Siege of Stockholm (1520)

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Siege of Stockholm
Part of the Dano-Swedish War (1512-1520)
Stockholm1520.jpg
The siege of Stockholm showing the Danish navy commanded by Søren Norby
DateEarly May–September 7, 1520
Location 59°19′46″N18°4′7″E / 59.32944°N 18.06861°E / 59.32944; 18.06861
Result Danish victory
Territorial
changes
Belligerents
Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the Kalmar Union.svg Christian II
Flag of the Kalmar Union.svg Søren Norby
Flag of Sweden.svg Christina Gyllenstierna   White flag icon.svg
Strength
1,000 cavalry
2,000 ground troops [1]
unknown amount of ships.
Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown

The Siege of Stockholm (1520) was a combined naval and army siege of the Swedish capital Stockholm by the Danish king Christian II during the Dano-Swedish War (1512-1520).

Contents

Background

Danish and Swedish tensions were temporarily ended with a ceasefire. In 1517 the war continued. The Danish king Christian II had been hesitant to take command of the army. It was only when Danish general Otte Krumpen moved his army up to parts of central Sweden, and when Sten Sture died, that Christian finally took charge. [2] Despite Sten Sture's death, Kalmar and Stockholm still resisted. Kalmar would later be captured by the Danish admiral Søren Norby after a long siege, who then sailed to Stockholm to assist in its capture. [3]

Siege

The siege began in early May, when Søren Norby's fleet arrived. The Danes did not try to storm the city, and the Swedes prepared for a long siege. The siege became increasingly difficult, as Christina Gyllenstierna and the other defenders of Tre Kronor had good cannons. [4]

Christian II returned to Copenhagen in June – July to resupply the Danish army, gaining six ships from the Habsburg Netherlands. [5] The siege continued over the summer at a standstill. Christian II used this time to spread propaganda. Many Swedish commanders surrendered, and the siege ended on September 7. Christian II marched into Stockholm with an army of 3,000 men, later being crowned in Stockholm as the king of Sweden. [6]

Aftermath

Entry of Christian II into Stockholm Entry of Christian II into Stockholm.jpg
Entry of Christian II into Stockholm

Christian II was crowned king of Sweden the 4 November 1520 by Gustav Trolle. The same day, Søren Norby, Berend von Mehlen and Otto Krumpen were knighted. Over the next few days, and event known as the Stockholm Bloodbath happened, where 82–94 [lower-alpha 1] people (1.5% of Stockholm's population) were executed. Of the people who were executed, two bishops were killed. After them, 14 nobles were killed. Then three mayors and fourteen of the members of the town council. The nobility were beheaded by swords, more common people were beheaded by axe and the lowliest were hanged. [7] Corpses of the war, most notable the body of Sten Sture were dug up and burned. [8]

Notes

  1. Sources disagree

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References

  1. "STOCKHOLMS BLODBAD 500 ÅR".
  2. "Christian 2". 23 April 2023.
  3. "Den danske Flådes første søhelt. Søren Norby (14??-1530)" (PDF).
  4. "1520 – från slaget vid Bogesund till Stockholms blodbad". 20 June 2020.
  5. Politikens Danmarkshistorie (in Danish) (5th ed.). 1963. p. 310.
  6. "STOCKHOLMS BLODBAD 500 ÅR".
  7. "THE STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH".
  8. "Det Stockholmske Blodbad 1520".