Conquest of Stockholm

Conquest of Stockholm
Part of Swedish War of Liberation
The Entry of Gustav Vasa into Stockholm Carl Larsson, oil on canvas, 1908
Date June 17, 1523 Location Stockholm, Sweden Result Swedish victory, Stockholm captured by Gustav Vasa
Belligerents
Sweden	Denmark
Commanders and leaders
Gustav Vasa

The Conquest of Stockholm (Swedish: Erövringen av Stockholm) was a battle in the Swedish War of Liberation that took place in Stockholm, Sweden on June 17, 1523. The Swedish forces had for a long time laid siege to Stockholm, which was the last Danish stronghold in Sweden. The city waited for reinforcement from Denmark, but none came. It was clear that negotiations must begin.

A first attempt at negotiation began, on the basis that the military forces in Stockholm would surrender to Lübeck, and that Lübeck and Danzig would compensate them for their remaining pay. Gustav Vasa refused to agree with this proposal, and the siege continued.

In June 1523 the negotiations were resumed. Stockholm's defenders were tired of the fighting, and their only demand was safe passage and that they were allowed to retain their equipment. This was accepted by Gustav Vasa and on the 17th of June the capitulation of the city and castle was officially signed. Gustav Vasa, who had been crowned King of Sweden on June 6, could march into the city on Midsummer's Eve.

Depictions

The conquest of Stockholm 1523 is depicted in the Swedish opera Gustaf Wasa from 1786 by Johann Gottlieb Naumann, where the libretto was written by Johan Henric Kellgren and Gustav III of Sweden.

References

• Sundberg, Ulf (1998). "Befrielsekriget 1521-1523" (in Swedish). Svenskt Militärhistoriskt Bibliotek. http://www.smb.nu/index.php/krig-1521-1611/befrielsekriget-1521-1523. Retrieved 2011-11-20.