w. 50

On Friday we discussed changes that came to Sweden during the reign of Gustav Vasa

Things GV did during his reign:

-       organized a centralized administration

-       suppressed all opposition

-       pushed through the Reformation

-       confiscated the greater part of the Church’s estates and treasures  + all monasteries (except for Vadstena) were eventually transformed into the property of the Crown – or part of Gustav’s inheritance – which were pretty much the same thing – culminating in 1540s

-       instituted a system of hereditary monarchy

-       made the Riksdag (which at the time consisted of the four Estates) a part of all future Swedish forms of gov.

After Stockholm’s Bloodbath, Gustav was able to raise an army to fight Christian II. They were victorious, and as a result, Sweden left the Kalmar Union.

The fight against Christian led to the build up large debts, which then became the debts of the Swedish Crown.

These debts are the main reason why the Reformation is introduced in Sweden: Gustav wants the property/possessions that the Catholic Church has in Sweden. In 1527 there is a meeting in Västerås that includes the Riksdag where Gustav pushes through the Reformation.

With the money the Swedish Crown gets as a result of taking over the property and possessions of the Catholic Church in Sweden, Gustav is able to pay off the debts. Sweden now has a more stable economic situation. And as a result, he can develop Sweden in different directions. For example, he can build up a military. That is, he has the money to pay for soldiers. With those soldiers, he will be able to suppress opposition to his rule and decisions.

Why is there opposition? In part because previously the regional leaders/chieftains (hövdingar) had considerable power in the various regions of Sweden. Having power meant that they could collect taxes from the people in their regions. GV puts in great effort to bring all of these regions under his authority. Taxes are not to go into the pockets of the hövdingar. Taxes should go into the pocket of GV . . . uh, I mean, in the Crown’s treasury. (GV frequently got these two confused.)

This process of bringing the regions under control made it possible have a kingdom run from Stockholm. That is, the kingdom became centrally organized. Decisions were made by the king and his government, and those decisions were applied to the entire kingdom.

The Four Estates / de fyra stånden

We started talking about this, and we’ll pick up with it on Tuesday. As I noted in class, the most important this is that the Four Estates exists. As an institution it doesn’t play that much of a role in the 16^th and 17^th centuries (1500s, 1600s), but when we get to the 18^th c. (1700s), then they start to be a much bigger deal. And if they didn’t exist, it would likely be a very different story in Sweden. And they are there in large part because GV used the Riksdag to validate the decisions he wanted introduced regarding the Reformation and the hereditary throne.

On Tuesday we'll discuss the Industrial Revolution briefly. (Chpt. 25, Sections 1 & 2)

p. 715:

p. 716:

p. 727

After that, we'll start talking about Sweden. (Hurrah!)

We'll begin with a discussion of Gustav Eriksson/Gustav I/Gustav Vasa and how he came to power.

Then we'll move to the adoption of the Protestant Reformation in Sweden -- in 1527! Why did GV want to bring the PR to Sweden?