War Of Deposition Against Karl Knutsson (1464–1465)

The Second War of Deposition against Karl Knutsson () occurred in the winter of 1464–1465. It began after Karl Knutsson once again became the king of Sweden after being invited by a rebel army besieging Stockholm. When Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna began preparing to depose Karl Knutsson, Knutsson sent a force under the command of Bo Djure towards Uppsala, where they captured Oxenstierna's residence and fought a battle at Uppsala. After, the rebels attacked Stockholm, and eventually Karl Knutsson agreed to renounce the throne in exchange for Satakunta and the castles of Raseborg and Korsholm.

Background

On 2 July 1464, a letter was sent to Karl Knutsson from a rebel army besieging Stockholm, with Knutsson being offered the Swedish throne if he returned. Knutsson eagerly accepted and began preparations to return. In August, he arrived in Stockholm with his fleet. The garrison inside believed it to be a Danish relief fleet, and they were disappointed when it turned out to be Knutsson. Despite being considered a better alternative to Christian I, the noblemen distanced themselves.

Deposition

In mid-November, Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna returned to Sweden, and immediately began preparing a new military action towards Knutsson. He attempted to gather forces with varying success. His own chapter had also sworn loyalty to Knutsson. In Västergötland, however, Oxenstierna had many sympathizers and people began arming themselves in the north to support Knutsson.

In order to win a quick decisive victory, Knutsson sent an army in December under the command of Bo Djure towards Uppsala to "render Jöns Bengtsson harmless". Before Djure arrived, Oxenstierna managed to flee to Västerås castle, and Djure captured his residence there, but Kettil Karlsson, Ivar Gren, David Bengtsson Oxenstierna, and Trotte Karlsson, his allies, marched towards Uppsala.

Battle of Uppsala

On 13 December, fighting broke out. Not much is known, but Djure is likely to have won a military victory over the rebels and signed a truce with them, which expired on 6–13 January 1465. Other sources claim the battle ended inconclusively.

Battle of Stockholm

In 1465, when Djure was marching back towards Stockholm, the truce was broken and he was amnushed at Flottbro by Kettil Karlsson and barely escaped. On 4 January, the rebels assembled all the men they could outside of Stockholm and fighting over the ice began. Ivar Gren attacked Gråmunkeholmen (modern-day Riddarholmen) and Erik Nilsson Oxenstierna marched to Helgeandsholmen. Simultaneously, Ture Turesson Bielke made a sortie from Stockholm's castle. Helgeandsholmen quickly fell but Bo Djure fiercely defended Gråmunkeholmen. When Erik Nilsson left Helgeandsholmen to support Ivar Gren, Stockholm's burghers recaptured Helgeandsholmen.

Negotiations

After the fighting, negoations were initiated. Karl Knutsson accepted an offer where he would receive Raseborg Castle, Turku Castle, and Norrbotten in compensation for renouncing the throne. Right before signing the agreement, Knutsson was notified that the Dalecarlians, supported by peasants from Roslagen, were on their way. During the negotiations, Kettil Karlsson and Gren entered the city with hostages. When they entered, however, bitterness erupted, and Bo Djure along with the hostages were taken into custody.

Renewed fighting

Due to these reinforcements, Karl Knutsson ended the negotiations and did a sortie from Stockholm towards Södermalm and Kungsholmen. His plan was to attack Oxenstierna's forces from the rear, which turned out to be a bad decision. They quickly realized what Knutsson was doing and counterattacked, during which many of Knutsson's men died. Despite the reinforcements not having arrived yet, Knutsson didn't give up hope for a final vicory. When the peasants finally arrived outside Stockholm, Kettil Karlsson met with them and began negotiations at Rotebro, during which he convinces them to go back home after being promised that Christian I would never regain the throne and that Knutsson would not be harmed. Other sources claim that instead of negotiations, the rebels fought the peasants and forced them to retreat.

Aftermath

After his sudden defeat, Knutsson's situation had completely changed. The terms of the agreement were now changed to ones where he would instead receive Satakunta and the castles of Raseborg and Korsholm in exchange for renouncing the throne. In January 1465, he renounced the throne, and Oxenstierna and Kettil Karlsson took power in Sweden. The former became practically Sweden's most powerful man.

See also

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References

Works cited

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* {{Cite web , last=Nordström , first=Elsa , year=1949 , title=Trotte Karlsson (Eka-släkt) , url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/artikel/16787 , website=sok.riksarkivet.se , publisher=National Archives of Sweden

Rebellions in Sweden
Wars involving Sweden
Conflicts in 1464
Conflicts in 1465
15th century in Sweden