Meet the Middle Ages
BackThe Town of Vimmerby
Vimmerby was the commercial centre of Sevede during the Middle Ages. As early as in the Viking Ages, trade flourished here.
Vimmerby was established during the first part of the 14th century, at the same time as Växjö. The town was strategically placed at the cross-roads of the road between Kalmar and Stockholm and that between Västervik and Eksjö. On the outskirts of the town, there was rich farm-land which lent itself well to the raising of cattle. The trading of oxen has always been important to Vimmerby. In town, there were also plenty of craftsmen who made things from leather.
The merchants of Vimmerby traded at the port of Figeholm, to the north of Oskarshamn. Here, the goods which was later to be shipped out of the country was stored. Ships from Kalmar and from the towns in northern Germany arrived here. In Figeholm, the merchants had simple ware-houses. Goods, such as salt, spices, beer and wine was taken by horse-back from the coast to Vimmerby.
The peasants from Sevede often went to Vimmerby. They would sell butter, meat, vegetables and other farm produce. In Vimmerby they could buy things made from leather or metal which had been made by the craftsmen of the town. They could also buy foreign articles.
Vimmerby lay right in the middle of the battles between Swedish and Danish troops during the Union wars in the 15th century. In 1454 the town was burned down by the army of Kristian 1st, King of Denmark.