Feudalization Reformation






The Union of Kalmar



Among the many kingdoms in feudal late medieval Europe, there were different constitutions. NORWAY was, since 1457, a HEREDITARY KINGDOM, DENMARK an ELECTORAL KINGDOM. The Danish RIGSDAG (diet) made their oath of allegiance dependent on the (future) King's promise to respect the country's laws and individual privileges and to reside in Denmark. In 1376, Norwegian Olaf of the Folkunger dynasty was elected King of Denmark; in 1380 he inherited the throne of Norway, establishing a dynastic union which, with insignificant interruptions, lasted until 1814. The Kings of Denmark-Norway were to reside in the Danish capital KOPENHAGEN. Whenever a King was ousted, a new king elected in Denmark, Norway would follow (although sometimes a number of years later). Most of the Kings of Denmark-Norway never visited Norway.
Sweden in the second half of the 14th century saw the conflict between the Folkunger Dynasty (relatives of King Olaf of Denmark-Norway) and the Mecklenburger Dynasty and their respective followers. King Olaf had died in 1387, and his mother MARGARETHE had taken control of politics. In 1389 she was elected Queen of Sweden by the Swedish Folkunger Party (most of Sweden was under control of King Albrecht). Albrecht was defeated and taken captive in 1395. In a meeting in the castle of Kalmar, the nobility of Denmark, Sweden and Norway was present at the coronation of Margarethe's adopted son, Erik of Pommerania, as King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden; this marks the begin of the Kalmar Union.

Erik of Pommerania's Norden flag, ca. 1439
source : FOTW

Erik of Pommerania attempted to integrate the three Kingdoms into one. This caused his downfall in 1437/39.
From 1397 on. the Kings of Denmark were to claim the crown of Sweden until 1523. The Union remained intact until King Eric of Pommerania in 1437 was deposed both as king of Denmark and Sweden. He withdrew to Gotland (which in 1398 had been occupoied by the Knights of the Teutonic Order and in 1409 was handed over to King Erik in return for the Order having it's expenses paid. He held the island, claimed both by Denmark's RIGSDAG and Sweden's RIKSDAG, as a personal possession until 1449. The Union of Kalmar disintegrated in 1523, when GUSTAV I. Vasa was elected King of Sweden





EXTERNAL
FILES 		The Founding of the Kingdom, in : History of Sweden, from the Swedish Institute, encyclopedic, scroll down
Conflict and Disintegration of the Kingdom, rom History of Denmark, from Den. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, scroll down
DOCUMENTS World Statesmen : Denmark, by Ben Cahoon


This page is part of World History at KMLA
First posted in 2000, last revised on November 8th 2004

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