Editing Visby (section)

== History ==
{{Quote box
| title = Historical affiliations
| quote = {{flag|Denmark-Norway}} 1361–?<br/>
{{flag|Kalmar Union}} 1397–?<br/>
{{flag|Sweden}} 1645–?<br/>
{{flagicon|Russian Empire}} [[Russian Empire]] 1808{{efn|In 1808, the [[Russian occupation of Gotland|Russian Empire occupied Gotland]], but was taken back by the Swedes after only four weeks}}<br/>
{{flag|Sweden}} 1808–1814<br/>
{{flagicon|Sweden|1844}} [[Sweden–Norway]] 1814–1905<br/>
{{flag|Sweden}} 1905–present
| align = left
| width = 23em
| fontsize = 90%
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}}The earliest history of Visby is uncertain, but it is known to have been a centre of merchandise around AD 900. It was inhabited as early as the [[Stone Age]], probably because of the access to fresh water and a [[Harbor|natural harbour]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Westholm |first=Gun |title=Visby och Gotland – Medeltida byggnadsutveckling. |date=2000 |journal=Gotländskt Arkiv |volume=2000 |issue=72 |location=Visby |publisher=Gotlands fornsal |page=85 }}</ref> The oldest finds at the site of present-day Visby are what have been interpreted as "beach huts", with the [[radiocarbon dating]] method to the 7th–9th centuries AD.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Westholm |first=Gun |date=2000 |title=Visby och Gotland - medeltida byggnadsutveckling |url=https://libris.kb.se/bib/3254793 |journal=Gotländskt arkiv |pages=2000 (72), s. 85–104 : ill}}</ref>

In the 12th century, [[Visby Cathedral]], dedicated to [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Saint Mary]], was constructed. It was reshaped in the 13th century to its current appearance, and was officially opened in 1225,{{sfn|Björkander|1898|p=88}} by the bishop of the Swedish city of [[Linköping]] (''in regional map''). Several other churches were also constructed in the ensuing centuries. The city flourished, thanks to the German [[Hanseatic League]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Yrwing |first1=Hugo |title= Visby – hansestad på Gotland |date=1986 |publisher= Gidlund |location=Stockholm |language=sv |isbn=91-7844-055-6 |url= http://libris.kb.se/bib/7668452 |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Valdemar Atterdag brandskattar Visby (1882).jpg|thumb|left|300px|''[[Valdemar Atterdag holding Visby to ransom, 1361]]'', by [[Carl Gustaf Hellqvist]] (1851–1890).]]

The work on the [[Visby City Wall|ring wall]] was likely begun in the 12th century. Around 1300, it was rebuilt to reach its current height, acquiring the characteristic towers, although some towers were not constructed until the 15th century. The [[Circular rampart|ringwall]] is still largely intact.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Andrén |first1=Anders |title=Det medeltida Gotland: en arkeologisk guidebok |date=2011 |publisher=Historiska media |location=Lund |isbn=978-91-85873-83-8 |url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/12028545 |access-date=15 June 2014}}</ref>

In the first half of the 14th century (1300–1350), Visby was at the height of its wealth and influence, and it was during this time that [[Laws of Wisbuy]], a set of maritime laws that had broad influence in the Baltic and beyond, were probably promulgated.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Stone |first=Arthur J. |date=October 1842 |title=Canada's Admiralty Court in the Twentieth Century |url=http://lawjournal.mcgill.ca/userfiles/other/2324371-47.3.Stone.pdf |journal=McGill Law Journal |volume=47 |pages=511–558 |access-date=11 April 2016 |archive-date=20 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020094833/http://lawjournal.mcgill.ca/userfiles/other/2324371-47.3.Stone.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 1361, [[Valdemar Atterdag's invasion of Gotland|Gotland was conquered]] by [[Valdemar IV of Denmark]]. 1,800 Gotlanders were killed in battle in front of the city. Valdemar tore down part of the wall, set up three huge beer barrels and threatened to turn his men loose to pillage the town unless they were filled with silver and gold. The Visby city fathers fulfilled the demand, with churches stripped of their valuables. Valdemar added "King of Gotland" to his title list.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Westholm |first1=Gun |title=Visby 1361: Invasionen |date=2007 |publisher=Prisma |language=sv |location=Stockholm |isbn=978-91-518-4568-5 |url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/10415688 |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref> His treatment of Visby, a member of the Hanseatic League, precipitated that League into war with Denmark; however, though Valdemar was forced into various concessions, he retained Visby as a Danish city.<ref name=Tacitus>{{cite web |last1=Martinsson |first1=Örjan |title=Gotland |url=http://www.tacitus.nu/svenskhistoria/land/gotland.htm |website=www.tacitus.nu |publisher=TACITUS.NU |access-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>

In 1391, 1394 and 1398, it was taken and plundered by the [[Victual Brothers]], pirates who sailed the [[Baltic Sea]]. An invading army of [[Teutonic Knights]] conquered Gotland in 1398, destroyed Visby and expelled the Victual Brothers.<ref name=Tacitus /> In 1409, Grand Master [[Ulrich von Jungingen]] of the Teutonic Knights guaranteed peace with the [[Kalmar Union]] of [[Scandinavia]] by selling the island of Gotland to Queen [[Margaret I of Denmark|Margaret of Denmark, Norway and Sweden]].<ref name=Tacitus />

In 1411, the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish King [[Eric of Pomerania]] had the castle of [[Visborg]] constructed, and settled himself there for 12 years, during which the city virtually became a pirates' nest, and the commerce halted. As of 1470, the Hanseatic League rescinded Visby's status as a Hanseatic town.<ref name=Tacitus />

In 1525, the final blow came. In the Danish throne quarrel, [[Free City of Lübeck|Lübeck]], a [[Free imperial city|Free City]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] and a leading member of the Hanseatic League, supported [[Frederick I of Denmark|Frederick I]], while [[Søren Norby]] the Danish governor of Gotland fought for [[Christian II of Denmark|Christian II]], even after Christian's official resignation in 1523. While Norby fought a military action in Sweden, the Lübeckers successfully attacked Visby and set the city on fire from four sites. But unlike widespread belief, several churches survived at first. The churches of St. James (which already had been closed before), St. Nicholas and St. Gertrude were sacked by Lübeck's army. With the reformation, all churches except St. John, which became the city parish, were closed. In 1528, the citizens of Visby sacked the church of the Holy Trinity, or the church of Our Lord ({{langx|sv|Drottens kyrka}}) in revenge for the plundering of their town. In 1533–34, the new Danish governor, {{Interlanguage link multi|Henrik Nielsen Rosenkrantz|da}}, demolished St. John's and St. Peter's churches to improve the defence of his castle Visborgs slott. [[Visby Cathedral|St. Mary's Cathedral]] remained the last functional church and became the new city parish.<ref name=Tacitus /><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.slottsguiden.info/slottdetalj.asp?id=165| title = Slottsguiden, ''S:ta Karin, Sverige''}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.slottsguiden.info/slottdetalj.asp?id=169| title = Slottsguiden, ''S:t Per och S:t Hans, Sverige''}}</ref>

Gotland was again taken into Sweden's possession in 1645, by the [[Second Treaty of Brömsebro (1645)|Treaty of Brömsebro]], after 300&nbsp;years of Danish rule.<ref name=Tacitus /> The city developed slowly as things were left as they were.<ref>{{cite book |last=Englund |first=Peter |title=Ofredsår |publisher=Atlantis |location=Stockholm |year=2003 |pages=368 and 394 |isbn=91-7486-349-5 |language=sv}}</ref> In the mid 18th century, [[Great Northern War plague outbreak|after a plague had reduced]] Visby's population, some attempts were made by Swedish government officials to improve living standards, but little was accomplished. Not until the early 19th century did Visby once again attract commerce and a harbour industry. At the same time – 1808 – [[Russian occupation of Gotland|Gotland was conquered by Russia]], but was peacefully taken back by the Swedes after only a couple of months.<ref name=Tacitus />