1576 Plot

Last updated

The 1576 Plot was a conspiracy in Sweden in 1576. The purpose was to depose John III of Sweden and reinstate the imprisoned Eric XIV of Sweden on the Swedish throne. [1] It was the last of three major plots to free the imprisoned Eric XIV, and was preceded by the 1569 Plot and the 1574 Mornay Plot.

Contents

Background

The rebellion was instigated by Mauritz Rasmusson (Mauricius Erasmi) (d. 1577), a Protestant clergyman and vicar of Timmele. He was opposed to the Pro-Catholic tendencies toward a Counter-Reformation under John III and his Catholic queen Catherine Jagiellon, which was highlighted by the introduction of the nova ordinantia-reform of 1575 and the Red Book-reform of 1576 during the Liturgical struggle. [1]

Plan

Mauritz Rasmusson conspired with the nobleman Erik Gyllenstierna and through his connections acquired allies among the clergy, peasants and merchants in Västergötland. The rebellion was to take place in Västergötland and in Småland. Their purpose was to deposed John III, free Eric XIV and reinstate him or - if this proved impossible, Duke Charles or, as a third alternative, elect Erik Gyllenstierna to the throne. [1]

Trial

In November 1576, John III was informed about the conspiracy when Lasse Rasmusson, brother of Mauritz Rasmusson and secretary of Erik Gyllenstierna's cousin Nils Gyllenstierna, was overheard. On 12 November, an investigation was issued. Witnesses claimed that Mauritz Rasmusson had planned to free Erik XIV, have John III killed, but also have Erik Gyllenstierna and "all the nobility of the realm" killed. On 29 November, the trial was conducted in Vadstena. Mauritz Rasmusson denied the accusations, but several witnesses testified against him, including his own wife Anna Lassadotter and his brothers, which was given much credibility. [1]

19 December 1576, Mauritz Rasmusson was condemned to death guilty of treason. During torture, he pointed out the nobleman Erik Gyllenstierna as his accomplice, but retracted it again. In January 1577, the imprisoned Erik XIV was moved from his prison to another deemed more safe, and in February, he died in prison.

In March 1577, Mauritz Rasmusson was confronted in prison by those accused of being his accomplices. Erik Gyllenstierna was freed from all charges because no evidence could be found against him. As Mauritz Rasmusson himself retracted his confessions against everyone he pointed out as his accomplices, no one could be sentenced with him. He was sent to his home parish of Timmele and executed there in April 1577. The public reportedly viewed him as innocent, and folk legend claimed that everyone who testified against him was therefore cursed. [1]

Aftermath

The plot made John III fear a new Dacke Feud, and caused a mistrust and conflict with the clergy in February 1577, when he sharply criticized the clergy during a meeting with them. In parallel to this, admiral Bengt Bagge was executed for un-connected suspected treason in Stockholm in 1577, contributing to the political tension. It is estimated, that these events influenced the restrictions of John III against the imprisoned Eric XIV, the orders that Eric was to be killed if anyone attempted to free him, and the death of Eric in February 1577. [1]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric XIV of Sweden</span> King of Sweden from 1560 to 1569

Eric XIV was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was captured in a rebellion led by his brother John in 1568 and formally deposed 26 January 1569. Eric XIV was the eldest son of Gustav I (1496–1560) and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513–1535). He was also ruler of Estonia, after it placed itself under Swedish protection in 1561.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John III of Sweden</span> King of Sweden from 1569 to 1592

John III was King of Sweden from 1569 until his death. He attained the Swedish throne after a rebellion against his half-brother Eric XIV. He is mainly remembered for his attempts to close the gap between the newly established Lutheran Church of Sweden and the Catholic Church, as well as his conflict with and possible murder of his brother.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christina Gyllenstierna</span> Swedish noblewoman

Christina Nilsdotter Gyllenstierna of Fogelvik was a Swedish noblewoman. She was married to the Swedish regent Sten Sture the Younger, and led the Swedish resistance against Christian II of Denmark after the death of her spouse. In her own lifetime she was simply referred to as Fru Kristina, but she has become known in history as Kristina Gyllenstierna because of the house of nobility to which she belonged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Karin Månsdotter</span> Queen of Sweden from 1568 to 1569

Karin Månsdotter was first the mistress and then the Queen of King Eric XIV of Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catherine Jagiellon</span> Queen of Sweden from 1568 to 1583

Catherine Jagiellon was a princess of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Queen of Sweden from 1569 as the wife of King John III. Catherine had significant influence over state affairs during the reign of her spouse. She negotiated with the pope to introduce Counter-Reformation in Sweden. She was the mother of Sigismund III Vasa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Cecilia of Sweden</span> Margravine consort of Baden-Rodemachern

Cecilia of Sweden, was Princess of Sweden as the daughter of King Gustav I and his second wife, Margaret Leijonhufvud, and Margravine of Baden-Rodemachern as the wife of Christopher II, Margrave of Baden-Rodemachern. She is the most famous daughter of Gustav I, known for a courtship scandal in connection with a sister's wedding and for a lengthy stay in England under Elizabeth I where her first child was born.

Jöran Persson, alternatively Göran Persson, was King Eric XIV of Sweden's favorite, most trusted counsellor and head of the King's network of spies. He was widely seen as a Machiavellian figure, and as holding too much influence over Eric. On both occasions on which the King was removed from power, Persson was quickly arrested by the nobility; the second time he was executed shortly after his arrest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gustaf Banér</span>

Gustaf Banér was a Swedish noble, member of the Privy Council of Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Sophia of Sweden</span> Duchess of Saxe-Lauenburg

Princess Sophia of Sweden, also Sofia Gustavsdotter Vasa, was a Swedish princess, daughter of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden and Margareta Leijonhufvud. She was formally Duchess consort of Saxe-Lauenburg by her marriage to Duke Magnus II of Saxe-Lauenburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Elizabeth of Sweden</span> 16th century Swedish princess

Princess Elizabeth of Sweden, was a Swedish princess, and a duchess consort of Mecklenburg-Gadebusch by marriage to Christopher, Duke of Mecklenburg-Gadebusch. She was a daughter of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second spouse, Queen Margaret.

Martha Eriksdotter Leijonhufvud, known as Kung Märta, was a politically-active Swedish noblewoman. She was the sister of Queen Margaret Leijonhufvud and sister-in-law of King Gustav I of Sweden: she was also the maternal aunt of Queen Catherine Stenbock and the daughter-in-law of the regent Christina Gyllenstierna. In 1568, she financed the deposition of King Eric XIV of Sweden, which placed her nephew John III of Sweden on the throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reformation in Sweden</span>

The Reformation in Sweden is generally regarded as having begun in 1527 during the reign of King Gustav I of Sweden, but the process was slow and was not definitively decided until the Uppsala Synod of 1593, in the wake of an attempted Counter-Reformation during the reign of John III (1568–1592).

Elin Andersdotter, was a Swedish courtier. She served as Chief Court Mistress to queen Karin Månsdotter of Sweden. She is known for being a leading actor in the 1569 Plot to free and reinstate the imprisoned and deposed king Erik XIV of Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1569 in Sweden</span> Sweden-related events during the year of 1569

Events from the year 1569 in Sweden

Charles de Mornay, was a Swedish court official, diplomat and royal favorite. He was the central figure of the Mornay plot of 1574.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hogenskild Bielke</span>

Hogenskild Bielke was a Swedish baron, court official and riksråd. He was one of the more prominent leaders of the Swedish nobility in their power struggle against royal authority during the 16th-century.

The Mornay plot was a plot in 1574 to assassinate John III of Sweden, free the imprisoned Eric XIV of Sweden and place him or Charles IX of Sweden upon the Swedish throne. The plot was hatched and planned by Charles de Mornay, a Swedish courtier of French Huguenot origin with international contacts. It was one of three major plots to free the imprisoned Eric XIV, preceded by the 1569 Plot and succeeded by the 1576 Plot.

The 1569 Plot was a conspiracy in Sweden in 1569. The purpose was to depose John III of Sweden and reinstate the imprisoned Eric XIV of Sweden on the Swedish throne. The plot was instigated by the courtiers of Eric's spouse queen Karin Månsdotter; her lady-in-waiting Elin Andersdotter and her personal secretary Thomas Jakobsson. It was the first of three major plots to free the imprisoned Eric XIV, but has been described as the most serious one. The plot was exposed and prevented before it could be put in action and resulted in the execution of the conspirators.

Jean Allard or Jehan Alard, was a French adventurer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nils Göransson Gyllenstierna</span> Swedish statesman and lord

Nils Göransson Gyllenstierna, sometimes Nils Jöransson, or Nisse Gyllenstierna was a Swedish statesman and aristocrat who was Lord High Chancellor of Sweden from 1561 to 1590 and Lord high Steward of Sweden from 1590 to 1601. He is most known for assisting Johan III ascend the Swedish throne.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wolke, Lars Ericson. "Mauritz Rasmusson". sok.riksarkivet.se. National Archives of Sweden . Retrieved 2024-11-25.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.