Medieval Swedish

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Historical Overview Section

The period between 1100 and 1400 was characterized by internal power struggles and competition among the Nordic kingdoms. Swedish kings also began to expand the Swedish-controlled territory in Finland, creating conflicts with the (formerly Viking Rus which now no longer had any connection with Sweden.

The greatest medieval statesman of Sweden, and one of the principal architects of its rise as a nation, was Birger Jarl the Regent, who practically ruled the land from 1248 to 1266. His power was extended by his son, King Magnus Ladulås (1275–90) who completed the introduction of the feudal system to Sweden. The formation of separate orders (classes of society), or estates, was promoted by Magnus Ladulås, who extended the privileges of the clergy and practically founded the formal Swedish nobility leading to heavily armed cavalry forming the kernel of the national army. The Knights (new nobles) and Burghers became distinguishable from the higher nobility. To this period belongs the rise of a prominent burgess class, as the towns now began to acquire charters.

The first union between Sweden and Norway occurred in 1319 when the three-year-old Magnus, son of the Swedish royal Duke Eric and of the Norwegian princess Ingeborg, inherited the throne of Norway from his grandfather Haakon V and in the same year was elected King of Sweden, by the Convention of Oslo. The boy king's long minority weakened the royal influence in both countries, and Magnus lost both his kingdoms before his death leading to an other schism. The Swedes, irritated by his misrule, superseded him by his nephew, Albert of Mecklenburg in 1365. In Sweden Magnus weakness as King led directly to the rise of a powerful landed aristocracy and the rise of powerful indepenant Swedish cities influenced by German merchants of the Hanseatic League, active especially at Visby in the Baltic. In 1397 Queen Margaret I of Denmark effected the personal union of Sweden, Norway, and the Late Medieval Danish through the Kalmar Union. However, Margaret’s successors, whose rule was also centred in Denmark, were unable to control the Swedish nobility who resented Danish attempts to dominate the Union. The Swedes first broke away from it in 1434 under the popular leader Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson, and after his murder they elected Karl Knutsson Bonde their king under the title of Charles VIII, 1436. In 1441 Charles VIII had to abdicate in favour of Christopher of Bavaria, who was already king of Denmark and Norway; however, upon the death of Christopher in 1448, a state of confusion ensued in the course of which Charles VIII was twice reinstated and twice expelled again. Finally, on his death in 1470, the three kingdoms were reunited under Christian II of Denmark, the prelates and higher nobility of Sweden being favourable to the union.

Christian then ordered a massacre in 1520 of Swedish nobles at Stockholm. This came to be known as the “Stockholm blood bath” and stirred the Swedish nobility to new resistance and, on 6 June (now Sweden's national holiday) in 1523, they made Gustav Vasa their king. This is sometimes considered as the foundation of modern Sweden. Shortly afterwards he rejected Catholicism and led Sweden into the Protestant Reformation.

Using the army in FoG

• Average Knights are the wrong choice in 99 out of 100 possible situations – even if they are the only drilled ones you can get.
• BGs of 6 knights are probably too wide to use effectively
• The militia are pricey, but can soak up casualties better than most similar units as the rear ranks are decent fighters. They can probably live as being taken in 6's - otherwise the army ends up very small.
• Don't forget that mixed formations count both ranks as the weapon/class of the first rank when in combat.
• Armoured Cavalry Crossbow Swordsmen are fairly decent troops in period, and will scare enemy skirmishers away with ease.
• This army is going to be small and slow. A fortified camp may be a decent investment.
• Arguably an IC is worth it as then you may sometimes get to pick woodlands and close down the table. But, he's pricey and not that useful for anything else as generals will often need to fight with the average units to give them even half a chance against enemy Superiors

UK Tournament Results with this army

Useful Links

User-contributed links about this army:

• Fanaticus banner download page with some banners that can be used for this army
• Medieval Swedish Flags to download and use
• Medieval Swedish DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• Medieval Swedish. DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus
• put the link text readers will see in here write some more detail about the link here
• Medieval Scandinavians DBA Figure Gallery for this army - from Fanaticus

Allies

• none allowed

15mm Manufacturers supplying figures suitable for Late Medieval Armies

You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site

• Essex Miniatures - vast range of generic medieval figures
• Donnington C15 Europe Range, 36-strong WOTR range, and their C12-13 range includes a "Scandinavian Knight"
• Museum Miniatures 100YW & WOTR ranges with nice generic mounted and dismounted knights
• Gladiator Miniatures by Fighting 15's (Previously Black Hat) 40+ Medievals, 18 WOTR, plus Feudal/Crusade ranges
• Corvus Belli 30 or so figures in a well-regarded 100YW range
• Old Glory 15's, large number of medieval figures
• Minifigs 2 large and separate 100YW Crecy & Agincourt ranges, plus large WOTR selection
• Irregular Miniatures 60 medievals in a range spanning East/West Europe from Late Feudal to C15
• Lancashire Games Around 30 generic & English medievals
• QRF Models 20 WOTR figure codes in the Feudal Castings range, plus maybe a few of the Elizabethan Irish or early renaissance (LAN) wars Friekorps range?
• Tin Soldier 40 C14 & C15 medievals, including Swiss and equipment
• Battle Line Miniatures (NZ) 60 generic Medievals, some noted for WOTR
• Vexilia Extensive Mirliton & Venexia Italian/Burgundian Wars ranges for C15 armies
• Isarus - sold by 15mm.co.uk 70 codes in their C11-C15 Medus ranges
• AlainTouller Figurines A dedicated Spanish/Almughavar late medieval range
• Gallia 21 Late Medievals (a little small)
• Khurasan Miniatures - very small but perfectly formed Medieval Scandinavian range

Core Troops

Which troops are absolutely needed for this army, and what are your thoughts on how to organise, paint and buy them.

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army

Name of Army / Date

• Using asterisks inthe edit mode creates a bulleted list in the actual site
• This is a lot easier to do than easier than setting up tables
• For FoG I suggest listing your army in order or march
• with troop desctiptions on each line, for example
• 4 HF Armoured Average Drilled Impact Foot Swordsmen
• 8 LG Undrilled Unarmoured Poor Bowen
• Dont forget to include your Generals !!!

Include any notes you want here, including comments on how to use - or play against - the army.

Remember to leave a line before you copy the above section as a template for your own list

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