Tre Kronor Castle, October 8, 1520

The trial had concluded. It turned out that the amnesty for treason—which Christian had promised his opponents before entering Stockholm in September—was worthless, as those same individuals could still be convicted of heresy by the Danish king’s loyal henchman, the former Archbishop Gustaf Trolle.

Kristina Gyllenstierna—widow of the leader of the recent uprising and a formidable adversary in the ongoing struggle—was asked how she preferred to die: by being burned at the stake or by being buried alive.

But Kristina survived. Along with other widows and daughters, she was taken prisoner to Copenhagen. Others, however, perished.

On this day, 506 years ago, the Bishop of Strängnäs, Mattias, and the Bishop of Skara, Vincent, were beheaded with a sword in Stortorget in Gamla Stan—which, at that time, essentially *was* Stockholm. The site of these executions is now occupied by a pump house that we have all seen.

The executions continued—by beheading or hanging, depending on the individual’s status in late-medieval Sweden.

Among those present in Stortorget was an eyewitness who would later record what he saw that day: the chancellor to Bishop Mattias. He holds a special significance for me—he was Olaus Petri, a native of Örebro.

He describes how the lifeless bodies remained in the square from Thursday, November 8—the date today—until Saturday. ”And it was a wretched and pitiful sight to behold how the blood—mingled with water and the filth typical of that season—ran along the gutters leading away from the square. Truly, it was a horrific and merciless slaughter.”

Olaus Petri also recounts the story of Lasse Hass. Standing in the Great Square (Stortorget), he could not bear the ghastly events unfolding before him. According to Olaus Petri, Lasse Hass broke down in tears for all those being led up onto the platform to lose their lives—and soon became one of them himself. They seized Lasse then and there and, in effect, beheaded him for his compassion toward his fellow human beings.

(The image used as ”cover image” for all Stocholm bloodbath posts is ”The Bloodbath poster” from 1524, commisioned by Gustav Vasa)

Sources:

Stockholms blodbad – Lars Ericson Wolke

Stockholms blodbad – Dick Harrison