The 1569 Plot was a conspiracy in Sweden in 1569. The purpose was to depose

John III of Sweden John III ( sv , Johan III, fi, Juhana III; 20 December 1537 – 17 November 1592) was King of Sweden from 1569 until his death. He was the son of King Gustav I of Sweden and his second wife Margaret Leijonhufvud. He was also, quite autonomous ...

and reinstate the imprisoned

Eric XIV of Sweden Eric XIV ( sv, Erik XIV; 13 December 153326 February 1577) was King of Sweden from 1560 until he was deposed in 1569. Eric XIV was the eldest son of Gustav I (1496–1560) and Catherine of Saxe-Lauenburg (1513–1535). He was also ruler of Es ...

on the Swedish throne. The plot was instigated by the courtiers of Eric's spouse queen

Karin Månsdotter Karin Månsdotter (in English Catherine; 6 November 1550 – 13 September 1612) was first a mistress of King Eric XIV of Sweden and then briefly queen as his wife. Early life Karin was born in Stockholm to a soldier and later prison guard na ...

; her lady-in-waiting

Elin Andersdotter Elin Andersdotter (died 1569), was a Swedish courtier. She served as Chief Court Mistress to queen Karin Månsdotter of Sweden. She is known for being a leading actor in the 1569 Plot to free and reinstate the imprisoned and deposed king Erik XIV of ...

and her personal secretary Thomas Jakobsson. It was the first of three major plots to free the imprisoned Eric XIV (followed by the Mornay Plot and the 1576 Plot), but has been described as the most serious one.Sture Arnell (1951). Karin Månsdotter. Stockholm: Wahlström & Widstrand. ISBN The plot was exposed and prevented before it could be put in action and resulted in the execution of the conspirators.

The Plot

In the summer of 1569, a plot was discovered with the intent to free and reinstate Erik XIV. The plan was the ship owner Per Larsson would fire at the city of Stockholm, and that the former monarch should be able to flee from his prison in the royal palace during the confusion, and the gather followers in Dalarna, by which he could be reinstated upon the throne. The conspirators consisted of members of the staff of the former royal couple Erik XIV and Karin Månsdotter: the secretary and mistress of the robes of Karin, Thomas Jakobsson and Elin Andersdotter; the ship owners Per Larsson and Frans Klementsson; the chaplain Jon, Per Pålsson and the spouse of Elin Andersdotter; Hans Andersson. Elin Andersdotter was, alongside Thomas Jakobsson, the leader of the conspiracy, and financed the whole affair. The conspirators held their conferences at the home of Jakobsson, who also handled the correspondence with Erik XIV, who was informed about the plot. It is unknown whether Karin Månsdotter was informed of the plot or participated in it. During the trials against the conspirators, Andersdotter and Jakobsson were interrogated about the alleged hidden treasure that John III was certain had been hidden away by Erik XIV, and were promised a pardon if they helped recover it. But they revealed nothing, if indeed there had been such a treasure at all. Elin Andersdotter and Thomas Jakobsson was found guilty of treason and executed as the main instigators of the plot.

References

{{Reflist 1569 in Europe Rebellions in Sweden 1569 in Sweden 1569 in Christianity 16th century in Sweden 16th-century coups d'état and coup attempts Conspiracies

The Plot

See also

References