The Scanian War (1675–1679) was a significant conflict for Sweden as it fought to maintain its dominance in the Baltic region during the stormaktstiden (Age of Greatness). The war was primarily fought between Sweden and a coalition of Denmark-Norway, the Dutch Republic, and the Holy Roman Empire. It took place during the broader context of the Franco-Dutch War, in which Sweden, as an ally of France, was drawn into a confrontation with Denmark and its allies.
Sweden had emerged as a dominant power in northern Europe, particularly after the Treaty of Roskilde (1658), which had ceded key Danish territories like Scania, Blekinge, and Halland to Sweden. Denmark sought to reclaim these territories, especially Scania, which held significant strategic and symbolic importance. When Sweden was weakened after suffering defeats in the Franco-Dutch War, Denmark seized the opportunity to strike and initiated the war in 1675.
The fighting in Scania (Skåne), on Sweden’s southern frontier, was fierce. Although Sweden had initially been confident in its military strength, the Danish forces, under King Christian V, had considerable early success, taking much of Scania and threatening to reverse the territorial changes of Roskilde. In contrast, the Swedish King Charles XI and his generals, including Johan Göransson Gyllenstierna, struggled to defend Swedish territory.
The conflict saw some of the bloodiest battles fought on Swedish soil, particularly the Battle of Lund in 1676, where Charles XI's army managed to achieve a significant but costly victory over Denmark. Despite this, the war dragged on with no clear winner, and Sweden’s position remained precarious.
The war eventually ended with the Treaty of Lund in 1679, mediated by France, Sweden’s ally, under the influence of Louis XIV. The treaty restored the status quo from before the war, meaning that Sweden retained Scania and the other territories gained in the Treaty of Roskilde. Although Sweden emerged without losing territory, the Scanian War exposed the vulnerabilities of the Swedish Empire, as it was becoming increasingly difficult to defend its extensive holdings.
In the broader context of Swedish history, the Scanian War was part of the ongoing struggle between Sweden and Denmark for dominance in the Baltic region and marked the beginning of the gradual decline of Sweden’s dominance, which would continue into the early 18th century.