Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - VI. Period of the Union, 1389–1531 - E. Gustavus Vasa and the War of Liberation
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
Below is the raw OCR text
from the above scanned image.
Do you see an error? Proofread the page now!
Här nedan syns maskintolkade texten från faksimilbilden ovan.
Ser du något fel? Korrekturläs sidan nu!
This page has never been proofread. / Denna sida har aldrig korrekturlästs.
104 A History of Sweden
The Opening of the War. Each day there gathered
around Gustavus crowds of armed peasants, and many
a trained warrior, who had sought refuge in the for-
ests, came forth to offer his services. The miners, too,
of southern Dalecarlia swore fealty to Gustavus.
But in Stockholm Gustav Trolle and his associates
in the government had become seriously alarmed. They
collected a considerable army and marched up to Dale-
carlia. At the Brunback Ferry on the River Dal ( Dal-
aiven) they found the Dalecarlians encamped on the
north side of the river. Gustavus himself was absent
on a recruiting expedition in Helsingland and Gestrik-
land. It is said that a certain Danish leader asked how
large a force Dalecarlia could furnish, and when he
was told 20,000 at least, he asked how such a multitude
of people could find sustenance there. The answer was,
"The people there are accustomed to few dainties. The
greater part drink nothing but water, and when it is
necessary they can live on bark-bread." Then he is
said to have exclaimed, "Men who eat wood and drink
water the evil one himself can not subdue, much less
can man. Brethren, let us depart from here right soon."
But when the Dalecarlians beheld the Danes retreating,
they rushed across the river and put them to flight.
Victory at Vesteras and Siege of Stockholm. After
having organized and trained his men, Gustavus ad-
vanced into Westmanland at the head of 15,000 men.
The Danes met him at Vester&s, but were defeated and
put to flight. After this success the uprising spread
rapidly as in Engelbert’s time. It was not long before
Gustavus was chosen regent of the realm by the Es-
tates. Before the end of the year the members of Chris-
<< prev. page << föreg. sida << >> nästa sida >> next page >>
