city.
With Novgorod and her allies’ armies routed and chased from Ingria, Ulrika saw it fit to call the Pskovian Republic into war. Pressing closer to Veliky Novgorod, the Swedes met the last vestiges of the Republic’s standing army in the forests of Vod and defeated them soundly.
Veliky Novgorod had fallen on the 31st of January 1449, and was immediately subject to a brutal sacking. The Swedish occupation marked the beginning of Veliky Novgorod’s decline from being one of the greatest cities in Eastern Europe to a small provincial town.
The queen herself participated in the Treaty of Novgorod, in which the republic was forced to cede all of Karelia to Sweden. Furthermore, all of Novgorod’s merchants were made to steer all their profits to Swedish trade houses for a number of years.
Europe, 1451
Later Years and Death
The remainder of Ulrika’s reign was especially marked with the onset of the 1449 Northern Plague. Breaking out in central Denmark, the plague quickly reached southern Sweden, gripping most of the region by June. By July, 5% of Sweden’s population had been killed. It was not until spring of 1451 that the plague had finally abated.
Ulrika's final act would be to establish formal ties with distant Scotland, which was embroiled in diplomatic conflicts with Denmark.
After a decade of conflicts with Sweden's magnates and burghers, Ulrika died of cancer on 30 October 1463 and was buried at Vadstena Abbey, as per her will. Ulrika was a domineering figure, respected and feared by her subjects. Although she lacked the cruelty that so marked the late reign of her father, her hard demeanor and iron-will was just as capable at backing dissidents into a corner. She was succeeded by her nephew and godson Karl VIII. Her husband survived her but died a year later in 1464.
Attachments
Sweden was doing really great under Ulrika's rule. Clearly, it will be difficult to succeed her.
Let's hope Karl is fitted to the task.
Let's hope Karl is fitted to the task.
Here's hoping!
In terms of a goal, the Swedes may wish to purely encircle the Baltic. Pushing too deep into remote and foreign Russia would prove detrimental for communication. Additional targets may be found.
And so the treaty of Nöteborg has been thrown away and Sweden expands into the east. Interesting time are ahead.
Karl VIII Ulv
Hey all, my apologies for the long absence. I've finally finished my degree (finally) and I now have time for a bit more fun!
Karl VIII Ulv
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Upon Queen Ulrika's death, Karl Knutsson left his estates in Finland for the capital and was promptly elected as Swedish king at Tre Kronor Castle. Karl's election suggested that the numerous victories achieved under his predecessor would be capitalized upon into the future.
The king's first moves involved strengthening ties to the continental mainland. Alongside creating a permanent envoy to the court of Pope Xystus VI, marriage negotiations were initiated with numerous international families. The king eventually married Margriet Bruce in 1467, the youngest daughter of Laurens Pietersz of the Netherlands. The marriage proved to be a love match, and the new queen was adored by both the commonfolk and nobility alike. The marriage also initiated the long-standing relationship between the dukes of the Netherlands and the kings of Sweden.
Margriet Bruce, Queen of Sweden
The queen soon gave birth to Prince Erik in 1467, who was observed as heir presumptive.
Establishment of Stockholm University
1467 also saw Karl's new ties to the Vatican bear fruit. Taking inspiration from Poland's Kraków University, King Karl pushed for obtaining his own charter through which to bring intellectual life to Scandinavia. With Pope Xystus VI's permission, growing Stockholm was chosen as the location for the new institution, which would in turn be named Stockholm University.
Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War and the Estonian War (Swedish: Estländska kriget): 1468 - 1472
It was during the 15th century that the Teutonic Order reached its zenith, possessing a domain stretching across Prussia, Curonia, Livonia, and Estonia. With the Grand Dukes of Lithuania converting to Christianity and tying their rule to Poland, heathenry in Eastern Europe was effectively eradicated, rendering the order as irrelevant in the minds of many regional kings. The Order would keep up its conflicts with Poland and Lithuania regardless.
Tensions once again boiled over between the Order and the Polish-Lithuanian Union, beginning the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War in February 1468. Long wishing to expand the Swedish state to Estonia as a means of protecting the Finnish frontier, Karl VIII relished at the opportunity for war. With the Order distracted by Polish-Lithuanian forces, taking Estonia would come at minimal expense. The Swedes declared war in August of 1468, with the Republic of Pskov eventually honouring the call to battle.
The Teutonic and Livonian Orders on the eve of the Swedish invasion, 1469.
By March of 1469, Swedish forces had landed in Estonia. Karl marched upon Reval (modern day Tallinn, also known as Rävala ) unopposed, occupying the province by late November of 1469. The king would spend the winter in the city, awaiting reinforcements for a deeper push into Livonia. The Bishopric of Dorpat was eventually captured by the Pskovians, but recaptured by a combined Livonian-Teutonic force. With the capture of the island of Saaremaa in the west, all of Estonia was under Swedish occupation, while the order was still mainly engaged with the Poles and Lithuanians in the south.
After a swath of military victories, Karl's push southwards was halted by the Polish-Lithuanians, who occupied Dorpat much to the frustration of the Swedish king. The Polish-Lithuanian Union had occupied the entirety of the Order's land minus the ones held by the Swedes, and made it clear that they would initiate their own negotiations after the Swedish party had concluded theirs. Unable to maintain a standing army in the region for an extended period of time, the Swedes entered into negotiations with the Teutonic Order. The 1472 Treaty of Hapsal saw all of Estonia plus Sakala pass into Swedish hands, while the Polish-Lithuanian Peace of Thorn subjected the Teutonic Order to authority of the Polish monarch as a march. The Livonian Order would be left as a rump state, while the Bishopric of Dorpat would be left independent. Although Karl was initially frustrated by the Polish-Lithuanian gains north of Riga and the Swedes inability to take Dorpat, his gains were ultimately substantial.
The Middle Reign: Polish Alliance
During the latter half of the 14th century and throughout the 15th, the Kingdom of Poland had risen to be the most powerful nation in Eastern and Northern Europe. It was the Union of Krewo which married Jogalia, then Grand Duke of Lithuania, to Queen Jadwiga of Poland, and saw him crowned as King of Poland. Ever since, the new Polish-Lithuanian Union has expanded their influence eastwards into Russia, southwards into the Balkans, and as of the Peace of Thorn, into Prussia and Livonia. The Swedes viewed their continued presence in the Baltic region as dependent on maintaining good ties with Krakow, and so approached Henryk III Lubomirski in 1482 for an alliance. The Poles accepted, wanting to expand their eastern bulwark against the growing power of Muscovy. Future military sanctions southwards would thereafter have to take into great consideration the wants and needs of the Polish king.
Karl VIII Ulv
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Karl Knutsson leaving Viborg for his coronation
Upon Queen Ulrika's death, Karl Knutsson left his estates in Finland for the capital and was promptly elected as Swedish king at Tre Kronor Castle. Karl's election suggested that the numerous victories achieved under his predecessor would be capitalized upon into the future.
The king's first moves involved strengthening ties to the continental mainland. Alongside creating a permanent envoy to the court of Pope Xystus VI, marriage negotiations were initiated with numerous international families. The king eventually married Margriet Bruce in 1467, the youngest daughter of Laurens Pietersz of the Netherlands. The marriage proved to be a love match, and the new queen was adored by both the commonfolk and nobility alike. The marriage also initiated the long-standing relationship between the dukes of the Netherlands and the kings of Sweden.
Margriet Bruce, Queen of Sweden
The queen soon gave birth to Prince Erik in 1467, who was observed as heir presumptive.
Establishment of Stockholm University
1467 also saw Karl's new ties to the Vatican bear fruit. Taking inspiration from Poland's Kraków University, King Karl pushed for obtaining his own charter through which to bring intellectual life to Scandinavia. With Pope Xystus VI's permission, growing Stockholm was chosen as the location for the new institution, which would in turn be named Stockholm University.
Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War and the Estonian War (Swedish: Estländska kriget): 1468 - 1472
It was during the 15th century that the Teutonic Order reached its zenith, possessing a domain stretching across Prussia, Curonia, Livonia, and Estonia. With the Grand Dukes of Lithuania converting to Christianity and tying their rule to Poland, heathenry in Eastern Europe was effectively eradicated, rendering the order as irrelevant in the minds of many regional kings. The Order would keep up its conflicts with Poland and Lithuania regardless.
Tensions once again boiled over between the Order and the Polish-Lithuanian Union, beginning the Polish-Lithuanian-Teutonic War in February 1468. Long wishing to expand the Swedish state to Estonia as a means of protecting the Finnish frontier, Karl VIII relished at the opportunity for war. With the Order distracted by Polish-Lithuanian forces, taking Estonia would come at minimal expense. The Swedes declared war in August of 1468, with the Republic of Pskov eventually honouring the call to battle.
The Teutonic and Livonian Orders on the eve of the Swedish invasion, 1469.
By March of 1469, Swedish forces had landed in Estonia. Karl marched upon Reval (modern day Tallinn, also known as Rävala ) unopposed, occupying the province by late November of 1469. The king would spend the winter in the city, awaiting reinforcements for a deeper push into Livonia. The Bishopric of Dorpat was eventually captured by the Pskovians, but recaptured by a combined Livonian-Teutonic force. With the capture of the island of Saaremaa in the west, all of Estonia was under Swedish occupation, while the order was still mainly engaged with the Poles and Lithuanians in the south.
After a swath of military victories, Karl's push southwards was halted by the Polish-Lithuanians, who occupied Dorpat much to the frustration of the Swedish king. The Polish-Lithuanian Union had occupied the entirety of the Order's land minus the ones held by the Swedes, and made it clear that they would initiate their own negotiations after the Swedish party had concluded theirs. Unable to maintain a standing army in the region for an extended period of time, the Swedes entered into negotiations with the Teutonic Order. The 1472 Treaty of Hapsal saw all of Estonia plus Sakala pass into Swedish hands, while the Polish-Lithuanian Peace of Thorn subjected the Teutonic Order to authority of the Polish monarch as a march. The Livonian Order would be left as a rump state, while the Bishopric of Dorpat would be left independent. Although Karl was initially frustrated by the Polish-Lithuanian gains north of Riga and the Swedes inability to take Dorpat, his gains were ultimately substantial.
The Order occupied, 1472
Sweden after the Treaty of Reval
The Middle Reign: Polish Alliance
During the latter half of the 14th century and throughout the 15th, the Kingdom of Poland had risen to be the most powerful nation in Eastern and Northern Europe. It was the Union of Krewo which married Jogalia, then Grand Duke of Lithuania, to Queen Jadwiga of Poland, and saw him crowned as King of Poland. Ever since, the new Polish-Lithuanian Union has expanded their influence eastwards into Russia, southwards into the Balkans, and as of the Peace of Thorn, into Prussia and Livonia. The Swedes viewed their continued presence in the Baltic region as dependent on maintaining good ties with Krakow, and so approached Henryk III Lubomirski in 1482 for an alliance. The Poles accepted, wanting to expand their eastern bulwark against the growing power of Muscovy. Future military sanctions southwards would thereafter have to take into great consideration the wants and needs of the Polish king.
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Wow so glad you posted and could read this hidden gem, well written. Looking forward to more!
Karl VIII Ulv (Part 2)
The late reign of Karl VIII was one of peace and development. It saw the continued consolidation of Swedish Estonia, the establishment and growth of the burgher class, and perhaps most symbolically, the rebuilding and renovations done to Stockholm's Storkyrkan and the Riddarholmen Church.
Stockholm in the 15th Century, with the city largely centered upon the "Staden mellan broarna" (Town
between the bridges), or the "Gamla stan" (Old Town)
Paired with the opening of numerous trade houses, Uppland province saw continuous urbanization during the 1480s. Aside from Stockholm itself, the nearby towns of Uppsala and Sigtuna also saw growth while the countryside continued to prosper. The growth of the new burgher estate was of keen interest to the king, and would result in the minimizing of noble and magnate influence in the capital. Karl's attempts at growing Stockholm placed the city in a direct rivalry with the then-largest city in Scandinavia, Roskilde, in Denmark.
Demographics of Uppland Province
Occupation of Wenden and Dorpat
After the Treaty of Hapsal expired, Sweden immediately looked to expand their holdings in Livonia once again. Without any movements from the Polish king, Karl felt that he had the space to maneuver into the region to claim the cities belonging to the Livonian Order rump state and the Bishopric of Dorpat. After landing troops into the region, the cities were quickly occupied with minimal resistance.
Livonia, 1483
Karl continued to reign for the rest of the 1480s until his death in Stockholm in December 1490. Karl was viewed as a good and prudent king, one who was able to balance the necessities of internal development with that of international conquest and power projection. Combined with his public works, his focus upon the development of the capital region provided the Swedish kingdom with its own reliable economic hub. He was succeeded by his son, Erik.
Stockholm in the 15th Century, with the city largely centered upon the "Staden mellan broarna" (Town
between the bridges), or the "Gamla stan" (Old Town)
Paired with the opening of numerous trade houses, Uppland province saw continuous urbanization during the 1480s. Aside from Stockholm itself, the nearby towns of Uppsala and Sigtuna also saw growth while the countryside continued to prosper. The growth of the new burgher estate was of keen interest to the king, and would result in the minimizing of noble and magnate influence in the capital. Karl's attempts at growing Stockholm placed the city in a direct rivalry with the then-largest city in Scandinavia, Roskilde, in Denmark.
Demographics of Uppland Province
After the Treaty of Hapsal expired, Sweden immediately looked to expand their holdings in Livonia once again. Without any movements from the Polish king, Karl felt that he had the space to maneuver into the region to claim the cities belonging to the Livonian Order rump state and the Bishopric of Dorpat. After landing troops into the region, the cities were quickly occupied with minimal resistance.
Livonia, 1483
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Great to see you back and congratulations on your degree! Sweden is looking nice and secure with it's increased Baltic lands and Polish alliance.
Will King Erik expand in the same direction as his father or look for lands in a new direction entirely?
Will King Erik expand in the same direction as his father or look for lands in a new direction entirely?
That's quite the reign, hopefully Erik will be able to continue his father's legacy. Is there a growing power on Europe right now that could be a potential threat?