Stockholm Bloodbath - 1520

The Stockholm Bloodbath was a series of massexecutions in the Swedish modern capital of Stockholm between 7th and 9th of November 1520.

After the founding of the Kalmar Union (1397-1523) between Denmark, Norway and Sweden under Danish rule a series of conflicts rose up between the danish leading monarchy and the Swedish peasants and nobility who craved lowered taxes and later in during the 1400's even independance. In 1520 the Kalmar Union was under the rule of the Danish king Christian II (1481-1559) who wanted to unify the union again under a strong central power under political and economic stability. And to do so he had to solve the dispute and triumph over the rebellious Swedish people and high nobility.

Meanwhile in Sweden the Swedish forces under the governship of Sten Sture the younger (1492/1493-1520) continued to crave independance and fought fiercly against institutions and people that supported the union governship, such as arch bishop Gustav Trolle (1488-1535) whose manor was burnt to the ground and term as arch bishop ended, ordered by Sten Sture the younger. The arch bishop would soon get under the protection of king Christian II. The opposition however started to stagnate in early 1520 after the sudden death of Sten Sture the younger who had been wounded in a battle against Christian II's armies.

Soon enough, without the leadership of Sten Sture the younger, the nobility surrendered and Christian II was victorious. The 1st of November 1520 Christian II entered Stockholm and was crowned three days later as union king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The coronation was itself solemnized by arch bishop Gustav Trolle.

Christian II promised with his coronation amnesty and safety to the Swedish high nobility and would invite many of them to his coronation feast. But after three days of feast it all changed. On the evening of that day, Christian summoned many Swedish leaders to a private conference at the palace. At dusk on 7th of November, Danish soldiers, with lanterns and torches, entered a great hall of the royal palace and took away several noble guests and imprisoned them, as ordered by Gustav Trolle, who wished revenge for the opposition he had faced under Sten Sture the younger and the Swedish nobility. Gustav Trolle accused the high nobility for high treason against the crown and the church and accused them for heresy - an accusion only punishable by death.

Following the days between 7th and 9th of November 1520 all of the visitors of the Swedish high nobility were executed, together with a bunch of bishops, priests and burghers, as well suspected and accused for high treason against king Christian II. According to the executioner 82 people were killed.

Normally the king Christian II was blamed for the events, as well as arch bishop Gustav Trolle and the danish army. Christian II himself justified the massacre in a proclamation to the Swedish people as a measure necessary to avoid a papal interdict. The mass executions would soon enough start a big rebellion under Gustav Eriksson "Vasa" (1496-1560) who would successfully overthrow Christian II in 1523, make Sweden independant and make himself king.

I am actually quite proud of this thing. :J