Sweden : Dacke Feud, 1542-1543



In Sweden the Lutheran reformation had been introduced by a decision of King and Diet, a reformation from the top of society. In rural Småland, both the burdensome taxation and a Lutheran church policy which enacted drastic changes in church practise, caused resentment. The fact that cross-border trade with Denmark's Blekinge and Scania regions was banned, did not allieviate the situation.
In 1542 a rebellion spread over Småland and Östergötland, which is named after its leader, Nils Dacke (in Swedish referred to as the Dackefejden - the Dacke Feud). In November 1542, King Gustavus I. Vasa recognized Dacke as Lord of Småland; he reintroduced Catholic church rite. In March 1543 King Gustavus I. lead an army of mercenaries into Småland; Dacke's rebel force was defeated. He crossed with his men into Danish Blekinge; here, in August 1543, he was surrounded by King Gustavus' men and shot.
The ringleaders of the rebellion and their families were severely punished; Lutheranism was reintroduced in Småland, dissent not tolerated.


EXTERNAL
FILES 		Dacke Feud, from Sverige Turism
Brief biography of Nils Dacke, by Johan Lagerros
The Dacke House, from Kulturen i Lund
Dackefejden, from susning.nu, in Swedish
Dackeuppröret och Öland, from Välkommen Upptäck Öland, in Swedish
Dackefejden - en Smålandsk Folkerejsning, from Dansk-Skåsk Førening, in Danish
DOCUMENTS
REFERENCE



This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted on June 9th 2003, last revised on November 17th 2004

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