What Was The Collapse Of The Kalmar Union?

The Kalmar Union existed from 1397 until 1521 and was named after the Swedish city Kalmar in which the union was founded by the kingdoms Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. In June 1397 67 men from the clerical and secular nobility signed a draft agreement, that unified the countries under one king. The state structure was left unimpaired and important positions were not to be given to foreigners. Queen Margret from Denmark strictly led the union until her death in 1412. The Hanse at first supported the union but it changed after her successor and great nephew Erik of Pomerania claimed Schleswig contradicting the opinion of the Hanse. A war broke out and the Kalmar Union fought several battles against the Hanse, the trade union of different north
Due to the Swedish rebellion Erik of Pomerania lost more and more power and he was replaced by Kristoffer of Bavaria. Even though he was less powerful he created a better status for the nobility, the council of the realm and to some extent for the peasants. After his death Karl Knutsson became king of Norway and Sweden as he was the Swedish anti-king before. Denmark instead chose Christian I. of Oldenburg in 1448, who had the support of the Hanse and led to a collapse of the Kalmar Union. A time of war and chaos followed as Denmark fought against Sweden from 1451 until 1456 and a rebellion awakened in 1464. The fighting continued until Denmark and Sweden came to a peace treaty in 1473 – again signed in Kalmar. Nevertheless the chaos continued as the person of the protector of the realm and alliances changed several times and more battles were fought. King Hans of Denmark and Norway reigned from 1481 until 1513 but could not retain his power in Sweden due several rebellions. The last king of the Kalmar Union was Christian II. of Denmark who reigned in Denmark from 1513 and in Sweden starting in November 1520 with a crowning ceremony in
The region of Götaland and Skåne were often fought of. Several rebellions as mentioned started in Sweden and were a leading source of trouble for the kings of the Kalmar Union. Most of the time, the reasons can be found in taxes or the struggle for power (Encyclopaedia Britannica,