History of Sweden (1611–1648) facts for kids
During the 1600s, even though Sweden had only about 1 million people, it became a very powerful country. It won important wars against its neighbors like Denmark–Norway, the Holy Roman Empire, Russia, and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Sweden's actions during the Thirty Years' War, led by Gustavus Adolphus, helped shape the political and religious future of Europe.
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Charles IX Becomes King
On March 6, 1604, Charles IX of Sweden became king. This happened after Duke John, who was the son of John III of Sweden and brother of Sigismund III Vasa, gave up his right to the throne.
At a special meeting called the Riksdag that same year, the country's leaders decided something very important. They made sure that only Protestants could become king or hold important jobs in Sweden. Catholics were not allowed to inherit the throne or work in government. If a Roman Catholic refused to change their faith, they would lose their land and be sent out of the country.
Because of Charles IX, Sweden became a strong Protestant country. It also became a very military-focused kingdom. This change made Sweden's policies very warlike for the next 120 years. This new direction started with a rule from the Riksdag in Linköping. King Charles strongly suggested creating a regular army. From then on, every province in Sweden had to provide and support a certain number of soldiers and cavalry for the country's defense.
Early Conflicts and Challenges
Sweden's main enemy at this time was Poland. The two countries were linked by their royal families and shared borders. The fight was mostly about controlling the northern Baltic Sea regions. Sweden got Estonia back in 1600. But their efforts from 1601 to 1609 to take over Livonia were stopped. A skilled Polish-Lithuanian military leader named Jan Karol Chodkiewicz prevented them.
In 1608, the fighting moved into Russia. Charles IX had made an alliance with Tsar Vasili IV of Russia against the Polish king. But in 1610, Vasili was removed from power by his own people. Russia seemed to be falling apart. This changed Sweden's plans for Russia.
Before, Charles had wanted to support the weaker Russian power against the stronger Polish one. But now that Russia seemed to be disappearing, Swedish leaders wanted to gain something from the war before Poland took everything. They started by attacking and capturing County of Kexholm in Russian Finland on March 2, 1611. On July 16, they took over Novgorod. They made a deal with the leaders of Novgorod that Charles IX's second son, Philip, would become tsar. This would happen unless help came from Moscow.
However, Charles made a mistake. He claimed the title "King of the Lapps of Nordland." This land actually belonged to Denmark. This led to another war with Denmark, called the Kalmar War. The main fighting happened around the Swedish fortress of Kalmar. This meant Swedish forces were pulled away from their main goal in Russia. This new war was not profitable for Sweden. Instead, it brought disaster.
The Kalmar War was finally ended by Charles's son, Gustavus Adolphus, in his second year as king. The Treaty of Knäred was signed on January 20, 1613. This treaty put a heavy financial burden on Sweden and caused great suffering. It also fueled a strong hatred between Sweden and Denmark that lasted for two centuries. This hatred went back to the time of Christian Tyrant.
The Ingrian War and Peace
The problems with Russia were solved more easily and honorably. When Novgorod agreed to be under Swedish rule for a while, Swedish leaders thought they could create a large empire across the Baltic Sea. This empire would stretch north to Archangelsk and east to Vologda. But the Russian people united around their new tsar, Michael Romanov. This ended Sweden's big dream.
By early 1616, Gustavus realized he couldn't divide a united Russia. Russia, in turn, knew it had to give up some land to the strong Swedes. The Treaty of Stolbovo was signed on February 27, 1617. In this treaty, the tsar gave the Swedish king the provinces of County of Kexholm and Ingria. This included the fortress of Nöteborg (later called Schlusselburg), which was key to Finland. Russia also gave up all claims to Estonia and Livonia. They paid Sweden 20,000 roubles as war payment. In return, Gustavus gave Novgorod back to Russia and recognized Michael Romanov as the tsar.
Changes in Swedish Government
While the Swedish Empire grew abroad, its government also developed peacefully at home. Gustavus Adolphus led these changes. The Privy Council used to be the most powerful group in the country. But over time, the king gained more and more power. The Privy Council changed from being a group of powerful nobles to a government office where officials served at the king's will.
The Riksdag, which was the parliament, also changed. In most other European countries, parliaments made up of different social groups were disappearing. But in Sweden, under Gustavus Adolphus, the Riksdag became a key part of the Constitution of Sweden. The Riksdag Ordinance of 1617 turned the Riksdag from a disorganized group into a proper national assembly. It met and discussed matters in an organized way.
One noble, called the Landmarskalk (or Marshal of the Diet), was chosen by the king to speak for the House of Nobles. The head of the church usually spoke for the other three groups: the clergy, townspeople, and farmers. Later, each of these three groups chose their own speaker.
At the start of each meeting, the king would present "royal propositions," or proposed laws. Each group would discuss these in their own separate room. Their answers were then given to the king at a later meeting. If the groups disagreed, the king would choose the opinion he thought was best.
The Riksdag's rights were protected by the Konungaförsäkran. This was a promise every Swedish king made when he took the throne. It guaranteed that the Riksdag would help make laws and be consulted on all foreign policy matters. The king could suggest laws, but the Riksdag could object to government actions at the end of each session. During Gustavus's reign, a "Secret Committee" was also formed by the Riksdag itself. This committee handled special important matters.
The eleven Riksdag meetings held by Gustavus Adolphus mostly focused on how to pay for the growing costs of the wars with Poland and Germany. Gustavus's success in building an empire was greatly helped by the strong religious and patriotic feelings of the Swedes. They were willing to make many sacrifices for their country.
The Polish War and the Battle of Stralsund
The wars with Denmark and Russia were mostly about Scandinavia. But the war with Poland had a bigger impact on the world. It was mainly a fight for control of the coastline along the Baltic Sea. The conflict was made worse because the Polish Vasa family believed they had a right to the Swedish throne, not Gustavus.
Gustavus also saw the Polish War as a religious war. He believed that Sweden and Denmark were the main protectors of the Protestant faith. He thought that if they were divided, the Catholic powers would be able to enter the north. This would destroy both Denmark and Sweden. That's why he allied with Denmark to defend Stralsund in 1628.
However, Gustavus might have exaggerated the danger. The Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was not really a threat to Protestantism. The Polish king, Sigismund, stubbornly insisted on his right to the Swedish crown. This was the only thing stopping the war from ending. The Polish parliament actually hated the war and tried hard to stop it. Aside from the Polish court, no responsible Pole wanted to take over Sweden. In fact, during the next king's rule, Ladislaus IV of Poland (1632–1648), the Poles stopped him from joining the Catholic side in the Thirty Years' War. Gustavus, who was easily excited by religious passion, greatly overestimated the power of the church in Poland. He often saw dangers where there were only difficulties.
The Long Polish Conflict
For eight years, from 1621 to 1629, the difficult and costly Polish War continued. Swedish Livonia was conquered by early 1626. The fighting then moved to the Prussian regions of Poland. The fertile Vistula river delta was taken over. Gustavus treated it as a permanent gain, making his important advisor, Axel Oxenstierna, its first Governor-General.
But this was as far as the Swedes advanced. All of Gustavus's further efforts were stopped by the better strategies of the Polish military leader, Stanisław Koniecpolski. In June 1629, the king happily accepted the profitable Treaty of Altmark. This truce allowed Sweden to keep its Livonian conquests for six years. It also held Elbing, the Vistula delta, and Braunsberg in West Prussia. It also held Pillau and Memel in East Prussia. Sweden also gained the right to collect tolls at Pillau, Memel, Danzig, Libau, and Windau. From these tolls, Gustavus earned 500,000 Riksdalers in 1629 alone. This was as much as all the special money given to him by the Riksdag.
It was for this war that the Swedish warship Vasa was built. Sadly, it sank right outside Stockholm. The ship was badly designed. It was too heavy at the top and didn't have enough weight at the bottom. It capsized as soon as it met a wind stronger than a gentle breeze. Because the Baltic Sea has low saltiness, the wreck was not damaged much by shipworms. It was brought up in 1961 and was in surprisingly good condition.
The Thirty Years' War
Sweden now controlled the main trade routes of the Baltic Sea, reaching almost to the heart of the empire. The extra money from this strong position greatly helped during the early parts of the war in Germany. Gustavus moved his forces there in June 1630. Gustavus, later called "the Lion of the North" for his military skills, joined the Protestant side in the German civil war.
He used new military tactics, like lighter and faster artillery and powerful cavalry attacks. He won an amazing victory at the Battle of Breitenfeld in 1631. However, in the Battle of Lützen on November 6, 1632, he was killed. Sweden lost its warrior-king. The battle itself was a draw. But two years later, the war turned at Nördlingen. There, Imperial troops won a clear victory over the Protestant Army.
To stop the Habsburg family from winning the war, France stepped in. France had already given money to Sweden after the Treaty of Bärwalde (1631). Now, France joined the Protestant side. The war continued for many years until a peace agreement was finally reached in 1648.
Images for kids
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Regalskeppet Vasa.jpg
The Vasa warship, built for the Polish War, sank on its first voyage.
See also
- Dominions of Sweden
- History of Estonia
- History of Germany
- History of Latvia
- History of Poland
- History of Sweden
- List of wars involving Sweden
- Possessions of Sweden
