Knut Posse

Knut Jönsson Posse (Finnish: Nuutti Posse) was a Swedish general in Sweden and Finland remembered for the Viipuri Blast (1495) and for his surprise attack on the Danish Army at the Battle of Brunkeberg (1471). [1]

Knut Posse
Bornearly 1440s
Stockholm, Sweden
DiedMarch 25, 1500
Kastelholm Castle at Åland
Buried
Turku Cathedral
Allegiance Sweden
RankGeneral
Commands heldCommandant of Stockholm
Battles/wars

Military career

Knut Posse was appointed bailiff of Stockholm Castle in 1466 and in 1472 was bailiff at Hämeenlinna Castle. In 1490 he was appointed courtier at Kastelholm Castle and in 1495 Posse was governor of Viipuri castle. He lived until 1500 and died at Kastelholm Castle. He was buried at Turku Cathedral.

Battle of Brunkeberg
Main article: Battle of Brunkeberg

In 1471, Regent Sten Sture ordered Posse to load the garrison of Stockholm Castle onto boats to ready a surprise attack on the Danish and German Army of King Christian I of Denmark. His order were to attack the Danes in the rear from Stadsholmen, . The Danes would then be attacked on three sides: Sten Sture would attack from the south, Nils Sture would flank the Danes and attack from the rear, and Posse would attack the Danes from the east flank. The Danish were completely surprised by Posse's attack. Soon after the battle started, Christian I sent more troops to reinforce their position near Sankta Klara kloster. The Danish Armies were no match for Posse's men, whom he led from the front. Posse's legs were hit by several Danish arrows. [2]

Viipuri Blast

From 1495 to 1497, Posse was governor of Viipuri castle. Posse defended it against a Russian onslaught in 1495 . He saved the castle against a bigger Russian force with what became known as 'the Viipuri blast'. For this, Posse became immortal in Finnish and Scandinavian folklore.[3]

References
  1. Nordisk Familjebok: Posse, 1. Knut (in Swedish)
  2. Devries, Kelly; Dougherty, Martin J.; Dickie, Iain: Battles of the Medieval World 1000–1500. Gardners Books, 2011.
  3. "Knut Posse". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
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