Sweden 1397-1448









Sweden 1250-1397



In 1250 a new dynasty got hold of the Swedish throne, the FOLKUNGER, their first king being VALDEMAR BIRGERSSON (1250-1278). Sweden got into closer relations with continental Europe, to a large part facilitated by the HANSEATIC LEAGUE. German merchants were invited to settle in coastal towns, such as STOCKHOLM or Kalmar; the TYSKA KYRKAN (German church) is Stockholm's oldest. Royal stone castles were built in many strategically imported places, an expression of royal power, a power which was intensified in the provinces of mainland Sweden, where the difference between Goetar and Svear lost significance, and in colonized Finland. The church was another pillar of royal power; the construction of UPPSALA CATHEDRAL was begun in 1270.
The STATUTE OF ALSNÖ of 1279 exempted nobles who kept a castle and horse from paying taxation; thus introducing feudalism to Sweden.
Swedish society came under a strong influence of (lower) German civilization and of the church; this is reflected in the many loanwords Swedish language took over from German and Latin. The grammar and structure of Swedish language was overformed, largely due to the impact of Lower German.
In 1350 king MAGNUS ERIKSSON (until 1355 also king of Norway) abolished the provincial laws and the various city laws, replacing them by a uniform countryside law and a uniform city law; the Swedish state established its hold on legislation. In 1363 Magnus was deposed by opposing noblemen, who recognized ALBRECHT DUKE OF MECKLENBURG as new King of Sweden, the first foreigner on the country's throne.
In 1346 Birgitta (in 1391 canonized ST. BIRGITTA) founded VADSTENA CONVENT; she urged the pope to return to Rome, the kings of England and France to end the 100-Years-War. She herself moved to Rome, where she spent the remainder of her life. The ORDER OF ST.BIRGITTA (sometimes spelled St. Bridget) still exists; her daughter St. Catherine succeeded her as abbess of Vadstena.
In 1389 a group of discontent noblemen invited Queen Margarethe of Denmark-Norway in, declared Albrecht deposed. Albrecht, leading an army with the intention to defeat his opponents, was taken prisoner, later released. In 1397 Erik of Pomerania, Margarethe's adopted son, was elected King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway (the UNION OF KALMAR).
In the 13th century, Sweden became an important supplier of iron and copper for the European marked; the STORA KOPPARBERGET copper mine traces her origin back to 1288. German miners from the Harz region immigrated to Sweden, bringing valuable knowhow.







EXTERNAL
FILES 		Chronology of Sweden : 1300-1399, from Ken Polsson


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

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