Page 19 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

INTRODUCING ST OCKHOLM  17

THE HISTORY

OF STOCKHOLM

Legends and theories about Stockholm’s origins have been many and varied,
and sometimes even contradictory. But they have a common factor – control
over the waterways. The generally accepted founder of Stockholm is the
13th-century regent Birger Jarl, who, according to the medieval Erik’s Chronicle,
wanted to build a fortress to protect Lake Mälaren from marauding pirates.

A thousand years ago the waters around biggest place in the kingdom. But it
the island now known as Gamla Stan were was not the capital city, because the
busy with warships, trading vessels and king was always on the move. Birger
pirate ships using the narrow channel Jarl’s son, King Magnus Ladulås, did not
between the Baltic and Lake Mälaren. regard Stockholm as his capital either.
In those days boat was the quickest For a long time the city’s importance
and safest method of travel. lay in its role as a trading centre. It
In the first literary mention of what became an important port for the
was to become Stockholm, the Icelandic German-dominated Hanseatic League,
poet and saga writer Snorri Sturluson which controlled Swedish overseas
(1179–1241) des cribed a barrier of piles trade from the 13th century until the
across a waterway, which he named late 17th century.
Stocksundet, the present Norrström. The frontiers of the Nordic coun tries
The island formed by this piling became remained undefined for some time, but
known as Stockholm. Excavations in the with a background of sim ilar languages
late 1970s revealed the remains of a large and cultures, Sweden, Norway and
number of piles in the water dating from Denmark signed the Kalmar Union in
the 11th century. Snorri also mentioned 1397. Finland at that time was still part
a 12th-century castle tower, which would of Sweden. The era of union became
have predated Birger Jarl’s fortress, the one of conflict and violence. At the
predecessor of the present Royal Palace. battle of Brunkeberg in Stockholm in
Documents show that Stockholm was 1471 the Danish king tried to take control
already a city in 1252, four years after of Sweden, but was defeated by the
Birger Jarl became regent. Many towns regent Sten Sture. A new Danish
in Sweden started to expand in the campaign in 1520 culminated in the
early 13th century. Stockholm was a late notorious Stockholm Bloodbath at
starter but soon caught up. A document Stortorget (see p56), when more than
from 1289 describes Stockholm as the 80 Swedish noblemen were executed.
1364 Albrecht of
c.1250 Birger Jarl Mecklenburg chosen 1520 Swedish
1008 Olof Skötkonung founds Stockholm as Sweden’s King noblemen
converts to Christianity executed in
and is baptized in Birger Jarl, 1350 Code of 1397 Kalmar Stockholm
Västergötland Stockholm’s Magnus Eriksson re- Union links the Bloodbath
founder places provincial laws Nordic countries
1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500
1275 Magnus Ladulås chosen 1280 Ordi- 1471 Sten Sture
800–975 Vikings as Sweden’s king at Mora
settle and trade at nances of Alsnö 1349–50 the Elder defeats
Birka (see p150) give nobility Plague the Danish King
1101 Three Kings’ Meeting free dom from ravages Kristian at
fixes Scandinavian frontiers taxation Sweden Brunkeberg
The Parhelion Painting in Storkyrkan (Stockholm’s cathedral), depicting a remarkable light phenomenon seen in 1535

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