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The Swedish War of Liberation (1521–1523) was a defining moment in Sweden’s history, marking its secession from the Kalmar Union and laying the foundation for its independence. Led by Gustav Vasa, the rebellion began as a response to the brutal suppression of the Swedish nobility by King Christian II of Denmark, especially after the Stockholm Bloodbath in 1520. Christian’s heavy taxation and foreign presence in Swedish castles fueled widespread discontent, particularly among the peasantry and mining communities.
The war was both a civil conflict and a broader power struggle involving economic interests in Sweden's vital mining region of Bergslagen. The Hanseatic League, especially the city of Lübeck, supported Vasa in exchange for trade privileges, while Christian II received backing from the wealthy industrialist Jakob Fugger. However, after a series of defeats, Fugger withdrew his support, weakening Christian's financial base.
Gustav Vasa, beginning with a small group of supporters in Dalarna, steadily expanded his influence by capturing key territories, such as Västerås. A turning point in his campaign came with the crucial support of the Hanseatic city of Lübeck, which, driven by economic interests in Sweden's mining region of Bergslagen, allied with Vasa in exchange for favorable trade privileges. Lübeck provided essential military and financial aid, including ships, soldiers, and cannons, which helped Vasa's forces disrupt Danish control. Lübeck's naval power also cut off Christian II’s supply lines, enabling Vasa to strengthen his position and shift from relying on peasant militias to commanding professional armies. With this bolstered military force, Vasa secured key victories, culminating in the capture of Stockholm in June 1523. That same month, he was elected King of Sweden, cementing his authority and paving the way for Swedish independence.
The war ended with the Treaty of Malmö in 1524, which formalized Sweden’s exit from the Kalmar Union. The conflict not only secured Swedish independence but also diminished the influence of the Catholic Church and the Hanseatic League in the Nordic region, setting the stage for the Lutheran Reformation and the rise of a sovereign Swedish state under Vasa's rule. This victory was a pivotal event that shaped Sweden’s national identity and its long-standing political independence.