Editing Stockholm Bloodbath

{{Short description|1520 trial and executions following the coronation of Christian II as King of Sweden}}
[[File:Blodbadstavlan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Stockholm Bloodbath as it was depicted in ''Blodbadsplanschen'', 1524]]

The '''Stockholm Bloodbath''' ({{langx|sv|Stockholms blodbad}}) was a [[trial]] that led to a series of executions in [[Stockholm]] between 7 and 9 November 1520. The event is also known as the '''Stockholm massacre'''.<ref>Usually called "Stockholm bloodbath" (natively ''Stockholms blodbad''), the event is also known as "Stockholm massacre" in English, so called in the English translation of  [[Erik Gustaf Geijer]]'s ''Svenska folkets historia'' (1832–36), published in 1845 as ''The History of the Swedes'' (p. 102).</ref>

The events occurred after the coronation of [[Christian II of Denmark|Christian II]] as the new [[king of Sweden]],<ref>{{harvnb|Lindqvist|1993|p=13|Ref=none}}</ref> when guests in the crowning party were invited to a meeting at [[Tre Kronor (castle)|Tre Kronor]] castle. Archbishop [[Gustav Trolle]], demanding economic compensation for things such as the demolition of [[Almarestäket's castle|Almarestäket's fortress]], questioned whether the former Swedish regent [[Sten Sture the Younger]] and his supporters had been guilty of [[heresy]]. Supported by [[canon law]], nearly 100 people<ref>[https://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/l%C3%A5ng/stockholms-blodbad ''Stockholm Bloodbath''] on [[Nationalencyklopedin]]'s website. Retrieved 8 January 2014.</ref> were executed in the days following the meeting despite promises of amnesty. Among those killed were many people from the aristocracy who had been supporting the ''Sture Party'' in the previous years. Thereafter King Christian II became known in Sweden as {{lang|sv|Kristian Tyrann}} ("Christian [the] Tyrant").

==Background==

===Political factions in Sweden===
The Stockholm Bloodbath was a consequence of conflict between Swedish pro-unionists (in favour of the [[Kalmar Union]], then dominated by Denmark) and anti-unionists (supporters of Swedish independence), and also between the anti-unionists and the Danish [[aristocracy]], which in other aspects was opposed to King Christian.<ref name="Poulsen2007">{{cite book|author=Jens Aage Poulsen|title=Det Historiske Overblik|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PK7N2SZx15AC&pg=PA102|access-date=6 July 2013|year=2007|publisher=Gyldendal Uddannelse|language=da|isbn=978-87-02-05665-5|pages=102–}}</ref> The anti-unionist party was headed by [[Sten Sture the Younger]], and the pro-unionist party by the [[Archbishop]] [[Gustavus Trolle]].{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

===Military interventions of King Christian===
King Christian, who had already taken measures to isolate Sweden politically, intervened to help Archbishop Trolle, who was under [[siege]] in his [[fortress]] at [[Stäket]]. However, he was defeated by Sture and his peasant soldiers at [[Vedila]], and forced to return to Denmark. A second attempt to bring Sweden back under his control in 1518 was also countered by Sture's victory at [[Brännkyrka]]. Eventually, a third attempt made in 1520 with a large army of [[France|French]], [[Germany|German]] and [[Scotland|Scottish]] [[mercenary|mercenaries]] proved successful.<ref name=EB1911/>

Sture was mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Bogesund]] on 19 January 1520. The Danish army, unopposed, was approaching [[Uppsala]], where the members of the Swedish [[Riksdag of the Estates]] had already assembled. The senators agreed to render homage to Christian, on condition that he give a full [[amnesty]] for past actions and a guarantee that Sweden should be ruled according to Swedish laws and customs. A convention to this effect was confirmed by the king and the Danish [[Danish Council of State|Privy Council]] on 31 March.<ref name=EB1911/> Sture's widow, [[Christina Gyllenstierna|Lady Kristina]], was still resisting in [[Stockholm]] with support from the peasants of central Sweden, and defeated the Danes at Balundsås on 19 March. Eventually, her forces [[Battle of Uppsala|were defeated at Uppsala]] ({{lang|sv|långfredagsslaget vid Uppsala}}) on Good Friday, 6 April.<ref>Syse, Bent. (2003) ''Långfredagsslaget: en arkeologisk historia'' (Uppsala: Upplandsmuseets); {{ISBN|91-85618-71-3}}</ref>

In May, the Danish fleet, led by King Christian, arrived and [[Siege of Stockholm (1520)|Stockholm was attacked]] by land and sea. Lady Kristina resisted for four months longer, and in the beginning of autumn Kristina's forces began winning. The inhabitants of Stockholm had a large supply of food and fared relatively well. Christian realized that his stockpile was dwindling and that it would doom his army to maintain the siege throughout the winter. With the help of [[Mattias Gregersson|Bishop Mattias]], Hemming Gadh and other Swedes of high stature, Christian sent a proposal for retreat that was very advantageous for the Swedes. During a meeting on what is thought to be Beckholmen, outside of [[Djurgården]], Christian swore that all acts against him would be forgotten, and gave pardon to several named persons (including [[Gustav Vasa]], who had escaped from Denmark, where he had been held hostage). Lady Kristina would be given Hörningsholm and all Mörkön as a [[fief]], and was also promised [[Tavastehus]] (Hämeenlinna) in [[Finland]]. When this had been written down on paper, the mayor of the city delivered the keys to the city on [[Södermalm]] and Christian held his grand entry. Shortly after, he sailed back to Denmark, to return in October for his coronation.<ref>[[Alf Henrikson|Henrikson, Alf]]. (1966) ''Svensk Historia''; {{ISBN|91-0-047053-8}}<!-- publishing info needed -->{{pages needed|date=November 2020}}</ref>

==Massacre==
[[Image:Stockholm Bloodbath.jpg|thumb|300px|Stockholm Bloodbath]]
On 4 November, Christian was [[anointing|anointed]] by [[Gustavus Trolle]] in [[Storkyrkan|Storkyrkan Cathedral]] and took the usual [[oath]] to rule the kingdom through native-born Swedes only.<ref name=EB1911/> A [[banquet]] was held for the next three days. Lots of wine and beer was drunk and jokes were cracked between Danes and Swedes.<ref>Henrikson, Alf & Hasse Erikson (1979) ''Storkyrkan: en svensk krönika'' (Stockholm: Bonnier); {{ISBN|91-0-042947-3}}</ref>

On the evening of 7 November, Christian summoned many Swedish leaders to a private conference at the palace. At dusk on 8 November, Danish soldiers, with lanterns and torches, entered a great hall of the royal palace and imprisoned several noble guests. Later in the evening, even more of the king's guests were imprisoned. All these people had previously been marked down on Archbishop Trolle's [[proscription]] list.<ref name=EB1911/>

The following day, 9 November, a council, headed by Archbishop Trolle, sentenced the proscribed to [[death penalty|death]] for being [[Christian heresy|heretics]]; the main point of accusation was their having united in a pact to depose Trolle a few years earlier. However, many of them were also leading men of the Sture party and thus potential opponents of the Danish kings. At noon, the anti-unionist [[bishop]]s of [[Skara]] and [[Strängnäs]] were led out into the [[Stortorget (Stockholm)|great square]] and [[decapitation|beheaded]]. Fourteen noblemen, three [[burgomaster]]s, fourteen town [[councillor]]s and about twenty common citizens of Stockholm were then [[Hanging|hanged]] or beheaded.<ref name=EB1911/>

The executions continued throughout the following day (10 November).<ref name=EB1911/> According to the chief executioner, Jörgen Homuth, 82 people were executed.<ref>Lars Ericson Wolke. ''Stockholms Blodbad'', Stockholm 2006,{{ISBN|9151843803}} p. 141</ref> It has been claimed that Christian also took revenge on Sten Sture's body, having it dug up and burnt, as well as the body of his child.<ref name=EB1911/> Sture's widow [[Christina Gyllenstierna|Lady Kristina]] and many other noblewomen were taken as prisoners to Denmark.<ref name="Britannica">[[Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition]], 1911, [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31447/31447-h/31447-h.htm#ar65 ''Christian II'' profile], gutenberg.org; accessed 12 May 2015.</ref>

==Aftermath==
Christian justified the massacre in a proclamation to the Swedish people as a measure necessary to avoid a papal [[Interdict (Catholic canon law)|interdict]], but, when apologising to the [[Pope]] for the decapitation of the bishops, he blamed his troops for performing unauthorised acts of [[Revenge|vengeance]].<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|wstitle=Christian II. |volume=6 |pages=274–276 |first=Robert Nisbet |last=Bain |authorlink=Robert Nisbet Bain|inline=1}}</ref><ref>[[Lauritz Weibull|Weibull, Lauritz]]. ''Nordisk historia. Forskningar och undersökningar. Del III. Från Erik den helige till Karl XII'', Stockholm 1949, pp. 160–163. {{ISBN|9968-04-746-5}}</ref>

[[Gustav Vasa]] was a son of [[Erik Johansson Vasa|Erik Johansson]], one of the victims of the executions. Vasa, upon hearing of the massacre, travelled north to the province of [[Dalarna]] to seek support for a new revolt. The population, informed of what had happened, rallied to his side. They were ultimately able to defeat Christian's forces in the [[Swedish War of Liberation]]. The massacre became the catalyst that permanently separated Sweden from Denmark.<ref name="LOC Bloodbath">{{cite web |last1=Hofverberg |first1=Elin |title=The Stockholm Bloodbath of November 1520 |url=https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2021/11/the-stockholm-bloodbath-of-november-1520/ |website=Library of Congress – Blog |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=30 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120043040/https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2021/11/the-stockholm-bloodbath-of-november-1520/ |archive-date=20 January 2022 |date=9 November 2021}}</ref>

==Later reception and propaganda==
The Stockholm Bloodbath precipitated a lengthy hostility towards Danes in Sweden, and from then on the two nations were almost continuously hostile toward each other. These hostilities, developing into a struggle for [[hegemony]] in the Scandinavian and North German area, lasted for nearly three hundred years. Memory of the Bloodbath served to let Swedes depict themselves (and often, actually regard themselves) as the wronged and aggrieved party, even when they were the ones who eventually took the political and military lead, such as the conquest and annexation of [[Scania]] until the [[Treaty of Roskilde]] in 1658.<ref>Frost, Robert I. (2000) ''The Northern Wars. War, State and Society in Northeastern Europe 1558–1721'' (Harlow: Pearson Education Limited); {{ISBN|978-0-582-06429-4}}</ref>

===Christian the Tyrant and spurious "Christian the Good"===
The event earned Christian II the nickname of ''Kristian Tyrann'' (''Christian [the] Tyrant'') in Sweden, which is retained in the present day.<ref name="Liljegren2004">{{cite book|author=Bengt Liljegren|title=Rulers of Sweden|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dDhpAAAAMAAJ|access-date=6 July 2013|year=2004|publisher=Historiska Media|isbn=978-91-85057-63-4|page=67}}</ref> It is a common misconception in Sweden that King Christian II is given the contrary byname {{lang|da|Christian den Gode}} (''Christian the Good'') in Denmark, but this is [[apocrypha]]l.<ref name="Olsen2004">{{cite book|author=Rikke Agnete Olsen|title=41 fortællinger om folk i fædrelandets historie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0sjAQAAMAAJ|access-date=6 July 2013|year=2004|publisher=Lindhardt og Ringhof|language=da|isbn=978-87-595-2373-5|page=149}}</ref>

According to Danish historians, no bynames have been given to Christian II in Danish historical tradition. In an interview with Gunnar Richardson in 1979, Danish historian [[Mikael Venge]], author of the article about Christian II in ''[[Dansk Biografisk Leksikon]] ''said: "I think you ought to protest the next time the Swedish radio claims anything so utterly unfounded that could be understood as if the Danes approved of the Stockholm bloodbath." Despite this, even today, tourist guides in Stockholm spice up their guiding of the Old Town ([[Gamla Stan]]) with the news about Christian II's "rehabilitation" back in Denmark.<ref name="Richardson">Gunnar Richardson, [https://web.archive.org/web/20020901122731/http://www.dagensforskning.se/article_serie.asp?article_id=736 "Kristian II – Tyrann eller den gode?"], ''Dagens Forskning'', 13 May 2002. {{dead link|date=May 2015}}</ref>

==In fiction==
The Stockholm Bloodbath has been depicted in several pieces of fiction:

* The event is depicted in the 1901 novel ''[[The Fall of the King|Kongens Fald]]'' (''The Fall of the King''), by Nobel Laureate [[Johannes V. Jensen]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Dansk litteraturs historie: 1870–1920|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9jVckGVrlaIC&pg=PA672|access-date=6 July 2013|year=2009|publisher=Gyldendal A/S|isbn=978-87-02-04184-2|pages=672–}}</ref>
* The bloodbath forms a large part of the 1948 [[historical novel]] ''[[The Adventurer (novel)|The Adventurer]]'' (original title ''Mikael Karvajalka'') by the [[Finnish people|Finnish]] writer [[Mika Waltari]]. The events are depicted as seen by Mikael Karvajalka, a young Finn in Stockholm at the time.<ref>{{cite book|title=The New York Times Book Review|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LIMPAQAAMAAJ|access-date=6 July 2013|year=1950|publisher=Arno Press|page=9}}</ref>
* A number of references to the Stockholm Bloodbath appear in ''[[Freddy's Book]]'' (1980) by American novelist [[John Gardner (novelist)|John Gardner]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Book Review Digest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Bw8kAQAAMAAJ|access-date=6 July 2013|year=1980|publisher=H.W. Wilson Co.|page=435}}</ref>
* A 2005 book ''Bruden fra Gent'' (translated in Nl. ''De Gentse Bruid'', or ''The Bride From Ghent'') by the Danish writer [[Dorrit Willumsen]], referenced these events. It illuminates the life of Christian II as seen from his relationship with his mistress, the Dutch [[Dyveke Sigbritsdatter|Dyveke]], and his wife [[Isabella of Austria]], sister of [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles the Fifth]].{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}.
* The event is the subject of the 2023 film ''[[Stockholm Bloodbath (film)|Stockholm Bloodbath]]'' directed by [[Mikael Håfström]] which depicts the events with [[Black comedy|dark comedy]] overtones.<ref>{{Citation |last=Håfström |first=Mikael |title=Stockholm Bloodbath |date=2024-01-18 |type=Action, History, War |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18163814/ |access-date=2024-01-22 |others=Sophie Cookson, Alba August, Emily Beecham |publisher=Nordisk Film, Viaplay Studios}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Kalmar Union]]
*[[Sten Sture the Younger]]
*[[Swedish War of Liberation]]
*[[Sture Murders]]
*[[Åbo Bloodbath]]
*[[Linköping Bloodbath]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*Wolke, Lars Ericson  (2006)  ''Stockholms blodbad''  (Stockholm: Prisma) {{ISBN|91-518-4380-3}} 
*Larsson, Lars-Olof  (2003) ''Kalmarunionens tid, Bokförlaget Prisma'' (Stockholm: Andra upplagan) {{ISBN|91-518-4217-3}}. 
*[[Lauritz Weibull|Weibull, Lauritz]] (1949) ''Nordisk historia. Forskningar och undersökningar. Del III. Från Erik den helige till Karl XII, [[Natur & Kultur]]'' Stockholm  {{ISBN|9968-04-746-5}}. 
*[[Dick Harrison|Harrison, Dick]] (2002) ''Sveriges historia. Medeltiden''  (Stockholm: Liber)   {{ISBN|91-47-05115-9}}. 
*[[Dick Harrison|Harrison, Dick]] (1997) ''Uppror och allianser. Politiskt våld i 1400-talets svenska bondesamhälle'' (Lund: Historiska institutionen); {{ISBN|91-85057-37-1}}.

==External links==
*[http://members.tripod.com/Strv102r/stockholm_bloodbath.htm The Stockholm Bloodbath – 7 November 1520]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120426052612/http://www.go-to-sweden.com/history-and-culture-of-sweden/swedish-kings/gustav-i-vasa/the-stockholm-bloodbath/ The Stockholm Bloodbath and information about Gustav I]

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[[Category:Stockholm Bloodbath| ]]
[[Category:Political history of Denmark]]
[[Category:History of Stockholm]]
[[Category:Political history of Sweden]]
[[Category:1520 in Christianity]]
[[Category:1520 in Sweden]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1520]]
[[Category:16th century in Stockholm]]
[[Category:16th-century executions by Denmark]]
[[Category:Massacres in Sweden]]
[[Category:Persecution of Christian heretics]]
[[Category:16th-century Catholicism]]
[[Category:Catholic Church in Sweden]]
[[Category:Denmark–Sweden relations]]
[[Category:Political and cultural purges]]
[[Category:Christian II of Denmark]]
[[Category:Military history of the Kalmar Union]]
[[Category:Attacks on official residences]]
[[Category:Attacks on residential buildings in Sweden]]
[[Category:Attacks on government buildings and structures in Sweden]]
[[Category:Public executions]]
[[Category:Decapitation]]