The rise and activities of the Victual Brothers had a profound impact on Baltic trade during the late 14th century, a critical period in the history of Sweden and the wider Baltic region. Sweden, with its strategic position on the Baltic Sea, was closely tied to the maritime commerce that connected Scandinavia, the Hanseatic League, and other powers.
During the late 14th century, Sweden was entangled in a power struggle for the Scandinavian throne, particularly between Queen Margaret I of Denmark and Albert of Mecklenburg, who had been king of Sweden since 1364. This conflict, part of the broader Scandinavian Wars of Succession, created an opportunity for the Victual Brothers. Initially hired in 1392 by the Dukes of Mecklenburg to support Albert in his fight against Queen Margaret, the Victual Brothers were tasked with supplying Stockholm, which was under siege by Margaret’s forces.
Sweden at this time was heavily reliant on the Baltic trade for its economic stability, with exports like timber, iron, and copper being essential to its wealth. The Victual Brothers, named after their initial mission to provide "victuals" (provisions) to the besieged city, quickly transitioned from privateers supporting the Mecklenburg cause to outright pirates. They began to prey on the very trade routes that were vital to Sweden and its Baltic neighbors, leading to a near collapse of maritime commerce in the region. Coastal towns, including Swedish ports like Turku and Vyborg, were sacked, further destabilizing the region and threatening Sweden’s ability to maintain its economy.
The Victual Brothers’ seizure of Gotland in 1394 marked the height of their power and their control over the central Baltic. Gotland, a key island for trade in the Baltic Sea, was also a significant Swedish territory, and its capture by pirates dealt a major blow to Swedish interests. From their base in Visby, the Victual Brothers not only disrupted trade but also posed a direct threat to Sweden’s territorial control in the Baltic.
Queen Margaret’s consolidation of power, which led to the formation of the Kalmar Union in 1397, uniting Denmark, Norway, and Sweden under her rule, was a turning point. The Kalmar Union was a political alliance aimed at strengthening the Scandinavian kingdoms against external threats, including the rising influence of the Hanseatic League and the ongoing piracy. With her political dominance established, Margaret sought to end the piracy that had ravaged Baltic trade. She allied with the Teutonic Order, and in 1398, under the leadership of Grand Master Konrad von Jungingen, the Teutonic Order launched a military campaign to retake Gotland. The Teutonic Knights, experienced in both land and naval warfare, assembled a large invasion force that sailed to the island. They successfully captured Visby, destroyed the pirates’ fortifications, and expelled the Victual Brothers from Gotland, effectively ending their reign over the Baltic Sea. In 1409, the Teutonic Order sold Gotland to the Kalmar Union.