Kalmar War

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kalmar War

The Kalmark War (Swedish Kalmarkriget ) from 1611 to 1613 describes a military conflict between the kingdoms of Denmark and Sweden .

Nominally, it was about the title of " King of the Lapps ", which both the Danish-Norwegian King Christian IV and the Swedish King Charles IX. , at that time already married to Christine von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf , claimed for himself (as early as 1607 Charles IX was therefore collecting taxes in Finnmark ). In fact, however, economic interests were decisive, since the trade in fish and skins from Finnmark, which is claimed by both countries, in northern Scandinavia was extremely profitable. Another reason was the efforts of Christian IV. And Charles IX. after the predominance in the Baltic Sea region.

After Charles IX. Had refused to negotiate the disputed issues, both states declared war on one another. After the death of Charles IX. in October 1611 the war was continued by the 17-year-old heir to the throne Gustav II Adolf , who at that time had already enjoyed an excellent military training.

In May 1612, the Danish troops, consisting mainly of German mercenaries , succeeded in taking the fortress Älvsborg (Danish Elfsborg ) on Göta älv and thus Sweden's only access to the Kattegat . Kalmar was occupied in August . In the same year, Swedish troops burned the then Danish town of Vä (Danish: Væ ) in Skåne .

Through the mediation of England and the Netherlands , the Treaty of Knäred was concluded on January 20, 1613 . Sweden had to cede Finnmark to Denmark. Kalmar received it back, but had to pay one million thalers in compensation to the Danish King Christian IV by 1618 . Älvsborg Fortress remained in Danish hands until the final payment in 1619.

literature