Chronology of Sweden

Copyright © 2000-2024 Ken Polsson
internet e-mail: ken@kpolsson.com
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URL: http://kpolsson.com/sweden/

References are numbered in [brackets], which are listed here. A number after the dot gives the page in the source.

Last updated: 2022 June 8.


1600

  • In Linköping, a trial is held in the Riksdag of members of Council who had supported King Sigismund against Duke Karl. Several magnates are executed in the market place, including Erik Sparre, Ture Bielke, Sten and Gustavus Banér, and Bengt Falk. (This is later called the Linköping Bloodbath.) [1.157] [47.81] [48.145] [139.13]
  • The population of Stockholm is about 8,000. [47.85,128]

1602

  • Council is reconstructed. [1.157]

1604

  • Johan, half-brother to deposed king Sigismund and son of Johan III, renounces his claim to the throne in favor of 10-year old cousin Gustav Adolf. [48.162]
  • At a parliament in Norrköping, the Pact of Succession is established. It states that a King could not have full control of government until age 10, and that land granted by the King may be later recovered. Duke Karl accepts title of King, and his relatives will inherit the crown. [1.157] [3.7,93] [48.144] [267.54] (1603 [47.81])

1605

  • At Kirkholm, outside Riga, Swedish forces suffer a humiliating defeat. Almost 8,000 Swedish soldiers are killed. [48.172] [311.9]
  • The death of Russian Tsar Boris Godunuv leads to war for his inheritance. [47.81]

1607

  • Duke Karl is crowned as King Karl IX. [48.144] [267.54]
February 11
  • King Karl IX founds the Skultuna Messrigsbruk brass works factory by edict. The factory is located just outside Västerås, along the Svartå River. [375.23]
(month unknown)
  • King Karl IX founds the town of Göteborg at the mouth of the River Göta. [47.85]

1608

  • Jakob De la Gardie, son of Pontus de la Gardie, leads a Swedish army into Moscow. [48.152]
  • Samuel Champlain lands on eastern North America, naming the land they claim Quebec. The name originates with Kvillebäck in Bohuslän, Sweden, which was taken to Normandy around year 1000 by Vikings under chief Rollo. [145.21] [199.13]

1609

February
  • Russian tsar Basil Shuisky makes an agreement with Sweden, abandoning claims to Livonia, promising eternal alliance against Poland, and receiving the aid of 6000 Swedish troops commanded by Jakob De la Gardie against Felon of Tushino in northern Russia. [270.167]
(month unknown)
  • King Karl makes the Eriksgata tour of the land. (He is the last king to perform this ritual.) [267.54]
  • Polish king Sigismund III declares war on the Muscovite state due to its anti-Polish alliance with Sweden. [270.167]

1610

September
  • Sweden declares war on Russia after Moscow swears allegiance to Wladyslaw. [270.169]

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(month unknown)
  • Swedish troops, under general Jakob De la Gardie, aiding a Russian faction, enter Moscow. [1.158] [47.81] [267.55]
  • De la Gardie's army is defeated at Klusino. [48.152]
  • King Karl IX suffers a stroke. Axel Oxenstierna, a member of council, and Gustav Adolf assume control of the government. [48.182]

1611

April 4
  • Copenhagen issues a declaration of war on Sweden. [48.153]
April
  • Denmark attacks Sweden, capturing Kalmar. [47.81] [243.xix] [267.55]
May
  • Danish forces capture Kalmar. [48.153]
(month unknown)
  • A new school ordinance is published, creating two types of secondary schools. One is a six-class cathedral school for clerics, the other is a four-class lay school in each province. [47.129] [48.196]
  • Russia suggests that one of the sons of Karl IX be nominated as ruler of Russia. [48.168]
July
  • De la Gardie's forces capture Novgorod. [267.55] [270.170]
October 30
  • King Karl dies at Nyköping. [1.160] [47.82] [48.162] [267.55] [302.38]
December 6
  • The Riksdag meets. Kristina and Prince Johan both decline further service as regents. (Over a month, a charter of guarantees is written to limit the power of future kings.) [48.162]
December 17
  • The Riksdag declares Gustav Adolf to be of age to become King. His title is Elected King and Hereditary Prince of the Swedes, Goths, and Vandals. [302.41]
December 31
  • In Norrköping, the Accession Charter of King Gustav Adolf is declared. [3.7]

1612

January 4
  • King Gustav Adolf signs a charter of guarantees, and council pledges allegiance to him. [48.162]
  • King Gustav Adolf leaves Nyköping to fight the Danes. [139.13]
May
  • Danes take Älvsborg. [1.161]
(month unknown)
  • Axel Oxenstierna is made Chancellor. [47.89]
August
  • Danish King Kristian IV takes a fleet of 34 ships into the Baltic Sea, and begins an attack on Vaxholm. [48.167]
September
  • Danish King Kristian IV withdraws his fleet from Vaxholm. [48.167]
(month unknown)
  • Danish King Kristian IV attacks Stockholm. [47.89]
November 26
  • King Gustav Adolf revokes all revenue grants, so that they may be applied to the expense of war. [3.94]

1613

January 20
  • The Peace of Knäred is signed with Denmark in Halland, mediated by King James I of England. Kalmar is retured, but Denmark retains the fortress of Älvborg and Göteborg at the mouth of the Göta river for six years or until one million riksdaler (25,000 kg silver) is paid. Sweden surrenders claims to the far north of Norway. [3.154] [47.90] [48.168] [243.xxi,72] [267.60] [268.109] (1612 [1.161]) (January 19 [302.42]) (January 21 [397.68])
February
  • Russians chose Michael Romanov as leader. [48.152,169] [270.171]

1614

  • Axel Oxenstierna issues the Judicature Ordinance. The position of Steward is made chairman of a new supreme court, the Svea Hovrätt, in Stockholm. [1.162] [47.91] [48.186]
  • King Gustav Adolf makes Axel Oxenstierna a baron. [267.58]
  • The Dutch Republic signs a defensive alliance treaty with Sweden. [243.4,73] [268.112]

1615

  • The Council of the Realm complains that the fleet has become very neglected for these times of war. [301.32]

1616

  • Olaus Petri publishes the Rules for Judges. [48.186]
  • Falu red paint is first manufactured at the Falu mine. The paint is later discovered to have excellent wood-preserving qualities because of the iron sulfate, copper sulfate, and red iron oxide. [23.19]

1617

January 24
  • The Estates meet in the Hall of State in Örebro. An ordinance regulates how the four Estates work and make decisions with king. [3.11] [267.58]
February 27
  • Peace with Russia is reached in the Treaty of Stolbova, with English mediation. Sweden renounces all claims to the Russian throne and Novgorod, gives back three towns for 20,000 rubles, and holds Gdov until new boundaries are delimited. Russia gives up Ingria and Karelia, including Ivangorod, Jama, Kexholm, Kopore, Nöteborg, abandons claims on Livonia, and agrees not to aid Poland against Sweden. [1.161] [47.90] [3.134] [48.169] [243.xxi] [267.61] [270.176] [302.43]
June
  • Sweden begins a series of minor attacks on Poland. [1.165] [243.xxiii]
(month unknown)
  • A coronation ceremony is held for King Gustav Adolf. [1.165] [47.89]
August 26
  • King Gustav Adolf addresses the Estates at the opening of Stockholm Riksdag, telling of peace with Russia, and new lands to manage. [3.134]

1618

  • On Gotland, the Danish king abolishes the "ting", the ancient assembly of free men, a custom since Viking times. [120.76]
  • A translation of the Christian Bible by King Gustav Adolf is published. [48.224]
  • The treasury is reorganized. [47.91]
  • Prince Johan, cousin to King Gustav Adolf, dies. [48.201]
  • Willem de Besche begins a cannon factory in Finspång. [48.176]
  • Sweden and Poland agree to a truce for two years. [243.69]

1619

  • Final ransom is paid to Denmark for the freedom of Älvsborg. [1.169]
  • King Gustav Adolf reestablishes Göteborg. [48.189]

1620

  • King Gustav Adolf proposes establishing a gymnasia school system. [47.129]
  • A law forbids emigration. [48.190]
October
  • At Cecora in the southeast corner of Europe, a Turkish victory over Poles encourages Swedes to invade Poland from the north. [48.170]
November
  • King Gustav Adolf marries Maria Eleonora, daughter of Johan Sigismund, Elector of Brandenburg. [139.16]

1621

August
  • King Gustav Adolf and troops invade Livonia, and set siege to the province's capital, Riga. [1.167] [243.69]
September 16
  • After a six-week siege, Riga surrenders. [1.168] [48.170] [243.xxv] [302.49]

1622

  • Karl Filip, brother to King Gustav Adolf, dies. [48.201]
  • Sweden annexes Dagö island, near the coast of Estonia. [308.26]
July
  • Sweden and Poland agree to a one year truce. [243.69] (June [302.50])

1623

  • Poles begin an invasion of Sweden with the help of a Spanish fleet and British mercenaries. [48.170]
  • The Swedish army marches into Livonia, Poland. [1.169]
  • The Swedish army defeats Polish cavalry at Wallhof. [1.169]
  • Christina Augusta is born to King Gustav Adolf and Maria Eleonora. (She dies in under a year.) [139.20]
  • A Court of Appeal is established in Åbo. [48.186] [267.59]
  • Göteborg is founded. [8.19]
November
  • Ludwig Camerarius travels to Stockholm on a secret mission to see if the King would fight for the Palatine cause in Germany. The King agrees that Sweden with a Protestant alliance should descend the Vistula to invade Bohemia, restoring Frederick and deposing Ferdinand. When Camerarius leaves, he believes the King could become the new Holy Roman Emperor. [243.69]

1624

  • King Gustav Adolf gives the University of Uppsala over 300 royal estates. [47.128]
  • King Gustav Adolf founds the "General Company for Commerce and Navigation with the lands of Africa, Asia, America, and Magellanica", known as the Southern Company. [48.192]
  • The Dutch Republic, England, Brandenburg, and Palatine leaders resolve to invite King Gustav Adolf to lead a coalition army into Germany. [243.74]
  • England and Brandenburg invite Sweden to lead a Protestant alliance against the Catholics in a German war. King Gustav Adolf agrees subject to a list of demands: complete control of the operation, two ports on the German coast, an army of 40-50,000 (2/3 provided by allies), and two fleets, one in the North Sea and one in the Baltic, to prevent against possible Danish attack. The potential allies instead support King Kristian of Denmark. [47.93] [48.170] [243.74]
  • Danish forces are defeated, and Denmark is invaded by Imperial armies. [48.171]

1625

January
  • King Gustav Adolf orders chief naval architect Henrik Hybertsson to build four new warships. [178.47]
(month unknown)
  • King Gustav Adolf introduces a copper coinage, in an effort to restrict export by keeping the price high. [47.124]
  • King Gustav Adolf decides to abandon the coalition, embarking on an independent campaign against the king of Poland. [243.76]
June
  • Swedish forces invade Prussia. [243.xxix]
(month unknown)
  • Swedish forces capture Dorpat and Mitau. [48.171]

1626

January 6
  • Swedes defeat a Polish force at Wallhof. [139.20] [243.xxix] [302.62]
(month unknown)
  • The Chancery is reorganized. [47.91]
  • The Riddarhus Ordinance reorganizes the Estate of Nobles. 126 leading families are picked to be represented, divided into three classes: barons and counts, council families, and regular nobility. Each of the three classes has one vote toward the decision of the Estate in riksdag meetings. [1.167] [48.186] [267.59] [306.17]
  • The first gymnasia school opens, in Västerås. [47.129]
June 15
  • A Swedish fleet of about 125 vessels and 14,000 men land near Pillau, and begin an attack on Prussia. [1.169] [48.171] [243.xxix] [302.63]
August 16
  • Danish forces and allies are soundly defeated at Lutter-am-Barenberg near Wolfenbüttel, by an army of the Catholic League under Czech leader Wallenstein. [48.171] [243.xxix] [268.114] [269.98] [302.74]
(month unknown)
  • The Empire offers a partition of Denmark to King Gustav Adolf: Denmark to the Empire, Norway to Sweden. [269.98]
September
  • King Gustav Adolf's Swedish forces defeat a larger army at Mewe lead by King Sigismund of Poland. [48.171]
December 8
  • In Stockholm, Kristina is born to King Gustav Adolf and Maria Eleonora. (She will become reigning Queen in 1644.) [48.202] [139.20]

1627

May
  • King Gustav Adolf returns to Pillau, with 6000 fresh troops. [302.67]
May 25
  • King Gustav Adolf is shot in the belly while directing an attack on Dantzic. The wound is not serious. [302.68]
August 8
  • King Gustav Adolf is shot in the shoulder, while directing an attack on Poles. [302.68]

1628

February
  • Sweden and Poland begin peace negotiations. [302.79]
April 28
  • King Kristian IV of Denmark signs a three year alliance with Sweden. Both powers agree to come to the defence of Stralsund if attacked. [48.172] [243.99]
May
  • A siege of Stralsund begins. [243.99]
  • King Gustav Adolf lands in Pillau. [302.79]
June
  • King Gustav Adolf sends 600 Norrland troops to Stralsund to aid in defence against Albrecht von Wallenstein. [1.170] [47.93] [243.xxxi,99]
June 19
  • Stralsund successfully repels three days of assaults by Imperial forces. [243.99]
July 9
  • Danish troops arrive in Stralsund. [302.85]
July 18
  • Count Brahe and Colonel Alexander Leslie with 2000 Swedish troops arrive in Stralsund. [302.85]
July 24
  • The siege of Stralsund is lifted. [243.99] [302.85]
(month unknown)
  • A land survey office is established, designed to map the entire country. [48.187]
  • Stralsund accepts an association with Sweden. [48.172]
August 10
  • In Stockholm harbor, the Royal warship Vasa makes its maiden voyage. The 1400-ton armed galleon carries 64 bronze cannon on two decks, and has three masts with 13,000 m2 of canvas sails. Off the island of Beckholmen, a crosswind pushes the ship to one side, allowing water to pour in the open gunports. The ship is unable to right itself, and it soon sinks in 110 feet of water. About 50 die. The ship cost about 100,000 riksdaler to build. (The ship is raised to the surface in 1961.) [51.63] [48.178] [81.34] [135.12] [178.42] [265.2] [301.15]
August 13
  • The Council of the Realm authorizes English engineer Ian Bulmer to try to raise the Vasa ship. (His efforts only put the ship in an upright position.) [178.50] [301.39]

1629

January
  • The Swedish council meets for ten days, deciding in favor of war action on the continent, and a free hand for the king in directing the war. [48.173]
February 20
  • King Gustav Adolf and King Kristian IV of Denmark meet at Ulfbäck, and have a heated debate. [48.173] (MAR 4 [243.xxxi])
May 27
  • The Peace of Lübeck is signed between Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire. [48.173] (July [243.xxxi]) (May 2 [302.78,91])
June 17
  • Swedes battle Polish and Imperial troops at Honigfelde (Stuhm). Swedes are forced to retreat with heavy losses. King Gustav Adolf narrowly escapes capture. [243.xxxi,122] [302.88]
September 25
  • Sweden and Poland sign a six-year truce at Altmark, near Danzig. Sweden retains control of Livonia and the mouth of the River Vistula. Poland regains other Swedish gains since the 1625 invasion. Sweden will receive all shipping tolls at ports of Poland and Prussia for the six years. [1.170] [47.93] [48.173] [243.xxxi,62,122] [267.62] [302.88]

End of 1600-1629. Next: 1630.

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Last updated: 2022 June 8.
Copyright © 2000-2024 Ken Polsson (email: ken@kpolsson.com).
URL: http://kpolsson.com/sweden/
Link to Ken P's home page.

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