The Stockholm Bloodbath in Folklore.
May. 4th, 2010 10:35 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
regndoftSo, in the spirit of recent time's ficcage, and because someone asked me, I got down to writing this entry.
I think that part of what fascinates me the most about the Stockholm Bloodbath is how deeply imprinted it actually is in people's minds, at least here in Stockholm. People don't THINK about it but at least to me it has been present for a long time. In third grade, when we were working with the history of Stockholm, that was the only event that would stick with me for years.
If you look at local legends about the event, it's also probably quite evident that it's something that has always tickled the imagination of people over almost 500 years. What bloody execution wouldn't?
And the background story is at least as provocative, isn't it? After more than a century of struggles, the powerful men of Sweden one after another goes over to the Danish king, helping him to regain control over the country in exchange for the promise of amnesty. Three days after he's crowned, the coronation feast turns into an execution, starting with the bishops that put the crown on his head to begin with! And this is after a great feast has been thrown to his honour, people have been eating and drinking thinking that they're safe and that things will look up.
I think that's why it has stuck for so long, too. Not as much the number of the executed, the pillaging of Stockholm - bloodbaths were not an unusual event in Medieval Europe - but the betrayal it meant. The bloodbath would be brought up centuries later, still echoing clear in people's minds; don't forget what they did, don't forget what the Danes are like.
It's with this in mind I bring up these tales: just a couple of those that haven't been forgotten over the years. The first one is even well and alive to this day.
What kind of bloodbath wouldn't make for good ghost stories, hmm?
This is a very general tale, and could be at least as old as the bloodbath itself. Details have changed a little over the years, people adding and removing parts of the story themselves, affected by the society they live in and hos Stockholm looked like in their time. Even so, the story itself is timeless which would explain its popularity.
The night between the 8th and the 9th of November, a number of people are said to appear on Stortorget to dance down the street of Kåkbrinken, following the route that their own blood supposedly made 500 years ago as they were executed, spilling into the lake Stockholm is built on.
If it rains heavily that night, you will see it yourself, according to the stories; the blood running down the cobblestone streets. In 1520 the same kind of heavy rainfall is supposed to have washed away the blood after the last of the executions on Friday, the 9th. Later additions talk about how the carved faces on the well of Stortorget start crying, even howling according to some, the same nights the ghosts come back.
Whether people still believe these stories is hard to say, but it should probably be pointed out that there are people who turn up in Gamla Stan the night between the 8th and 9th of November out of curiousity, still. I've entertained the thought myself but the date has never worked for me. ;)
The event doesn't just linger in the square or the streets themselves; buildings also have their special stories. The old well is supposed to once have had the numbers 1, 5, 2 and 0 engraves into the cobblestones, but it was torn up in 1778 so no one can tell today.
Another thing about the city is a house on Stortorget 20, called Schantzka huset, after the nobleman who built it in 1650:
The house has 92 white stones made of limestone built into the facade, and each is supposed to represent one person who was executed in the bloodbath, to appease their souls. The number of executions that can be confirmed is 82.
According to some, that was also the house that Kristian II himself stood in and watched the executions. The fact that the house was renovated on a foundation of a medieval house with two floors might be the reason for that, even though the house itself was built more than a century after the bloodbath (historical sources tell us that Kristian II wasn't present in the town square where the bloodbath was held).
On the picture, the street on the left is Kåkbrinken. The name of the man who had the house built was Johan Eberhard Schantz (who, btw, Google sez was a distant ancestor of Mannerheim. Yes, that Mannerheim.). On the smaller picture we can see a detail of the entrance, and the sign of the café that now takes up the first floor and basement of the building. They make delicious hot white chocolate in winter. :9
Another interesting building related to this event is not located in Gamla Stan, but on Söder; Katarina Church. It was finished in 1695, after 39 years of building; in 1723 it burnt down to the ground. This was probably the real start of the legend surrounding Katarina. Namely, that the fire was there before the church.
See, Katarina Church is built on the spot where Kristian II the 10th of November, had all the bodies from the bloodbath, and also the remains of the former regent Sten Sture, taken and burnt in a great fire. Superstitious people have said that that's the reason Katarina burns. 1723 was the first time, but not the last; twice it has burned to the ground. The last time was in 1990.
There are lots of other stories surrounding that church, but those will be saved for another time. These are the stories I had to tell, related to "the gruesome murder in Stockholm anno 1520".
... Now I need to run to school.
I think that part of what fascinates me the most about the Stockholm Bloodbath is how deeply imprinted it actually is in people's minds, at least here in Stockholm. People don't THINK about it but at least to me it has been present for a long time. In third grade, when we were working with the history of Stockholm, that was the only event that would stick with me for years.
If you look at local legends about the event, it's also probably quite evident that it's something that has always tickled the imagination of people over almost 500 years. What bloody execution wouldn't?
And the background story is at least as provocative, isn't it? After more than a century of struggles, the powerful men of Sweden one after another goes over to the Danish king, helping him to regain control over the country in exchange for the promise of amnesty. Three days after he's crowned, the coronation feast turns into an execution, starting with the bishops that put the crown on his head to begin with! And this is after a great feast has been thrown to his honour, people have been eating and drinking thinking that they're safe and that things will look up.
I think that's why it has stuck for so long, too. Not as much the number of the executed, the pillaging of Stockholm - bloodbaths were not an unusual event in Medieval Europe - but the betrayal it meant. The bloodbath would be brought up centuries later, still echoing clear in people's minds; don't forget what they did, don't forget what the Danes are like.
It's with this in mind I bring up these tales: just a couple of those that haven't been forgotten over the years. The first one is even well and alive to this day.
What kind of bloodbath wouldn't make for good ghost stories, hmm?
This is a very general tale, and could be at least as old as the bloodbath itself. Details have changed a little over the years, people adding and removing parts of the story themselves, affected by the society they live in and hos Stockholm looked like in their time. Even so, the story itself is timeless which would explain its popularity.
The night between the 8th and the 9th of November, a number of people are said to appear on Stortorget to dance down the street of Kåkbrinken, following the route that their own blood supposedly made 500 years ago as they were executed, spilling into the lake Stockholm is built on.
If it rains heavily that night, you will see it yourself, according to the stories; the blood running down the cobblestone streets. In 1520 the same kind of heavy rainfall is supposed to have washed away the blood after the last of the executions on Friday, the 9th. Later additions talk about how the carved faces on the well of Stortorget start crying, even howling according to some, the same nights the ghosts come back.
Whether people still believe these stories is hard to say, but it should probably be pointed out that there are people who turn up in Gamla Stan the night between the 8th and 9th of November out of curiousity, still. I've entertained the thought myself but the date has never worked for me. ;)
The event doesn't just linger in the square or the streets themselves; buildings also have their special stories. The old well is supposed to once have had the numbers 1, 5, 2 and 0 engraves into the cobblestones, but it was torn up in 1778 so no one can tell today.
Another thing about the city is a house on Stortorget 20, called Schantzka huset, after the nobleman who built it in 1650:
The house has 92 white stones made of limestone built into the facade, and each is supposed to represent one person who was executed in the bloodbath, to appease their souls. The number of executions that can be confirmed is 82.
According to some, that was also the house that Kristian II himself stood in and watched the executions. The fact that the house was renovated on a foundation of a medieval house with two floors might be the reason for that, even though the house itself was built more than a century after the bloodbath (historical sources tell us that Kristian II wasn't present in the town square where the bloodbath was held).
On the picture, the street on the left is Kåkbrinken. The name of the man who had the house built was Johan Eberhard Schantz (who, btw, Google sez was a distant ancestor of Mannerheim. Yes, that Mannerheim.). On the smaller picture we can see a detail of the entrance, and the sign of the café that now takes up the first floor and basement of the building. They make delicious hot white chocolate in winter. :9
Another interesting building related to this event is not located in Gamla Stan, but on Söder; Katarina Church. It was finished in 1695, after 39 years of building; in 1723 it burnt down to the ground. This was probably the real start of the legend surrounding Katarina. Namely, that the fire was there before the church.
See, Katarina Church is built on the spot where Kristian II the 10th of November, had all the bodies from the bloodbath, and also the remains of the former regent Sten Sture, taken and burnt in a great fire. Superstitious people have said that that's the reason Katarina burns. 1723 was the first time, but not the last; twice it has burned to the ground. The last time was in 1990.
There are lots of other stories surrounding that church, but those will be saved for another time. These are the stories I had to tell, related to "the gruesome murder in Stockholm anno 1520".
... Now I need to run to school.
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Date: 2010-05-05 11:13 am (UTC)Ah, well, since I've only seen pictures of Tokyo, I can't say whether I like it or not. B-but there are some really pretty places, tho'. However, there are awfully lot of people in Tokyo :/ Ouch.
Ne, but if you get to go to that little trip, be sure to enjoy it. Because... the nature. Is. Wonderful. *__* Only reason I'd like to go to Japan.
Ah, and I have to agree with you there - hyper-modern cities aren't fun. I love old buildings =3= Or even new ones as long as they're made of stone. Or look like old ones. ...I got so angry at this one girl, because she went to Warsaw and said 'oh, the city was rather nice evn if there were only ugly old buildings.' I mean. Come on. It's Warsaw. The history is interesting and the buildings and all! HNNG D< I'm still mad at her.
Awww D: You'll just... have to think of something. ...I guess I would be thrilled to spend my Christmas abroad, since we really don't celebrate it and all we do is eat with relatives which I don't get along with =__=
Pfff, but some people are on at really bizarre times 8'D Like me. I'm on in the morning, during the day but not in the afternoon. :/ I mean, that's pretty crazy. Considering I have school.
And I know few Australians who are up like... right now. It's not /that/ messed up, I guess...
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Date: 2010-05-05 06:26 pm (UTC)Guh, people. *Shudder* I got mildly panicked sometimes when I was in London, so many people around. Don't want to think of what Tokyo will be like in that aspect...
... Funny thing about Warsaw is, the buildings aren't even that old. Most of Warsaw was destroyed in WWII but they rebuilt it to look exactly the same. xD But yes, old towns are the best. I find it hard to enjoy a city if it's not aesthetically pleasing. :/
But I know when the people I want to talk to are on and it's... Not early. xD
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Date: 2010-05-06 09:47 am (UTC)...if anything, there will be more people in Tokyo than in London. Just... hang in there? I don't like crowds either, but I managed to survive London because I love the city. ...though that's not going to work for you and Tokyo. :/
Yeah, I know xD I read this book on Polish history couple of months back. It was mentioned couple of times. I just love old buildings in general, so I pretty much enjoy if they're around.
A-aww x'D Well, you just.. have to think of something - I mean, it's not nice to just be there and not talk to anyone because they're not on.