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| Battle of Mjölkalånga | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Dano-Swedish War | |||||||||
 Mats Kettilmundsson, commander of the Swedish army | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Sweden |
 Denmark | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Mats Kettilmundsson Knut Porse of Halland Esger Juul Duke Christoffer |
Eric VI of Denmark | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
| 1000 | 1000 | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 300 captured, 300-500 killed | 700 killed | ||||||||
The Battle of Mjölkalånga (Swedish: Slaget vid Mjölkalånga; Danish: Slaget ved Mjölkalånga) in 1318 was a battle between Danish and Swedish forces at Tyringe in Scania, it was a violent battle where the Danish army was annihilated.
Background
editIn the early 14th century, Scania, alongside Halland and Blekinge, remained under the governance of Denmark, under the rule of King Eric Menved. Meanwhile, Sweden saw the emergence of its first monarch of that century, Birger Magnusson, hailing from the esteemed lineage of Bjelbo. Even at the tender age of four, Birger was anointed as king in 1284 by his father Magnus Ladulås, a strategic move to uphold the royal authority within the family and preempt any potential conflicts for the throne.
As soon as Birger's two brothers, Duke Eric of Södermanland and Duke Valdemar of Finland were old enough, an uprising against him was prepared. Among the most powerful in Sweden, Eric was the most popular of Magnus Ladulå's sons. It turned out later on that he was the most interested in the political game of intrigue and it was he who came to lead the rebellion against his brother Birger. in 1302 Eric Magnusson assumed his duchy of Södermanland with part of Uppland and after that the civil war broke out.
Håtuna Games
editDuring the autumn of 1306, the fighting culminated. King Birger orchestrated a pact with his brothers, securing their agreement to acknowledge his 4-year-old son as the heir to the throne. This young prince solemnized his commitment with an oath sworn at Mora, ushering in a temporary period of peace. Subsequently, the dukes embarked on a journey northward after attending a wedding in Bjälbo. Their path led them to the vicinity of Sigtuna, where the royal household was situated.
Upon their arrival, a grand celebration was organized in honor of the dukes, yet as the festivities wore on, the merriment devolved into the early hours. In the midst of the revelry, confrontations erupted, and the dukes attacked the king. Amidst the chaos, a member of the court managed to seize the young prince, Taking him away to Denmark. Here, the Danish king, Eric Menved, along with his queen Ingeborg, the boy's aunt, extended their sheltering embrace to the young heir.
Concurrently, the two dukes took captive the royal couple, subjecting them to a two-year-long period of imprisonment. This marked a pivotal turn of events in the unfolding drama.
The release of Birger
editIn reality, it was Duke Erik who ruled Sweden. Simultaneously, he was deep in negotiations to win the hand of the Norwegian crown princess Ingeborg Håkansdotter. Additionally, he strategically reclaimed northern Halland from Danish insurgents who had previously taken control of the region. This move led King Menved of Denmark to launch an offensive, aiming to rescue his captive brother-in-law and stand by the Norwegian king's side.
On the flip side, the dukes had some backup. About 800 German mercenaries, whom Valdemar had enlisted while returning from a pilgrimage to the Pope in Avignon, joined their cause. Eventually, in 1308, they managed to secure the release of King Birger. However, it wasn't until the summer of 1310 that a lasting peace settlement was hammered out in Helsingborg. This agreement effectively divided Sweden into three semi-autonomous regions.
The distribution went like this: King Birger gained control over a major chunk of Eastern Sweden and the Vyborg county in Finland. On the other hand, Dukes Erik and Valdemar shared authority over Western Sweden. A mere two years later, in 1312, Duke Erik sealed the deal by marrying Ingeborg, the Norwegian heir to the throne. As a result of this union, he was granted a portion of Norwegian Bohuslän as a fief. Their marriage bore fruit in the form of a son named Magnus, born in 1316.
Nyköping banquet
editHowever, Birger's resolve to establish sole dominion over Sweden remained unwavering. In early December 1317, he extended invitations to his siblings, convening them for a festive Christmas gathering at Nyköpingshus. Despite prolonged contemplation, the two dukes eventually acceded to the invitation, marking a pivotal moment.
The event commenced with great fervor, marked by a considerable assembly of guests and an atmosphere of harmony and celebration. Notably, the placement of the dukes' retinue outside the castle walls did not arouse suspicion. It is noteworthy that throughout history, Christmas peace held profound significance, with severe repercussions for transgressions committed during this sacred period. However, the situation took a drastic turn on the night spanning December 10th and 11th. A contingent of crossbow-bearing soldiers, led by Drost Brunke, apprehended the dukes within their sleeping quarters. This swift action resulted in their confinement within the castle's subterranean vault, their restraints fastened adjacent to a water reservoir.
Birger's motivations seemingly stemmed from a desire to avenge the events of the "Håtuna Games," envisioning himself as the paramount ruler of Sweden. Yet, his ambitions unfolded contrary to expectations. The dukes' supporters responded vigorously, igniting a fervent popular revolt. The fortress at Nyköpinghus became a battleground as it weathered a protracted siege. In a dramatic gesture, Birger purportedly disposed of the prison tower's key by casting it into the surrounding moat. Consequently, the dukes found themselves left to face a dire fate, leading to the moniker "Nyköping Banquet."
By August 1318, the castle ultimately succumbed, albeit belatedly. Regrettably, upon exploration of the dungeon, two lifeless bodies were discovered. Meanwhile, across the border in Denmark, Birger's son reached the legal age of 18, prompting him to mobilize Danish forces for a rescue mission. This endeavor, however, met with failure, culminating in his capture by the ducal faction. In response, Birger dispatched Drots Brunke along with an armed contingent to extricate his son from captivity. Tragically, this mission mirrored the fate of Magnus, leading to Brunke's downfall. Consequently, Birger was compelled to seek sanctuary in Gotland. Subsequently, his flight led him to Denmark, where he ultimately sought refuge within the confines of Spikaborg Castle. In this manner, the complex narrative unfolded, punctuated by a series of compelling events.
Prelude to the Battle of Mjölkalånga
editBy the onset of autumn in 1318, the loyal supporters of the dukes had mustered an impressive army consisting of no fewer than 1,000 men, embarking on a march toward Danish territory. Leading the Swedish forces was Riksdrotsen Mats Kettilmundsson, accompanied by the knight Knut Porse of Halland, Archbishop Esger Juul, and Duke Christoffer, the exiled sibling of Eric Menved. A seasoned tactician, Mats Kettilmundsson had previously commanded forces in Finland and played a pivotal role in repelling Novgorod's advances.
The Swedish expedition ventured into Danish lands by way of the famed "Holländarevägen," a path that diagonally traversed the border through Farstorp, Vankiva, Hörlinge, Mjölkalånga, Matteröd, Norra Rörum, and onward to Landskrona, a town that was yet to be established.
Upon receiving intelligence about the Swedish activities, King Eric Menved of Denmark swiftly mobilized his own forces, positioning them along Matteröd to intercept the approaching Swedes. Notably, Svartevadsbäcken marked the erstwhile border between Mjölkalånga county, under the jurisdiction of Roskilde's domchapitel, and Finja county, aligned with Lund's archbishopric, and governed by Archbishop Esger Juul—an influential figure within the Swedish contingent. Consequently, the Danish forces entrenched themselves on their own territory, taking positions along the ridge extending from south of Mjölkalånga up to Skälsböke, strategically awaiting the Swedish advance.
As the contingent led by Duke Christoffer, accompanied by Mats Kettilmundsson, reached Svartevadsbäcken, they too assumed positions on the northern bank, setting the stage for the impending clash.
Battle of Mjölkalånga
editOn the 26th of October in 1318, a formidable assembly of nearly 1,000 knights surged forth, proceeding down the slopes toward the village of Mjölkalånga, then onward to converge upon the Swedes' encampment. This array of foot soldiers engaged in combat wielding swords, crossbows, and halberds. Evidently, the initial assault might have caught the Swedes on the northern bank, only for them to subsequently cross the stream as the retreating Danes were pursued. The resultant clash was a violent battle, culminating in the annihilation of the Danish military force. According to oral tradition, this confrontation etched its place as the bloodiest encounter in Göinge's historical record, an assertion that likely holds true.
As recounted in the Eric Chronicle, around 300 knights and journeymen are noted to have been taken captive following the battle. If this account holds water and it concurrently holds true that Scanians and Danes fought tenaciously to the very end, then an estimated 700 casualties on the Danish side alone could be inferred. Taking into consideration an additional estimation of 300-500 Swedes who may have fallen, the total tally of casualties would surpass the grim milestone of 1,000 lives lost.
Consequences
editFollowing the battle, a surge of looting swept across Scania. Helsingborg was placed under siege, while Falsterbo was captured. Moreover, Skanör, Lund, and Malmö were subjected to ransom demands. This indicates that the surviving Swedish forces must have been sizable and in sufficiently robust condition to fragment into multiple units. This aspect also implies that both opposing armies boasted considerable strength.
In the summer of 1319, a significant turning point unfolded with the election of Duke Erik's young son, three-year-old Magnus Eriksson, as the King of Sweden. Notably, he had been previously designated as the King of Norway upon the demise of his maternal grandfather, Håkan Magnusson. The momentous occasion transpired on July 8, 1319, within the expanse of Mora meadow situated outside Uppsala. This marked the conclusion of a distinctive phase in Sweden's evolution. The nation stood unified, with authority distributed among the monarchy, the church, and the nobility. The charter of freedoms, penned during the election assembly, safeguarded the rights and liberties of diverse segments within the society. This document then laid the foundation for the constitution that held sway until the enactment of the 1719 constitution.
Memory
editOn October 26, 2018, on the day 700 years after the battle took place, the home village association in Mjölkalånga erected a memorial at the site.[1]
Sources
editReferences
edit- ^ Olofson, Stefan (2018-10-26). "Nu har slaget fått en sten". Norra Skåne (in Swedish). Retrieved 2023-08-09.
- ^ The Chronicle of Duke Erik: A Verse Epic from Medieval Sweden. Nordic Academic Press. 2012-01-08. ISBN 978-91-87121-33-3.
- ^ Blom, Karl Arne (2018-02-27). Fienden är svensk (in Swedish). Lindhardt og Ringhof. ISBN 978-87-11-70687-9.