Knut Posse

Knut Posse
Born	early 1440s Stockholm, Sweden
Died	1500 Kastelholm
Allegiance	Sweden
Rank	General
Commands held	Commandant of Stockholm
Battles/wars	Dano-Swedish War (1470–71) Battle of Brunkeberg

Knut Jönsson Posse (in Finnish, Nuutti Posse) was a Swedish general in Finland and in Sweden remembered for the Viipuri Blast and for his surprise attack on the Danish Army at the Battle of Brunkeberg (1471). Some sources claim the wounds were mortal, but he lived until 25 March 1500.

Military career

Main article: Battle of Brunkeberg

General Sten Sture ordered Posse to load the Stockholm Garrison onto boats to ready a surprise attack on Christian I of Denmark's Danish and German Army. His order were to attack the Danes in the rear, at St. Klara. The Danes would then be attacked on three sides: Sten Sture would attack from the south, Nils Sture would flank the Danes and attack from the rear, and Posse would attack the Danes from the east flank near St. Klara. The Danish were completely surprised by Posse's attack. Soon after the battle started, Christian I sent more troops to reinforce the St. Klara position. The Danish Armies were no match for Posse's men, whom he led from the front. Posse's legs were hit by several Danish arrows. A German or Danish knight is supposed to have fractured his skull with a battle axe, and he was carried back to Stockholm. That is where some sources claim that he died of his wounds.

The Viipuri Blast

Knut/Nuutti Posse has the Viipuri blast fame. From 1495 to 1497 Posse was governor of Viipuri castle, on behalf of Steen Sture the Elder the Regent, who was Posse's wife's first cousin. Posse defended it against a Russian onslaught. He saved the castle against a bigger Russian force with what became known as 'the Viipuri blast'. For this, Posse became immortal in Finnish and Scandinavian folklore.