Quote:
Originally posted by Bill Murray
I was thinking of posting some stuff about the relationship between Norway/Denmark/Sweden/Finland, the three crowns era, Swedens relationship with Finland etc.
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Thank you Bill!
Today most people fall into an anachronistic trap when trying to understand history. It is difficult to understand how different the conditions were some hundred or more years ago. So here are some simple facts.
1. The importance of water. Until railroads were built in the 19th century it was quicker and easier to travel by boat (even a rowing-boat) than to ride or walk non existant roads.
2. Mountains and forests were obstacles. It was essential to control harbours and river-mouths for collecting taxes and customs.
3. Now we understand why Sweden and Finland were united by the Baltic. Denmark and Norway were united by the North Sea.
4. Sweden and Norway were separated by mountains and forrests.
5. When the economy was based on agriculture Denmark was the dominant power in Scandinavia.
6. A growing market for wood products and iron made Sweden stronger. Heavy transports were carried out in summertime by sea and wintertime on land when snow provided friction and the ground was frozen and hard.
7. Norway is not suited for agriculture and has no iron ore. Norway remained the "poor cousin" until oil was found some decades ago.
8. The southern parts of Sweden (Provinces Blekinge - Skåne - Halland) were from the beginning a part of Denmark - united by the Baltic Straits. The border zone was the great forests in Småland.
9. In 1397 Denmark, Norway and Sweden (including Finland) were united under Queen Margaret I.
10. In 1521 Gustav Eriksson Vasa made a rebellion against the King Christian II who was from Denmark. Gustaf Vasa was elected King of Sweden 6th June 1523 - now our National Day.
During the years 1592 to 1598 Sweden and Poland were united under King Sigismund Vasa (grandson of Gustav I Vasa).
11. After 1521 Sweden has fought 31 wars lasting totally 158 years.
12 against Denmark
8 against Russia
6 against Poland
6 against coalitions
1 against France (Napoleon)
1 against Great Britain
1 against Hanseatic forces
12. My favourite is the 1810-1812 war with Great Britain. The hostile Royal Navy was protecting Swedish ships in the Baltic against our allies the Russians. In Gothenburgh the Naval Yard caught fire threathening the whole city. The British blocade fleet came into Gothenburg harbour and helped fighting the fire. Not a single shot was fired in anger during those two years of war! Thank you Admiral Charles de Sumarez! Savour of Gothenburgh.
13. During the 17th century Sweden was a great power. The Baltic was in fact a Swedish lake. Sweden in those days included Finland, Estonia, Northern Latvia and Northern Germany.
14. The great Nordic war 1700-1721 drained Sweden of recourses. The country could not longer afford the navy required to control the Baltic. Russia under Czar Peter grew stronger.
15. In 1808-1809 Finland was lost to Russia. French Marshal Bernadotte was "imported" to regain Finland. Insted he chose peace with Russia and started looking on Norway.
16. In 1814 Denmark lost Norway to Sweden. A union was formed between Norway and Sweden under a common King. This union was dissolved in 1905.
SUMMARY
There are four basic conflicts forming Swedish military history
(see arrows marked 1 - 4).
1. Danish demands for hegemony in Scandinavia.
2. Russian demands for a "window to the West".
3. Polish demands in the Littorial provinces.
4. German demands for Pommerania.