Meet the Middle Ages
BackAlbert of Mecklenburg
Albrekt of Mecklenburg (1338-1412) was the King of Sweden from 1364 till 1389. When he came to Sweden, he was eagerly awaited by the nobility, who had sent for him. But later, when he was forced to leave the country , he was both defeated and hated and named "the wolf from Mecklenburg". No-one was indifferent to Albrekt. He inspired both hate and devotion during his reign.
Albrekt was born in the German duchy of Mecklenburg. His father was the Duke of Mecklen-burg, also named Albrekt. His mother, Eufemia, was a sister of the Swedish King,,Magnus Eriksson. It was assumed that Albert later would inherit his father ´s title and become the Duke of Mecklenburg. But events in Sweden changed all that.
In 1363, a group of Swedish noblemen, led by Bo Jonsson Grip, came to Mecklenburg. They wanted help to dethrone King Magnus Eriksson, whom they considered both stubborn and unfair. The aristocracy had rebelled once, in 1356, but had not succeeded in defeating the King. Now, they had made up their minds. They asked the two Albrekts, both father and son, to help them to get rid of King Magnus. In the autumn of the same year, a military fleet was mobilised and the Mecklenburgers sailed for Sweden. The soldiers, together with both Swedish and German noblemen, invaded the country. Troops belonging to the Hanseatic League assisted them. Within six months, the army of King Magnus was defeated and in 1364, Albrekt of Mecklenburg was elected King of Sweden.
Duke Albrekt, who was the father of the King, was an ambitious man with great plans for himself and his son. Together with his son, he ruled the country for many years. However, he was not satisfied. He wanted to have Denmark and Norway as well, but he failed to conquer the two countries.
The two Albrekts made it easier for Germans to establish themselves in Sweden. Many Germans were appointed bailiffs at the King ´s castles and other Germans helped to govern the country. The peasants voiced protests against the harsh rule of the bailiffs. The Swedish nobility, led by Bo Jonsson Grip, reacted strongly against the King ´s absolute power. They made an agreement with him, that he should rule the country with Swedish men in the Council, and at his castles. Albrekt kept this promise only partially.
By the end of the 1380´s, the noblemen were fed up with King Albrekt ´s way of ruling the country. They asked Queen Margareta to help them to get rid of him. Albrekt tried to make a fool of Margareta by calling her "King Trouserless" and by sending her a whet-stone so that she could sharpen her sewing-needles. Margareta mobilised an army and cruel battles were fought in many parts of the country. Albrekt ´s troops were defeated at a decisive battle near Falköping in Västergötland. It is said, that Margareta revenged herself on Albert by forcing him to wear a fool ´s cap. Albrekt was thrown into prison and taken to the Lindholmen Castle in Skåne. He was imprisoned for six years. In the end he was released on bail (a large sum of money) and returned to Mecklenburg. He died there in 1412, at the age of 74.