1521-1523: The War of Liberation
Part 20: From Vikings to Modern Sweden: A Chronological Journey through Swedish History
Late December and January 1521, when Gustav Vasa came back to Mora – after his trip by foot to Sälen and back on skis – he was immediately appointed as a leader of the rebellion that was being formed, and was given a personal bodyguard force of 16 men, Dalkarlar, who would protect him day and night from the men who were loyal to King Christian II and who were sent to Dalarna to arrest the new rebel. This force would eventually turn into the Svea livgarde force.
But Gustav Vasa did not manage the military directly, he instead became a political leader of the rebellion whose first job in the spring of 1521 was to travel around to try to get support from other provinces to also rise up against the king. Rebellions, independent to the Gustav Vasa uprising had been formed both in Småland and Västergötland, since many people around the country was dissatisfied by the king’s policy of un-arming the peasants.
So what happened during the battles against the Danish forces? And why did Gustav Vasa become king of Sweden?
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