Engelbrekt rebellion

The Engelbrekt rebellion (Engelbrektsupproret) was an uprising during 1434–1436 led by Swedish miner and nobleman Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson and directed against Eric of Pomerania, the king of the Kalmar Union. The uprising, with its center in Dalarna and Bergslagen, spread throughout Svealand and Götaland. The rebellion caused erosion within the unity of the Kalmar Union, leading to the temporary expulsion of Danish forces from Sweden.[2] [3]

Statue of Engelbrekt at Kornhamnstorg in Stockholm. The statue, inaugurated in 1916, present the leader of the rebellion in the shape of the hero and "freedom fighter" William Tell. Engelbrekt and his army appear on an image on the tall base, while the memory of Eric of Pomerania is represented by a statue in the gardens of the Stockholm City Hall.[1]
Bronze statue of Engelbrekt in Arboga. Sculpted by Carl Eldh, 1935
Engelbrekt Monument at Borganäs

Background

In 1434, Sweden was part of the Kalmar Union, a personal union that united Sweden with Denmark and Norway under a single monarch, Eric of Pomerania. The Swedes were not happy with the Danes' frequent warfare on Schleswig, Holstein, Mecklenburg, and Pomerania, which disturbed Swedish exports (notably iron) to the Continent. During the Danish-Holstein-Hanseatic war, while the exports were brought to a halt, the collection of taxes continued, enraging Swedish peasants. Furthermore, the centralization of government in Denmark raised suspicions. The Swedish Privy Council wanted to retain a fair degree of self-government. [4]

Rebellion

Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson, with interests in the mining region of Bergslagen, stood out as the leader. In 1431 or 1432, Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson had been appointed spokesman for the people of Bergslagen to persuade King Erik to dismiss the local bailiff in Västerås, Jens Eriksen. Negotiations with Eric took place in Vadstena in August 1434, but were unsuccessful. In the summer of 1434, enraged miners and peasants burned Borganäs castle near Borlänge. The tension spread, causing several assaults on castles across the country. [5]

In January 1435 Engelbrekt summoned representatives from the four Estates to a Diet in Arboga, which later has been called the first Riksdag of the Estates (although it is uncertain whether the peasants really participated). Engelbrekt was elected Captain (Rikshövitsman) of the Swedish realm. The antagonism abated when Eric promised changes for the better. However, as before, people felt these promises were not being fulfilled, hence the rebels picked up their axes once more. On April 27, 1436, a rebel army unit was sent marching towards Stockholm, where people still supported Eric due to the strong and influential Danish presence in the city.

A certain degree of inner tension among the rebelling forces occurred because the Nobility and Clergy decided to support Karl Knutsson Bonde, who in 1436 had risen to the position of Rikshövitsman. Neither dared remove Engelbrekt completely because of his strong support among the burghers and peasants. However, Engelbrekt fell sick and became less active. In a twist of fate highly beneficial to Knutsson, Engelbrekt was assassinated on May 4 by Måns Bengtsson (Natt och Dag), the cause being an unrelated personal conflict. Consequently, Knutsson won the power struggle and would become King Charles VIII of Sweden in 1448. Riksråd Erik Puke attempted to rally Engelbrekt's old supporters in the Pukefejden, but it was too late. Erik Puke was apprehended and executed in Stockholm in 1437.[6] [7] [8]

Consequences

The Engelbrekt rebellion caused the unity of the Kalmar Union to erode, leading to the temporary expulsion of Danish forces from Sweden. Although later Danish kings regained influence over Sweden, the rebellion had set a precedent for Swedish claims to sovereignty. It also set a precedent for peasants to engage actively in Swedish politics. While it is uncertain whether all four Estates participated in the Diet (Riksdag) in Arboga, this was in fact the case in 1436, when a Diet was held in Uppsala following the death of Engelbrekt. Thus, the Engelbrekt rebellion marked the start of a democratic institution, which, to a certain extent, included the peasants.

See also

References
  1. Martin Stugart (2005-08-24). "Varför står Wilhelm Tell staty vid Kornhamnstorg?" (in Swedish). Dagens Nyheter. Archived from the original on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2007-04-23.
  2. "Engelbrektsupproret". rickardlundquist.wixsite.com. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  3. "Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson". Nordisk familjebok. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  4. "Erik av Pommern". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  5. "Borganäs". Nordisk familjebok. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  6. "Karl Knutsson (Bonde)". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  7. "Magnus Bengtsson (Natt och Dag)". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
  8. Herman Schück. "Erik Puke". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.

Other sources
  • Ahnlund, Nils (1934) Engelbrekt : tal och uppsatser (Stockholm : Svenska kyrkans diakonistyrelse)
  • Ahnlund, Nils (1917) Erik Pukes släkt (Stockholm : Historisk tidssskrift)
  • Lundegård, Axel (1913) Om Engelbrekt, Erik Puke och Karl Knutsson som blef kung (Stockholm : Aktiebolaget Ljus förlag)


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