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The Kalmar Union
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True or false? Queen Margaret failed to defeat Albert of Mecklenburg.
In the 1300s, the area that today is called Germany is rich and powerful. Rich German merchants from the Hanseatic League are found in every important city in Sweden. To facilitate cooperation with the Hanseatic League - Sweden has a German king - Albert of Mecklenburg. But many Swedes think that Albert of Mecklenburg has no interest in Sweden, and only wants to help German traders. The Swedes ask the popular and politically skilled Queen Margaret of ‘Denmark-Norway’, who are one and the same kingdom at this time, to help them defeat the Germans and rule over Sweden as well.
But Albert is not intimidated. He calls her "King Nopants" and thinks she should stay at home — as all women should — instead of fighting. The queen hears what Albert has said and decides to attack the German king in Sweden. Together with her new Swedish friends, Margaret succeeds in defeating Albert of Mecklenburg. It is said that Margaret puts Albert in prison wearing a nightgown and a nightcap with a bell because he had previously spoken disparagingly of her.
Margaret dreams of a united Nordic region and therefore organizes a meeting between Sweden and ‘Denmark-Norway’ in the city of Kalmar in 1397. The meeting leads to a collaboration. A union is created: the Kalmar Union. The union will be led by Queen Margaret. She will rule over Sweden and Denmark-Norway.
But each must have their own laws. The Kalmar Union makes Margaret one of Europe's most powerful rulers. The Union is Europe's largest and despite the fact that there are sometimes conflicts with the Germans and the Hanseatic League, no major wars break out during Margaret’s rule. Queen Margaret dies in 1412 of a disease, the Plague. Despite this, the Kalmar Union lives on with various regents, mainly from Denmark.
The countries of the Kalmar Union do not always get along, and the Union is often threatened with division. There are many in Sweden who are dissatisfied with the Union and therefore want to leave it. They think that the Danish king only cares about Denmark and lets the Swedes pay too much in taxes. A man from the Swedish nobility, Sten Sture the Younger, leads a party that wants to leave the union. He gets the support of the Swedes, but since there is a Danish union king - Christian II, Sten Sture can not become king and has to settle for a simpler title with limited power.
He will be Sweden's national director. Sten Sture feels threatened by the church's head, Archbishop Gustav Trolle. He is on the side of the Danes. In 1517, Sten Sture puts him in prison and burns down his castle. Trolle plans to take revenge.
The king Christian II hears about Sten Sture's plan to leave the union and attacks Sweden in order to retain power. To prevent a major war Sweden and Denmark-Norway begin negotiations. It is decided that some important people from each country will be handed over to the other part - as hostages - while the countries negotiate. But - the Danes take their hostages to Denmark where they are imprisoned. One of the hostages is a 22-year-old Gustav Eriksson - a man whose story will soon be known.
Negotiations are scrapped and war breaks out. Denmark attacks Sweden several times. The third time, in Västergötland, Sten Sture is hit by a cannonball and dies. The Danes are now headed for Stockholm. In Stockholm, Sten Sture's widow Kristina Gyllenstierna rules.
Kristina manages to defend Stockholm and keeps the Danes out of the City for several months. In the end, Christian II promises that if the Swedes give up, he will not imprison or harm any Swede. Instead he will give them an official pardon - an amnesty. Kristina gives up, and Christian II retains his role as Union King for Sweden, and Denmark - Norway. But, will Christian II keep his promise not to harm the Swedish rebels?