sweden
-
Gamla Uppsala, ancient power seat
The entire landscape of Stone Age Uppsala was mostly underwater, and during the Bronze Age, Old Uppsala, in particular, consisted of two islands. Only during the Early Iron Age did the region begin to be populated to any great extent… Continue reading
-
From princess to ortodox saint – Ingegerd Olofsdotter
She is believed to have been born around the beginning of the 11th century, Ingegerd Olofsdotter. Her father, Olof Skötkonung (Scotking), had been king for around five years after his father, Erik Segersäll (the Victorious), died in 995.While Erik was… Continue reading
-
The Nasta runestone
This is probably one of the most personal texts I’ve written about history, but sometimes it comes close. So, this time, I allowed myself some emotions in this blog. It was Friday the 2nd of July in the summer of… Continue reading
-
Runestones of Scandinavia
Runestones rightfully fascinate many. They are a voice from a bygone era that often tells of a loss in the sense that they have mostly been raised by a parent or other relative of someone who no longer exists. There… Continue reading
-
The massacre at Visby ring wall
”In the year of the Lord 1361, King Valdemar of Denmark captured Gotland and Visby, where he killed about one thousand eight hundred peasants in a battle the day before St. James’ Day.” The words are found in the yearbook… Continue reading
-
Queen Elizabeth’s Swedish Lady-in-Waiting
As I previously wrote, Cecilia Vasa had a following of around a hundred people when she arrived in England for her unsuccessful stay at Queen Elizabeth’s court. One of these was Helena Snakenborg, born in 1549, daughter of the castle… Continue reading
-
The Princess and the Vadstena Rumble
On November 6, 1540, a baby girl was born at the royal palace Tre Kronor in Stockholm. She was named Cecilia, and if princesses at that time had surnames, it was Gustavsdotter. However, just as her father is not primarily… Continue reading
-
Feuding brothers and death
In February 1306, Torgils Knutsson was executed by beheading on Pelarbacken, better known as Götgatsbacken in today’s Stockholm. Despite opening with his death, he’s not the main character here. Instead, it’s King Birger Magnusson – ward of Torgils Knutsson –… Continue reading
-
Erik the Holy
Sweden has a national saint who is not really a saint. This because the Pope did not want to canonize him. Why is a little unclear, but a letter somewhere in the now thousand-year-old records mentioning a king who fought,… Continue reading
Scandinavian History 