What was the Kalmar Union?

Описание: In this video, we will be discussing the largely forgotten about "Kalmar Union" This Union was a major power during its existence, having the crowns of Norway, Denmark and Sweden under its command.

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The first ruler of the union, Margrethe I held power until her death in 1412. She had chosen Erik of Pomerania to be her successor, who was a grandson to her sister. Erik came to the throne during a time of conflict in the Southern Danish duchy of Schelswig. The duchy of Holstein had largely occupied the region with them holding the city of Flensburg, a major city of Schelswig. From what research is available, military action wasn't taken against Holstein until over a decade later. The Hanseatic League, who had given large military and economic support to Holstein, declared in response to Kalmar tolls on the Danish sound for all foreign ships. This resulted in a ten year long between the league and the Union, and proved to be the main catalyst for the erosion of unity between the three kingdoms.

Export of goods, especially iron, was extremely important to the Swedish economy, and the against the Hansa, who had superiority in the Baltic, caused frequent and constant halts in trade while the collection of taxes continued. This angered a large amount of the peasantry who held substantial power and land within Sweden, at least in comparison to feudal nations at that time. This was combined with an increasing worry by the Swedish nobles, in regards to Danish consolidation and centralization of power over the previous three decades,which was stripping away power from the local governments, and attempting to adopt a more central rule. This led to the Engelbrekt rebellion in 1434, one of the many revolts by Sweden against Denmark. This rebellion, which was the start of many more revolts in the future, which was largely successful, and combined with the loss to Hansa, led to Erik being removed from power in Sweden and Denmark, holding the throne of Norway for only two more years.

Norway during this period of time was still reeling from the effects of the black death the previous century, in which up-wards of two thirds of its population had died during the six month outbreak. Due to this the Norwegian nobility had lost a large amount of their economic and political power. Many weren't able to hold onto the land due to the lack of workers for the fields which had already been complicated by a gradual decline of the Norwegian population for decades prior to the outbreak and the decline would continue until the mid 16th century.

Sweden at this point, was waging its own internal civil of sorts between the nobility, which undermined stability of this new autonomous state. This instability resulted in nearly eight decades of control going between local Swedish lords, and election or conquest to put a Danish king on the Swedish throne.

Under the rule of Danish King Christian II made the last attempt to force Sweden back under the union. Prior to this invasion, the core foundation of Catholicism was shaken by the Protestant Reformation for most of Europe. In Sweden, the Protestant Reformation gained a strong foothold and resulted in religious tensions between the populace. When a cardinal and archbishop by the name of Gustav Trolle was dismissed from the Swedish council, King Christian of Denmark invaded, both to regain control of Sweden, but also to reinforce church authority to the region. The first part he managed to do, taking Stockholm in 1520 and being crowned Swedish king. Shortly after the ceremony, Christian had eighty-two nobles that had opposed the union, executed in what is referred to as the Stockholm bloodbath. This not only ended the century long civil between the nobility, but largely forced support towards Gustav Vasa a noble who was leading a small rebel army in the northern province of Dalarna. What followed was the Swedish of Liberation, which resulted in the treaty of Malmo in 1524, recognizing Swedish independence and putting an end to the Kalmar Union.

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