The Scandinavian History Podcast
1) 058 Unionizing
In June 1397, noblemen from Denmark, Norway and Sweden got together in Kalmar to celebrate the coronation of Erik of Pomerania, Margaret’s fourteen year-old adoptive son. The assembled nobles also agr...Show More
2) 057 Margaret and Sons
Margaret dominated Scandinavian politics for almost forty years, but since she was a woman, she wasn’t allowed to rule as queen in her own right. Instead, she had to rule through her son Olav. When he...Show More
3) 056 Pirates and Privateers
In his attempts to hold on to his Swedish crown, Albert of Mecklenburg outsourced his naval affairs to a bunch of glorified pirates. Shockingly, when he no longer needed them, they went on being pirat...Show More
4) 055 The Hansa
In the Middle Ages, trade in Northern Europe was dominated by the Hanseatic League. At its peak, the Hansa had a virtual monopoly on international trade in Scandinavia and the members of the League we...Show More
5) 054 Abandoning Greenland
For hundreds of years, the descendants of the colonists Erik the Red had tricked to come with him to Greenland thrived on their chilly (but not particularly verdant) outpost in the North Atlantic. But...Show More
6) 053 The Great Death
Life in Scandinavia in the Middle Ages wasn’t always great, and in the summer of 1349 it took a sharp turn for the worse. For a lot of people it also ended abruptly in considerable agony. The reason w...Show More
7) 052 Saint Bridget
After her husband’s death, the aristocratic Bridget Birgersdotter started to have visions where Jesus, Mary and various saints and prophets unloaded on the rich and powerful. Despite making many influ...Show More
8) 051 One King, Two Crowns
Magnus Eriksson became king of two kingdoms when he was only three years old. He peaked as a toddler, ruling over Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Sweden and Finland. But it was all downhill from there. Th...Show More
9) 050 Lock and Law
The Swedish usurper king Magnus Birgersson won the acceptance of the Church and the aristocracy by granting them tax exemptions and other privileges. Paradoxically, he’s also remembered as a friend of...Show More
10) 049 The Jarl and the King
Even though he never became king, Jarl Birger Magnusson dominated Swedish political life (and the actual king) for many years. He led a crusade, gave women the right to inherit and founded the city of...Show More