The Siege of Stockholm (1520) was a combined naval and army siege of the Swedish capital Stockholm by the Danish king Christian II in the Dano-Swedish War (1512-1520).
| Siege of Stockholm | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Dano-Swedish War (1512-1520) | |||||||||
 The siege of Stockholm showing the Danish navy commanded by Søren Norby | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Sweden | |||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
 Christian II Søren Norby |
Christina Gyllenstierna  | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
1,000 cavalry 2,000 ground troops[1] unknown amount of ships. | Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||||
Background
editDanish 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 took charge.[2] Despite Sten Sture's death, Kalmar and Stockholm still resisted. Kalmar was taken after a long siege by the Danish admiral Søren Norby, who then sailed to Stockholm to assist in the capture.[3]
Siege
editThe siege was begun 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 Kroner had good cannons.[4]
Christian II returned Copenhagen in June-Juli to resupply his army, gaining 6 ships from the Habsburg Netherlands.[5] The siege continued over the summer at a standstill. Christian II use 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 3000 men, later being crowned in Stockholm as the king of Sweden.[6]
Aftermath
editChristian II was crowned king of Sweden the 4 November 1520, and over the next few days, and event known as the Stockholm Bloodbath happened. 82-94 [a] people (1.5% of Stockholm's population) were executed. Of those 82-94, two bishops were killed. After them 14 of the nobility were killed. Then three mayors and fourteen of the members of the town council. The nobility were be headed to the sword, more common people be headed 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
edit- ^ sources disagree
References
edit- ^ "STOCKHOLMS BLODBAD 500 ÅR".
- ^ "Christian 2". 23 April 2023.
- ^ "Den danske Flådes første søhelt. Søren Norby (14??-1530)" (PDF).
- ^ "1520 – från slaget vid Bogesund till Stockholms blodbad". 20 June 2020.
- ^ Politikens Danmarkshistorie (in Danish) (5th ed.). 1963. p. 310.
- ^ "STOCKHOLMS BLODBAD 500 ÅR".
- ^ "THE STOCKHOLM BLOODBATH".
- ^ "Det Stockholmske Blodbad 1520".