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War on Gotland (1403-1404)
Date1403-1404
Location
Result Teutonic victory
Belligerents

Kalmar Union Kalmar Union

State of the Teutonic Order Teutonic Order
Supported by

Visby
Gutes
Commanders and leaders
Kalmar Union Margaret I
Sweden Algot Magnuson
Sweden Abraham Brodersson
Sweden Sven Sture
State of the Teutonic Order Konrad von Jungingen
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
150 ships Unknown

The War on Gotland (1403–1404) was a conflict between the Kalmar Union and the Teutonic Order. The war was a failure for Margaret, and the island stayed in Teutonic hands until they eventually sold the island in 1408.[1]

Background

Teutonic invasion of Gotland

In 1398, with turmoil in Scandinavia, Konrad von Jungingen decided to invade Gotland, which would today be classified as an official police action in an attempt to bring peace to the southern Baltic region.[2] On April 5, the Vitalians and Mecklenburgs capitulated to the Teutons, the Teutonic troops then took over Gotland, the conquest was legally sanctioned when the Teutonic Order formally purchased the island from Albrecht of Mecklenburg in 1399.[2][3]

After Margaret I managed to eliminate the last resistance from Mecklenburg, she turned to Teutonic Gotland. In the autumn of 1399 she demands that Konrad von Jungingen, the Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, hand over Gotland to her.[1]

Teutonic rule over Gotland

The Knights did not have it easy. In addition to fixing damages, they were forced to deal with the main political problem, the distrust between the Gutes and the burghers in Visby. The burghers of Visby took their opportunity and got the Teutonic Order on their side, with the help of the knights, they forcefully moved all trade on Gotland to the ports in Visby. However, Konrad was not oblivious to this, when he realized that this could bring more conflict, he continiously gave evasive and postponing answers to the representatives of the burgers.[2]

The Teutonic rule overall worked well, The knights took responsibility. They did their best to restore a stable legal society and restore the people's faith in law and order. They were able to effectively drive away the pirates and stopped plundering. At the wall around Visby, they began construction of a new fortification, which later became Visborg. They also had the Gutalagen translated into german, to facilitate the administration of justice. In addition, ther are documents showing that the order's high priest, Johan von Techwitz, cooperated with the Gutes country judges in disputes between farmers.[2]

The war

Aftermath

References

  1. ^ a b Sundberg, Ulf (1999). Medeltidens svenska krig (1st ed.). Stockholm: Hjalmarson & Högberg. pp. 221–223. ISBN 9189080262.
  2. ^ a b c d "SvD | Bloggarkivet | Tyska orden på Gotland". blog.svd.se. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  3. ^ Etting, Vivian (2004-01-01), "The struggle for Gotland and the mystery of the false King Oluf", Queen Margrete I (1353-1412) and the Founding of the Nordic Union, Brill, pp. 134–138, ISBN 978-90-474-0479-8, retrieved 2024-03-12