Draft:Wars of Deposition against Magnus

Wars of Deposition against Magnus
Date1363-1371
Location
Result Favourable outcome for Mecklenburg, see aftermath
Territorial
changes
Belligerents
Kingdom of Norway (872–1397) Norway
 Denmark
History of Sweden (800–1521) Swedish Loyalists
Saxe-Lauenburg

Mecklenburg
History of Sweden (800–1521) Swedish Nobles
History of Sweden (800–1521) Swedish Rebels
Teutonic Order
Confederation of Cologne

Commanders and leaders
Kingdom of Norway (872–1397) Magnus Eriksson
Kingdom of Norway (872–1397) Haakon VI
Kingdom of Norway (872–1397) Narve Ingvaldsson
Medieval Denmark Valdemar IV
Duke Eric of Saxony
History of Sweden (800–1521) Albert of Mecklenburg
History of Sweden (800–1521) Nils Turesson Bielke 
History of Sweden (800–1521) Karl Ulfsson
History of Sweden (800–1521) Bo Jonsson
Ravn Barnekow
Herman von Ouwen

Background

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Kings
Seal of King Haakon VI Magnusson of Norway
Portrait of Magnus Eriksson in his national Swedish lawbook

In 1363, the conspiracies among the nobility began to affect both Magnus Eriksson, the King of Sweden, and Haakon VI, the king of Norway. The recent losses that had impacted the kingdom, including the loss of Scania and Blekinge to Denmark, were blamed on a conspiracy between Magnus and Haakon. Several Swedish noblemen decided to travel to Germany in order to find a "suitable" new candidate for the throne. After searching, they decided on Albert of Mecklenburg, who was the youngest son of Albrecht the Elder of Mecklenburg and the nephew of Magnus.[1][2]

It was clear to the nobles, however, that military resources would be needed to win the Swedish crown for Albert. Therefore, on midsummer, an alliance was formed between the North German princes and the Hanseatic League. Among the north German princes were Count Henry of Holstein, along with the princes Bernard and Lorenz of Werle.[3][2]

The alliance drawn up between the nobility and the Hanseatic league stipulated that the nobles would provide 1,200 knights and soldiers, while the Hanseatic League would provide an equal number of silver marks and the necessary equipment and ships for the campaign. Over time however, several Hanseatic cities withdrew from the campaign, and in the end, only Lübeck, Stralsund, Wismar, and Rostock remained.[3][4]

During the autumn of 1363, news spread that Valdemar IV had set out on a longer trip abroad. Albert of Mecklenburg saw this as a perfect opportunity to enter the rebellion because he was now guarded from Danish interference in the conflict. On november the 10th, Albert sailed from Warnemünde accompanied by Swedish nobles and 600 soldiers to depose Magnus from the Swedish throne. On November the 29th, the Mecklenburgians, along with the rebelling Swedish nobles land in Stockholm were they meet little resistance.[5] When the kings of the union, Magnus Eriksson and Haakon VI is informed of this, they immediately equipped for battle. A fortress was built on an island in lake Kilarpsjön to defend the northern end of the road through Holaveden.

On February the 15th 1364, Albert of Mecklenburg in contrast to the current law, was elected to be king of Sweden. According to the law, the king had to be Swedish to be elected, therefore Albert could not be elected as the king of Sweden. In Finland, the Bielke at Viborg, Nils Turesson Bielke loses Svaneholm Castle to the Åbo garrison loyal to Magnus after a 6 day siege. This is likely to have concluded a standstill, and in July 1364 the Treaty of Jönköping was signed which both parties agreed that there should be a ceasefire throughout the year, and in the mean time Norway would be in control of Västergötland, Värmland and Dalsland. War would break out again in the Autumn where Albert of Mecklenburg would personally lead a siege of the Norwegian Turku Castle in Finland. Nils Turesson Bielke would die during the siege from a lunge from the castle.

During the year of 1364, the kings of Norway began to organize themselves. In the beginning of 1365 they had managed to gather an army consisting of Norwegians and Visigoths. The army loyal to Magnus and Haakon began marching towards Arboga, which is proclaimed to have happened on February the 27th. Albert in response called on the people to "fight the foreigners", while the Norwegians continued towards Västerås. Stockholm was the obvious objective for this campaign, but the invading army on their way to Enköping would be met at Gataskogen by forces loyal to Albert of Mecklenburg. While Albert stayed in Finland, Karl Ulfsson who was the commander of Stockholm Castle would be responsible for his troops. A battle takes place on March the 3rd and it would be a great victory for Mecklenburg. Magnus would be captured by the Mecklenburgers army and would be taken to Stockholm as a prisoner. Haakon would be greatly wounded during this battle, but would manage to escape. The Norwegian forces would retreat to Västerås and Arboga after the battle. The lieutenant at Nyköpingshus, Ravn Barnekow would represent Albert during the negotiations. After the victory, majority of the Swedish nobility would side with the Mecklenburgians. The Teutonic Knights, who had been responsible for this great military victory for Mecklenburg had to be paid, and when reperations is to be paid and more than half of the kingdom is to be given as an insurance to the Germans. During June, the Norwegian castle at Turku would fall during a siege where the Norwegian Narve Ingvaldsson is said to have defended bravely.

At the start of 1366, Haakon VI starts preparing to go to war again against Albert of Mecklenburg. He starts his invasion in Öland where he successfully captures Borgholm. Later this year, Haakons father-in-law, Valdemar IV enters the war. During the spring a Danish army led by the ally of Valdemar IV, Duke Eric of Saxony where Northern Halland and the two municipalities of Mark and Kinda would be occupied and multiple strongholds would be built in these areas. Around the same time, Valdemar personally leads a successful siege of Kalmar. Dano-Mecklenburgian negotiations would take place between Valdemar, king of Denmark and Albert II, Duke of Mecklenburg which was Albert of Mecklenburgs father. The negotiations are carried out at Ålholm Castle in Denmark, and by promising Valdemar large parts of Sweden in return for his withdrawal of the battle for the Swedish throne. The Swedish council would not end up accepting these terms, but it ended up buying Albert of Mecklenburg valuable time.

Little is documented during the year of 1367, but Albert succeeds in recapturing Borgholm and Öland. The Hanseatic cities would also end up uniting as the Cologne Federation and attack both Denmark and Norway. In February, 1368 Albert of Mecklenburg and his father would end up joining the Cologne Federation. Around the same time, Valdemar IV would start a four-year long trip abroad. Copenhagen would be captured, and the Norwegian coasts are ravaged. Albert would soon afterwards travel south with his army and take Finnveden, which was under Danish control and begins a siege of Helsingborg. A truce would later be signed between Norway and the Hanseatic cities.

During 1369, both Albert and the Hanseatic cities would withdraw from the War with Denmark. In 1370 dissatisfaction with Albert of Mecklenburg and the German nobles was widespread. German oppression of Sweden lead to an increase of popular discontent, the Hanseatic cities had ended their support for Albert, and Haakon, seeing an opportunity to defeat Albert once and for all, arms himself. The ceasefire ends during the summer between Håkan and Albrekt in Lödöse, but there isnt any documented combat actions during this year.

At the beginning of 1371, a rebellion uprises in Sweden against Albert. In april a strong army of peasants stands before Stockholm. The rebel army is said to have consisted of 10 knights and 18 squires, the rest being "clerks, merchants, farmers and bookkeepers". While all of this takes place, Albert is in Germany, and his marshal Karl Ulfsson, Lord of Tofta and Bo Jonsson is forced to sort out the situation as panic spreads in Stockholm. They successfully ends the rebellion with a truce with the rebels on April 15. In July, Haakon arrives with an army at Stockholm after marching through Västergötland. He sets up camp noth of the city, supposedly where Kungstensgatan is today. Both parties are prepared for a great battle, but negotiations begin instead. This ends with Magnus being released from captivity and Albert recognized as the king of Sweden. The territories of Värmland, Dalsland and Västergötland is ceded to Norway.

Aftermath

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References

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  1. ^ Sundberg 2010, p. 251–253.
  2. ^ a b Sundberg 1998, p. 173.
  3. ^ a b Sundberg 2010, p. 253.
  4. ^ Sundberg 1998, p. 173–174.
  5. ^ Sundberg 2010.

Works cited

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  • Sundberg, Ulf (2010). Sveriges krig (1050–1448) [Sweden's wars (1050–1448)] (in Swedish). Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek. pp. 251–258. ISBN 9789185789610.
  • Sundberg, Ulf (1998). Medeltidens svenska krig [Swedish wars in the Middle Ages] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Högberg. pp. 173–178. ISBN 9789189080263.