Editing Kalmar Union (section)

=== Internal conflict ===
Diverging interests (especially the [[Swedish nobility]]'s dissatisfaction with the dominant role played by Denmark and [[Holstein]]) gave rise to a conflict that hampered the union in several intervals starting in the 1430s. The [[Engelbrekt rebellion]], which started in 1434, led to the overthrow of King Erik (in Denmark and Sweden in 1439, as well as Norway in 1442).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Bagge|first=Sverre|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NFJNAgAAQBAJ&pg=PP1|title=Cross and Scepter: The Rise of the Scandinavian Kingdoms from the Vikings to the Reformation|date=2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-5010-5|pages=251–259|language=en}}</ref> The aristocracy sided with the rebels.<ref name=":0" />

King Erik's foreign policy, in particular his conflict with the Hanseatic League, necessitated greater taxation and complicated exports of iron, which in turn may have precipitated the rebellion.<ref name=":0" /> Discontent with the nature of Erik's regime has also been cited as a motivating factor for the rebellion.<ref name=":0" /> Erik also lacked a standing army and had limited tax revenues.<ref name=":0" />

The death of [[Christopher of Bavaria]] (who had no heirs) in 1448 ended a period in which the three Scandinavian kingdoms were uninterruptedly united for a lengthy period.<ref name=":0" /> [[Charles VIII of Sweden|Karl Knutsson Bonde]] ruled as king of Sweden (1448–1457, 1464–1465, and 1467–1470) and Norway (1449-1450). [[Christian I of Denmark|Christian of Oldenburg]] was king of Denmark (1448–1481), Norway (1450–1481) and Sweden (1457–1464). Karl and Christian fought over control of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, leading Christian to seize Sweden from him from 1457 to 1464 before a rebellion led Karl to become king of Sweden again.<ref name=":0" /> When Karl died in 1470, Christian tried to become king of Sweden again, but was defeated by [[Sten Sture the Elder]] in the 1471 [[battle of Brunkeberg]] outside Stockholm.<ref name=":0" />

After Karl's death, Sweden was mostly ruled by a series of "protectors of the realm" (''[[Reichsverweser#Sweden|riksföreståndare]]''), with the Danish kings attempting to assert control. First of these protectors was Sten Sture, who kept Sweden under his control until 1497, when the Swedish nobility deposed him. A peasant rebellion led Sture to become regent of Sweden again in 1501. After his death, Sweden was ruled by [[Svante Nilsson (regent of Sweden)|Svante Nilsson]] (1504–1512) and then Svante's son [[Sten Sture the Younger]] (1512–1520).<ref name=":0" /> Sten Sture the Younger was killed in the 1520 Battle of Bogesund when the Danish king [[Christian II of Denmark|Christian II]] invaded Sweden with a large army.<ref name=":0" /> Subsequently, Christian II was crowned King of Sweden, and supporters of Sten Sture were executed en masse in the [[Stockholm Bloodbath]].<ref name=":0" />

==== Swedish War of Liberation ====
After the Stockholm Bloodbath, [[Gustav I of Sweden|Gustav Vasa]] (whose father, [[Erik Johansson Vasa|Erik Johansson]], was executed) travelled to [[Dalarna]], where he organized a [[Swedish War of Liberation|rebellion]] against Christian II.<ref name=":0" /> Vasa made an alliance with Lübeck and successfully conquered most of Sweden.<ref name=":0" /> He was elected King of Sweden in 1523, effectively ending the Kalmar Union.<ref name=":0" /> After the [[Northern Seven Years' War]], the [[Treaty of Stettin (1570)]] saw [[Frederick II of Denmark|Frederick II]] renounce all claims to Sweden.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bain |first=Robert Nisbet |author-link=Robert Nisbet Bain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dPQwweeMSvMC |title=Scandinavia: A Political History of Denmark, Norway and Sweden from 1513 to 1960 |date=1905 |publisher=Adegi Graphics LLC |isbn=978-0-543-93900-5 |pages=83 |language=en}}</ref>