A Flatpack History of Sweden

98. The Stockholm Bloodbath

After King Kristian II takes over Sweden, he goes a bit cray-cray... That means we have reached one of the most famous events of Swedish history; A vengeful King and an angry Archbishop combine to put the Swedish nobility to the sword. But why, and how? 

99. Gustav Vasa's University Reunion

The dust has settled on the Stockholm Bloodbath and King Kristian continues his early reign with more bloodshed. He thinks he has Sweden under his thumb but he has hasn't counted on the return of one young nobleman. After escaping custody thanks to a sneaky ruse, Gustav Vasa tries to gather support for a rebellion by visiting his old uni friends and even has to escape through a toilet at one point to avoid the King's men. But will the peasants of Sweden unite behind this ambitious, snowshoe-wearing rebel leader? 

Here is the painting we mention in the episode.

And here is the museum we mention that is older than the USA! 

100. Gustav Vasa Becomes King

In our 100th regular episode, Gustav Vasa and his merry band of Swedish rebels take on King Kristian and the Danes in a war that will see shifting allegiances, the nobility and peasants fighting side by side once more, and eventually even the birth of the Swedish Navy. King Kristian on the other hand, faces troubles on all fronts and eventually Gustav will take the throne. Is this what spells the end of the Kalmar Union once and for all? 

To celebrate the 100th episode, there's a particularly funny blooper left in at the end.

S10. The Drama of 1973

To celebrate our 100th regular episode, here's Special Episode 10! This time we cover just a couple of weeks in 1973. There's a big hostage situation in a bank, royal drama and a General Election! Somehow Swedes managed to process all these dramatic events over one late summer in the early 1970s.

Thank you to everyone for being on this journey with us!

101. Gustav Vasa's New Kingdom

Becoming King after a couple of decades of civil war, you can forgive Gustav Vasa for maybe needing a bit of a recap about what kind of country he had just become the King of and what state it was in. So, in this episode, we step into the eyes of Gustav Vasa as he takes a look around to see what Sweden looked like in 1523, and what problems he has to deal with first! 

102. Why Won't the Revolts Stop?

Gustav Vasa is now embarking on his journey as King of Sweden. First up is making the country complete again by sending troops to Gotland, where there are also some fancy looking rocks! Back on the mainland, far from everyone is happy with the new King and a series of revolts break out. How will Gustav deal with them? 

Åsa also wants a disclaimer put in here to say that she had nothing to do with the blooper at the end of the episode...

And check out some Raukar here!

103. The Reformation Reaches Sweden

The ideas of a revolutionary German monk cause some ripple effects even as far away as Sweden. Gustav Vasa sees an opportunity to take advantage of these new ways of thinking about Christianity and moves to limit the power of the Swedish bishops and starts a process of Reformation throughout the Kingdom. Protestantism is here! 

104. For Whom the Bell Tolls

Gustav Vasa's religious reforms didn't go unopposed. The Church and even ordinary Swedes showed their opposition to the changes the King wanted to make in a number of ways, including getting extremely angry about the removal of of local church bells. This time we look at all the ways in which the process of the Reformation in Sweden didn't exactly always win the full throated approval of the people. 

105. Return of the Tyrant

Even though he's been on the throne for a decade at this point, Gustav Vasa is still not sitting entirely comfortably as 1534 comes around. That's because an old enemy has risen from the ashes of political oblivion and is attempting to take back his lost Kingdoms. This time Kristian the Tyrant returns! 

106. Dacke's Rebellion

Just when you thought Gustav Vasa was safe on his throne and their couldn't possibly be more rebellions, there's time for at least one more! And this is the biggest one yet! Famous eel-snatcher Nils Dacke leads rebells in Småland who are not onboard with Gustav's way of running the country. 

Check out our new YouTube video, in which Chris' vists Visby and talks about the 1361 battle!

Edit: Enjoy a special early release due to us pressing the wrong button...!