NO name in history lies deeper in Swedish hearts than the name Gustavus Vasa. Liberator of Sweden from the yoke of Denmark, and founder of one of the foremost dynasties of Europe, his people during more than three centuries have looked back fondly to the figure of their great ruler, and cherished with tender reverence every incident in his romantic history. This enthusiasm for Gustavus Vasa is more than sentiment; it belongs to him as leader in a vast political upheaval. When Gustavus came upon the stage, the Swedish people had long been groaning under a foreign despotism. During more than a century their political existence had been ignored, their rights as freemen trampled in the dust. They had at last been goaded into a spirit of rebellion, and were already struggling to be free. What they most needed was a leader with courage to summon them to arms, and with perseverance to keep them in the field. Possessing these traits beyond all others, Gustavus called his people forth to war, and finally brought them through the war to victory. This revolution extended over a period of seven years,—from the uprising of the Dalesmen in 1521 to the coronation of Gustavus in 1528. It is a period that should be of interest, not only to the student of history, but also to the lover of romance. In order to render the exact nature of the struggle clear, I have begun the narrative at a time considerably before the revolution, though I have not entered deeply into details till the beginning of the war in 1521. By the middle of the year 1523, when Gustavus was elected king, actual warfare had nearly ceased, and the scenes of the drama change from the battle-field to the legislative chamber. In this period occurred the crowning act of the revolution; namely, the banishment of the Romish Church and clergy.

The history of the Swedish Revolution has never before been written in the English language. Even Gustavus Vasa is but little known outside his native land. Doubtless this is due in large measure to the difficulties which beset a study of the period. It is not a period to which the student of literature can turn with joy. One who would know Gustavus well must traverse a vast desert of dreary reading, and pore over many volumes of verbose despatches before he can find a drop of moisture to relieve the arid soil. Sweden in the early part of the sixteenth century was not fertile in literary men. Gustavus himself, judged by any rational standard, was an abominable writer. His despatches are in number almost endless and in length appalling. Page after page he runs on, seemingly with no other object than to use up time. Often a document covers four folios, which might easily have been compressed into a single sentence. Such was the habit of the age. A simple letter from a man to his wife consisted mainly of a mass of stereotyped expressions of respect. Language was used apparently to conceal vacuity of mind. Toward the close of the monarch's reign there was a marked improvement in literary style, and some few works of that period possess real worth. These have recently been printed, and as a rule have been edited with considerable care. The king's despatches are also being systematically printed by the authorities of the Royal Archives at Stockholm, and the cloud of ignorance which has hitherto hung over the head of Sweden's early monarch is lifting fast. The tenth volume of the king's despatches, known as Gustaf I.'s registratur has now been published, carrying this contemporary transcript of the king's letters down to the summer of 1535. The only documents bearing on the Swedish Revolution and not yet published, are the MSS. known as Gustaf I.'s rådslagar, 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 Palmskiöld 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.—ItsCauses: 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.—StenSture.—Hans.—Svante Sture.—Sten Sture the Younger.—Childhoodof Gustavus.—His Education at Upsala[1]
Chapter II.
FIRST MILITARY ADVENTURES OF GUSTAVUS;
A PRISONER IN DENMARK. 1514-1519.
Description of Stockholm.—Christina Gyllenstjerna.—HemmingGad.—Christiern II.—Gustaf Trolle.—Dissension between Sten Stureand Gustaf Trolle.—Siege of Stäket.—First Expedition of ChristiernII. against Sweden.—Trial of the Archbishop.—Arcimboldo.—SecondExpedition of Christiern II. against Sweden.—Capture of GustavusVasa.—Resignation of the Archbishop.—Hostilities of ChristiernII.—Farewell of Arcimboldo.[28]
Chapter III.
FLIGHT OF GUSTAVUS; UPRISING OF THE
DALESMEN. 1519-1521.
Escape of Gustavus from Denmark.—Lubeck.—Return of Gustavus toSweden.—Excommunication of Sture.—Invasion of Sweden.—Deathof Sture.—Dissolution of the Swedish Army.—Heroism ofChristina.—Battle of Upsala.—Gustavus at Kalmar.—Fall ofStockholm.—Coronation of Christiern II.—Slaughter of theSwedes.—Flight of Gustavus to Dalarne.—Efforts to rouse theDalesmen.—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 thePatriot Army.—Didrik Slagheck.—Battle of Köping.—Capture ofVesterås; of Upsala.—Skirmish with Trolle.—Skirmishes nearStockholm.—Siege of Stegeborg.—Norby.—Rensel.—Brask.—Progressof the War.—Coinage of Gustavus.—Christiern's Troubles inDenmark.—Siege of Stockholm.—Fall of Kalmar.—Diet ofStrengnäs.—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 inSweden.—The Debt to Lubeck.—Riches of the Church.—Relations ofGustavus to the Pope.—Johannes Magni.—New Taxation.—Dissensionamong the People.—Opposition of Gustavus to the Pope.—Trialof Peder Sunnanväder.—Expedition against Gotland.—Repudiationof the "Klippings."—Berent von Mehlen.—Negotiations betweenFredrik and Norby.—Congress of Malmö.—Efforts to appease thePeople.—Lutheranism.—Olaus Petri.—Laurentius Andreæ.—Brask'sEfforts to repress Heresy.—Religious Tendencies ofGustavus.—Character of Brask.[118]
Chapter VI.
RELIGIOUS DISCORD AND CIVIL WAR. 1524-1525.
Riot of the Anabaptists.—Contest between Olaus Petri and PederGalle.—Marriage of Petri.—Conspiracy of Norby; of ChristinaGyllenstjerna; of Mehlen; of Sunnanväder.—Attitude of Fredrik toGustavus.—Proposition of Gustavus to resign the Crown.—Norby'sIncursion into Bleking.—Surrender of Visby.—Flight ofMehlen.—Fall of Kalmar.[165]
Chapter VII.
DEALINGS WITH FOREIGN POWERS. 1525-1527.
Negotiations between Fredrik and Gustavus.—Treachery ofNorby.—Sunnanväder and the Cabinet of Norway.—Overthrow andDeath of Norby.—Trial and Execution of Knut and Sunnanväder.—Debtto Lubeck.—Treaty with Russia; with the Netherlands.—Dalarne andthe Lubeck Envoys.—Swedish Property in Denmark.—Province ofViken.—Refugees in Norway.[190]
Chapter VIII.
INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION. 1525-1527.
Nature of the Period.—Translation of the Bible.—Quarrel betweenthe King and Brask.—Opposition to the Monasteries.—High-handedMeasures of the King.—Second Disputation between Petri andGalle.—Opposition to Luther's Teaching.—Banishment ofMagni.—Further Opposition to the Monasteries.—Revolt of theDalesmen.—Diet of Vesterås.—"Vesterås Recess."—"VesteråsOrdinantia."—Fall of Brask; his Flight; his Character.[220]
Chapter IX.
CORONATION OF THE KING. 1528.
Reasons for Delay of the Coronation.—Preparations for theCeremony.—Consecration of the Bishops.—CoronationFestival.—Retrospect of the Revolution.—Character of Gustavus.[268]
BIBLIOGRAPHY[277]
INDEX[293]