Meet the Middle Ages
BackThe end of the union
In 1524, King Fredrik of Denmark gave up all claims to the Swedish throne. The Union between Denmark, Norway and Sweden which had been founded 135 years before had finally come to an end.
When King Fredrik´s predecessor to the Danish throne, King Christian II, was crowned King of Sweden in 1520, he ordered a massacre. More than one hundred prominent men and bishops were executed. The massacre is known to us as the Stockholm Bloodbath. Probably, Christian II expected to remain King for a long time and that the Union would last. This, however, was not the case.
Gustav Vasa set up a rebellion against King Christian, and the Danish army was driven out of the country. In 1523, Gustav Vasa was crowned King of Sweden. The Union had definitely come to an end.