Page 8 - Handout

War against the Swedish and Polish king Sigismund 1598-1599 This war is in reality a Swedish Civil War. Sigismund There was also a conflict between Sweden and Poland was son of the Swedish King Johan III in his marriage about Estonia. Duke Carl was a son of Gustav Vasa and with the Polish princess Katarina Jagellonica. When King brother of Johan III and therefore Sisgismund’s uncle. Johan III died in 1592 Sigismund became King of Swe- Duke Carl won this war and was in 1599 elected new den. However there was a problem as Sweden was a Lu- King of Sweden as King Carl IX. theran nation since the 1520’s and Sigismund was of catholic faith plus King of Poland since 1587. 1598 Letter by courier from Duke Carl, Stockholm – the governor of Västmanland at Kägleholm... …with arrival notation November 21, 1598 at During 16 & 17 century it was very often the same courier th th back. The addressee Mauritz Stensson that conveyed the mail from the sender to the receiver. These Leijonhufvud was also councillor in the Sw. couriers were called in Swedish “Enspännare”. Government and governor of Dalarna. The governmental and Royal couriers in official duty had a Duke Carl, King Gustav Vasa's third son and special sign which entitled them for free board and lodging uncle to the King Sigismund, was the leader for themselves and change of horse along their travel. It was of the council of the realm when the King a high cost to send a courier. was not in Sweden. At the battle of Stångebro (today Linköping) Sept. In late Nov. 1598 Duke Carl sent a force for 25, 1598 Duke Carl with troops and militia from clearance of foreign soldiers loyal to Sigismund in northern and middle of Sweden defeated Calmar and convoke the Sw. Parliament at Sigismund's foreign mercenaries and soldiers from Jönköping (including his council, the Government, southern Sweden. The “peace” agreement stipulated and M. Stensson Leijonhufvud) to late Jan. 1599. that all foreign troops left Sweden. The Parliament decided not to be loyal to the King as he had broke his promise to not strengthen the Catholicism in Sweden. Duration: Jul. 24, 1598 - Sept. 1599 Main area: Sweden