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Mecklenburgian invasion of Sweden

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Mecklenburgian invasion of Sweden
Part of the Wars of Deposition against Magnus
Date1363–1364
Location
Result
Territorial
changes
  • Västergötland, Värmland and Dalsland ceded to Magnus Eriksson and Haakon VI as personal fiefdoms
  • First Swedish-Norwegian union dissolved
  • Belligerents

    First Swedish-Norwegian union

    Mecklenburg

    Commanders and leaders
    Magnus Eriksson
    Haakon VI
    Albert of Mecklenburg
    History of Sweden (800–1521) Nils Turesson Bielke

    The Mecklenburgian invasion of Sweden was a military campaign by led by Duke Albert II of Mecklenburg that took place in 1363–1364, following a rebellion and deposition war against the king of Sweden, Magnus Eriksson. In 1364, Magnus was deposed, and the duke's son Albert III of Mecklenburg was crowned King of Sweden.

    Background

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    In the year 1363, the conspiracies among the nobility began to have repercussions for both Magnus Eriksson and Haakon VI, the kings of Sweden and Norway.

    The recent territorial losses suffered by the kingdom, particularly the cession of Scania and Blekinge to Denmark, were attributed to a supposed conspiracy involving Magnus and Haakon. This led to several Swedish noblemen to embark on a journey to Germany in search of a new candidate which they thought would be more suitable for the throne. They ended up deciding on Albert III of Mecklenburg, who is the youngest son of Duke Albert II of Mecklenburg and a nephew of Magnus Eriksson.[1][2]

    War

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    In the autumn of 1363, Duke Albert II got informed that the Danish King Valdemar IV had embarked on an extended journey abroad, he saw this as an opportune moment to join the rebellion, as he was now shielded from any kind of Danish involvement in the conflict. On November 10th, Albert accompanied by Swedish nobles and a contingent of 600 soldiers, with the intent to dethrone Magnus Eriksson from the Swedish throne set sail from Warnemünde. The forces from Mecklenburg, along with the rebellious Swedish nobles, landed in Stockholm by November 29th,, where they encountered minimal resistance. When the kings of the union, Magnus Eriksson and Haakon VI got word of this they promptly prepared for battle.[3] In Lake Kilarpsjön a fortress was constructed on an island to secure the northern approach along the road through Holaveden.[4]

    Albert III of Mecklenburg was elected king of Sweden on February 15th, 1364, despite this being contrary to existing laws that the king must be of Swedish descent. Albert's election was questionable in a legal sense, even though he was in fact the nephew of King Magnus Eriksson. In Finland, Nils Turesson Bielke, stationed at Viborg, lost Svaneholm Castle to the Åbo garrison loyal to Magnus after a six-day siege. This event most likely marked a stalemate in the conflict, and the Treaty of Jönköping was signed on July 1364, wherein both parties agreed to a ceasefire for the remainder of the year, while Magnus Eriksson and Haakon VI would gain control over Västergötland, Värmland and Dalsland as personal fiefdoms.[3][5]

    References

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    1. ^ Sundberg 2010, p. 251–253.
    2. ^ Sundberg 1999, p. 173.
    3. ^ a b Opsahl 2019.
    4. ^ Opsahl 2024.
    5. ^ Sundberg 1999, p. 175.

    Cited works

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    • Sundberg, Ulf (2010). Sveriges krig (in Swedish). Hallstavik: Svenskt militärhistoriskt bibliotek. ISBN 978-91-85789-61-0.
    • Sundberg, Ulf (1999). Medeltidens Svenska krig (in Swedish). Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Hogberg. ISBN 91-89080-26-2.
    • Opsahl, Erik (2019). Skre, Dagfinn (ed.). Rulership in 1st to 14th century Scandinavia. Berlin/Boston: de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-042110-1.
    • Opsahl, Erik (2024-04-30), "Magnus 7. Eriksson", Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian), retrieved 2024-09-04
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