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Second Swedish Crusade
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Second Swedish Crusade
The Second Swedish Crusade was a military expedition by the Kingdom of Sweden into Tavastia (Häme) in southern Finland described by Erik's Chronicle. According to the chronicle, the Swedes defeated the pagan Tavastians under the leadership of Birger Jarl, and started building a castle in Tavastia.
The expedition has traditionally been dated to 1249–1250 based on the chronology of the chronicle. However, some researchers have suggested that the expedition instead took place already in 1238–1239, shortly after the Tavastian uprising and before the Battle of the Neva against the Novgorod Republic. The castle that the Swedes began constructing during the expedition has traditionally been identified as Häme Castle, but it may also have been the older Hakoinen Castle.
The Second Swedish Crusade consolidated and extended Swedish control over Finland.
Sweden had held a foothold within Finland, specifically Finland Proper since the First Swedish Crusade. Swedish missionary attempts, possibly having been led by the bishop Thomas, were present within Tavastia in c. 1230. The Tavastian uprising from 1236–1237 led to a justification for the Swedes to invade Tavastia, with Pope Gregory IX calling the Swedes to attack them.
All details of the crusade are from Erik's Chronicle, which is largely propagandist[citation needed] in nature, written a century after the events, amidst internal unrest and a war against Novgorod. The chronicle places the crusade between the Battle of Sparrsätra in 1247 and the death of King Erik Eriksson in 1250, and presents the pagan Tavastians (the hedna taffwesta) as the Swedes' opponents. According to the chronicle, the expedition was prepared in Sweden and then conducted over sea to a land on the coast, where the enemy was waiting.
The Chronicle also mentioned that a castle called taffwesta borg was established after the war. The Chronicle also linked the Crusade to a contest with the Orthodox Russians, making a point of the fact that the "Russian king" had now lost the conquered land.
The so-called "Detmar Chronicle", originating from Lübeck around the year 1340, confirmed the expedition with a short note that Birger Jarl submitted Finland under Swedish rule. The "Lübeck Chronicle" states that in 1266, Finland become a part of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Unlike the dubious First Swedish crusade, there seems to be little doubt that Sweden's effort to Christianize Finland reached a culmination in the middle of the 13th century. Still, many details, including the year and the exact nature, remain the subject of debate.
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Second Swedish Crusade
The Second Swedish Crusade was a military expedition by the Kingdom of Sweden into Tavastia (Häme) in southern Finland described by Erik's Chronicle. According to the chronicle, the Swedes defeated the pagan Tavastians under the leadership of Birger Jarl, and started building a castle in Tavastia.
The expedition has traditionally been dated to 1249–1250 based on the chronology of the chronicle. However, some researchers have suggested that the expedition instead took place already in 1238–1239, shortly after the Tavastian uprising and before the Battle of the Neva against the Novgorod Republic. The castle that the Swedes began constructing during the expedition has traditionally been identified as Häme Castle, but it may also have been the older Hakoinen Castle.
The Second Swedish Crusade consolidated and extended Swedish control over Finland.
Sweden had held a foothold within Finland, specifically Finland Proper since the First Swedish Crusade. Swedish missionary attempts, possibly having been led by the bishop Thomas, were present within Tavastia in c. 1230. The Tavastian uprising from 1236–1237 led to a justification for the Swedes to invade Tavastia, with Pope Gregory IX calling the Swedes to attack them.
All details of the crusade are from Erik's Chronicle, which is largely propagandist[citation needed] in nature, written a century after the events, amidst internal unrest and a war against Novgorod. The chronicle places the crusade between the Battle of Sparrsätra in 1247 and the death of King Erik Eriksson in 1250, and presents the pagan Tavastians (the hedna taffwesta) as the Swedes' opponents. According to the chronicle, the expedition was prepared in Sweden and then conducted over sea to a land on the coast, where the enemy was waiting.
The Chronicle also mentioned that a castle called taffwesta borg was established after the war. The Chronicle also linked the Crusade to a contest with the Orthodox Russians, making a point of the fact that the "Russian king" had now lost the conquered land.
The so-called "Detmar Chronicle", originating from Lübeck around the year 1340, confirmed the expedition with a short note that Birger Jarl submitted Finland under Swedish rule. The "Lübeck Chronicle" states that in 1266, Finland become a part of the Kingdom of Sweden.
Unlike the dubious First Swedish crusade, there seems to be little doubt that Sweden's effort to Christianize Finland reached a culmination in the middle of the 13th century. Still, many details, including the year and the exact nature, remain the subject of debate.
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