and not yet published, are the MSS. known as Gustaf I.'s r?dslagar, Gustaf I.'s acta historica, and Gustaf I.'s bref med bilagor,--all to be found in the Royal Archives at Stockholm,--and the MSS. known as the Palmski?ld samlingar in the Upsala Library. All these I have carefully examined. I have also browsed during several months among the libraries of Sweden, and have spared no pains to get at everything, written or printed, contemporary or subsequent, that might throw light upon the subject. The most important of these materials are mentioned in the bibliography inserted immediately before the Index to this work. In order to add vividness as well as accuracy to the narrative, I have visited personally nearly all the battle-fields and other spots connected with this history. My descriptions of the leading contemporaries of Gustavus are based on a careful study of the portraits in the Gripsholm gallery, most of which were painted from life.
Finally, a word of thanks is due to the libraries and archives from which I have derived most aid. Of these the chief are the British Museum, the University Library at Upsala, and above all, the Royal Library and the Royal Archives at Stockholm. To the last two institutions I owe more than I can express. They are the storehouses of Swedish history, and their doors were thrown open to me with a generosity and freedom beyond all that I could hope. I wish here to thank my many friends, the custodians of these treasures, for the personal encouragement and assistance they have lent me in the prosecution of this work.
August 15, 1889.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH OF GUSTAVUS VASA. 1496-1513. PAGE Birth of Gustavus.--His Ancestors.--Anarchy in Sweden.--Its Causes: Former Independence of the People; Growth of Christianity; Growth of the Aristocracy; the Cabinet; Enslavement of Sweden; Revolt of the People against Denmark.--Christiern I.--Sten Sture.--Hans.--Svante Sture.--Sten Sture the Younger.--Childhood of Gustavus.--His Education at Upsala 1
CHAPTER II.
FIRST MILITARY ADVENTURES OF GUSTAVUS; A PRISONER IN DENMARK. 1514-1519.
Description of Stockholm.--Christina Gyllenstjerna.--Hemming Gad.--Christiern II.--Gustaf Trolle.--Dissension between Sten Sture and Gustaf Trolle.--Siege of St?ket.--First Expedition of Christiern II. against Sweden.--Trial of the Archbishop.--Arcimboldo.--Second Expedition of Christiern II. against Sweden.--Capture of Gustavus Vasa.--Resignation of the Archbishop.--Hostilities of Christiern II.--Farewell of Arcimboldo. 28
CHAPTER III.
FLIGHT OF GUSTAVUS; UPRISING OF THE DALESMEN. 1519-1521.
Escape of Gustavus from Denmark.--Lubeck.--Return of Gustavus to Sweden.--Excommunication of Sture.--Invasion of Sweden.--Death of Sture.--Dissolution of the Swedish Army.--Heroism of Christina.--Battle of Upsala.--Gustavus at Kalmar.--Fall of Stockholm.--Coronation of Christiern II.--Slaughter of the Swedes.--Flight of Gustavus to Dalarne.--Efforts to rouse the Dalesmen.--Gustavus chosen Leader. 59
CHAPTER IV.
WAR OF INDEPENDENCE; ELECTION OF GUSTAVUS TO THE THRONE. 1521-1523.
Causes of the War.--Character of the Dalesmen.--Growth of the Patriot Army.--Didrik Slagheck.--Battle of K?ping.--Capture of Vester?s; of Upsala.--Skirmish with Trolle.--Skirmishes near Stockholm.--Siege of Stegeborg.--Norby.--Rensel.--Brask.--Progress of the War.--Coinage of Gustavus.--Christiern's Troubles in Denmark.--Siege of Stockholm.--Fall of Kalmar.--Diet of Strengn?s.--Fall of Stockholm.--Retrospect of the War. 90
CHAPTER V.
BEGINNINGS OF THE REFORMATION. 1523-1524.
Nature of the Reformation in Europe.--Cause of the Reformation in Sweden.--The Debt to Lubeck.--Riches of the Church.--Relations of Gustavus to the Pope.--Johannes Magni.--New Taxation.--Dissension among the People.--Opposition of Gustavus to the Pope.--Trial of Peder Sunnanv?der.--Expedition against Gotland.--Repudiation of the "Klippings."--Berent von Mehlen.--Negotiations between Fredrik and Norby.--Congress of Malm?.--Efforts to appease the People.--Lutheranism.--Olaus Petri.--Laurentius Andre?.--Brask's Efforts to repress Heresy.--Religious Tendencies of Gustavus.--Character of Brask. 118
CHAPTER VI.
RELIGIOUS DISCORD AND CIVIL WAR. 1524-1525.
Riot of the Anabaptists.--Contest between Olaus Petri and Peder Galle.--Marriage of Petri.--Conspiracy of Norby; of Christina Gyllenstjerna; of Mehlen; of Sunnanv?der.--Attitude of Fredrik to Gustavus.--Proposition of Gustavus to resign the Crown.--Norby's Incursion into Bleking.--Surrender of Visby.--Flight of Mehlen.--Fall of Kalmar. 165
CHAPTER VII.
DEALINGS WITH FOREIGN POWERS. 1525-1527.
Negotiations between Fredrik and Gustavus.--Treachery of Norby.--Sunnanv?der and the Cabinet of Norway.--Overthrow and Death of Norby.--Trial and Execution of Knut and Sunnanv?der.--Debt to Lubeck.--Treaty with Russia; with the Netherlands.--Dalarne and the Lubeck Envoys.--Swedish Property in Denmark.--Province of Viken.--Refugees in Norway. 190
CHAPTER VIII.
INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION. 1525-1527.
Nature of the Period.--Translation of the Bible.--Quarrel between the King and Brask.--Opposition to the Monasteries.--High-handed Measures of the King.--Second Disputation between Petri and Galle.--Opposition to Luther's Teaching.--Banishment of Magni.--Further Opposition to the Monasteries.--Revolt of the Dalesmen.--Diet of Vester?s.--"Vester?s Recess."--"Vester?s Ordinantia."--Fall of Brask; his Flight; his Character. 220
CHAPTER IX.
CORONATION OF THE KING. 1528.
Reasons for Delay of the Coronation.--Preparations for the Ceremony.--Consecration of the Bishops.--Coronation Festival.--Retrospect of the Revolution.--Character of Gustavus. 268
BIBLIOGRAPHY 277
INDEX 293
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE Seal of Bishop Brask. Bears the inscription: S[IGILLVM] IOH[ANN]IS DEI GRA[CIA] EPI[SCOPI] LINCOPENSIS 103
"Klipping" issued by Gustavus Vasa in 1521 or 1522. On one side, the bust of a man in armor. On the other, crowns and arrows, with the inscription: ERI[KS]SO[N] 107
Medal struck in commemoration of the deliverance of Sweden in 1522. On one side, a half-length figure of Gustavus Vasa, with the date 1522 and the inscription: GVSTAF ERICSEN G[VBERNATOR] R[EGNI] S[VECIAE]. On the other, crowns and arrows, with the inscription: PROTEGE NOS IESV 116
Coin issued in Stockholm in 1522. On one
![](qr/3222/2.png)
Continue reading on your phone by scaning this QR Code
Tip: The current page has been bookmarked automatically. If you wish to continue reading later, just open the
Dertz Homepage, and click on the 'continue reading' link at the bottom of the page.