Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - VI. Period of the Union, 1389–1531 - B. Karl Knutsson and Christian I
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Jons Bengtsson Oxenstiern 91
this, peace could not be maintained between the two
ambitious kings. A fierce border war followed.
Jons Bengtsson Oxenstiern. While King Karl was
engaged in this war, a dangerous enemy arose in his
rear. It was the rich and mighty archbishop Jons
Bengtsson Oxenstiern. It had long vexed him that his
own family should be pushed aside by the Bonde fam-
ily. He was determined to snatch the power from Karl
Knutsson. One day he entered the cathedral of Upp-
sala, advanced to the high altar, laid down his miter
and vowed not to take it up again until Karl had been
driven from the land. Then he put on his armor and
buckled the sword to his side. One night he succeeded
in surprising the king and capturing his men. Karl
himself was wounded, and, deserted by his friends,
was compelled to leave the country.
The archbishop and his following then called in
Christian of Denmark. He came and was at once
chosen king by the lords. But as nearly all his activities
consisted in extorting taxes, he was given the nick-
name "Bottomless-empty-purse" by the enraged peas-
antry, and was after a few years driven out. Karl
Knutsson was then recalled. But Jons Bengtsson would
give him no peace. The parties raged against each
other in a bewildering fight, which shook the whole
kingdom. Karl Knutsson was driven out a second time
and lived for a while in extreme poverty in Finland.
For a third time fortune bestowed the crown of Swed-
en on him. But civil war blazed up again and raged
violently throughout the land. In the midst of the tur-
moil Karl Knutsson passed away, in 1470, after having
1
had many bitter experiences of the world’s unrest and
the fickleness of fortune.
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