View source for Dacke War

{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Dacke War
| place             = [[Småland]], [[Sweden]]
| width             = 315
| image             = 
| image_size        = 
| caption           = 
| date              = 1542–1543
| result            = Uprising defeated
| combatants_header = Belligerents
| combatant1        = [[History of Sweden (1523–1611)|Sweden]]<br>[[Denmark-Norway]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sok.riksarkivet.se/sbl/mobil/artikel/15765 | title=Nils Dacke | quote= "Så uppstod Dackefejdens paradoxala politiska situation: medan Danmarks konung i enlighet med Brömsebro-fördraget sände ansenliga styrkor till lijälp mot de upproriska, bidrogo hans undersåtar i Blekinge i hög grad att hålla upproret i gång." }}</ref>
| combatant2        = Småland peasants<br>Östergötland peasant militia
| commander1        = [[Gustav Vasa]]<br/>[[Måns Johansson]]<br/>[[Abraham Eriksson]]
| commander2        = [[Nils Dacke]]{{Executed}}
| strength1         = Unknown
| strength2         = Unknown
| casualties1       = Heavy<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=26-zEAAAQBAJ&dq=dacke+war+battle+of&pg=PA159 | title=Historic Battlefields in 500 Walks | isbn=978-1-6672-0049-1 | last1=Fallon | first1=Steve | date=11 April 2023 | publisher=Simon and Schuster }}</ref>
| casualties2       = Unknown
| campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox Dacke War}}
}}
{{short description|Peasant revolt in Sweden}}
[[File:Sverigekarta-Landskap_Småland.svg|thumb|150px|Småland on a map of Sweden.]]
The '''Dacke War''' ({{langx|sv|Dackefejden}}) was a [[peasant uprising]] led by [[Nils Dacke]] in [[Småland]], [[Sweden]], in 1542 against the rule of [[Gustav Vasa]]. Dacke and his followers were dissatisfied with the heavy tax burden, the introduction of [[Lutheranism]], and the confiscation of Church property (the confiscation and taxes were introduced to pay for the [[Swedish War of Liberation]] that had brought Gustav Vasa to power). In 1543 the uprising was defeated, and Nils Dacke was killed.

== Background ==
{{See also|Early Vasa era}}

[[Nils Dacke]] and his peasants were dissatisfied with the policies of the Swedish king [[Gustav Vasa]]. In his effort to modernize Sweden and gain more power, the king had instituted a more efficient system for [[tax]] collection. The heavy tax burden angered many peasants.

Gustav Vasa had also broken relations with [[Rome]] and promoted [[Lutheranism]] instead of [[Catholicism]]; as part of the Swedish Reformation, properties of the church (including land) were appropriated, under the laws of the [[Reduction of Gustav I of Sweden]]. In 1541 the king's men had confiscated many of the belongings of the churches in [[Småland]], such as the church silver and even the [[church bell]]s, to finance the army. Dacke criticized the new church order and promoted the old faith. He was also supported by many local [[priest]]s.

The rebellion was one of many rebellions during the rule of Gustav Vasa. In contrast with other contemporary rebellions in Sweden, this one was led by peasants, and not supported by the local [[nobility]].

== Uprising ==
The uprising began in summer 1542 when the king's [[bailiff]]s were attacked and killed when they came to collect taxes. Gustav Vasa responded by sending a military force led by his own father-in-law {{interlanguage link|Gustav Olofsson Stenbock the Younger|sv|Gustaf Olofsson till Torpa}}. He was defeated by Dacke's constantly growing army of peasants. Other attempts to defeat Dacke militarily also failed. Dacke and his army reached as far north as [[Mjölby]] at the fringes of the [[Östergötland plains]] ({{interlanguage link|Östgötaslätten|sv}}) and enjoyed widespread support around [[Sommen]] and [[Ydre]].<ref name=Filen1960>{{cite book |last1=Filén |first1=Thure |title=Ydre-Boken |date=1960 |location=Linköping |pages=167–170|chapter=Om Dackefejden och då kyrkoherdarna i Sund och Norra Vi predikade uppror mot kungen|editor-last=Filén|editor-first=Thure|language=sv}}</ref>

Local aristocrat [[Måns Johansson]] ([[Natt och Dag]]) sided with the king despite having a troublesome relation to him. He was put in charge of an army to suppress the rebellion.<ref name=Filen1960b>{{cite book |last1=Filén |first1=Thure |title=Ydre-Boken |date=1960 |location=Linköping |pages=274–275|chapter=Liljeholmen|editor-last=Filén|editor-first=Thure|language=sv}}</ref> 

Next, the Swedish government stopped all supplies of provisions and other necessities to the region. This weakened the rebellion considerably. Defaming propaganda about Dacke was also spread by the government, labeling him a traitor and a heretic.

In March 1543 Gustav Vasa ordered his army of Swedish recruits and German [[landsknecht]] mercenaries to attack Småland. This time larger forces were deployed, and Dacke's forces were attacked from two directions – from [[Östergötland]] and [[Västergötland]]. The uprising was defeated, and Dacke was wounded but managed to flee.

== Aftermath ==
The king's retribution upon the instigators of the rebellion was harsh. The leaders that were caught were executed together with the priests who had supported Dacke. Peasants who had supported the rebellion were deported to [[Finland]], where they had to serve in the army, and the counties where the rebellion had taken place had to pay a large fine to the king.

Dacke himself was caught and killed in August 1543 when trying to escape the country. According to legend, his body was taken to [[Kalmar]], where his head was publicly displayed wearing a crown of copper, as a warning to others.

Unrest in [[Ydre]] continued well after the death of Dacke and ended only after Gustav Vasa sent a force of 400 men to pacify the [[Hundreds of Sweden|hundred]].<ref name=Filen1960/>

The rebellion was the most serious threat to the rule of Gustav Vasa, but after having defeated it he managed to consolidate his power, concentrating more and more power in the hands of the monarch.

== Idiom ==
In the Swedish language, the [[idiom]] "not since the Dacke War" is used to mean "not for a long time". This expression is especially common in the southern parts of Sweden but is also used elsewhere.

== See also ==
* [[Early Vasa era]]
* [[History of Sweden]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9028491/Dacke-War Dacke War], [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]
* {{cite web
| url = http://www.tacitus.nu/svenskhistoria/kungar/vasa/gv-5.htm
| title = Den tyska perioden och Dackefejden - 1538-1543
| publisher = Örjan Martinsson
| access-date = 2007-12-27
| language = sv
}}
* {{cite book
| title = Det svenska samhället 800-1820: Klerkernas och adelns tid
| first = Thomas
| last = Lindkvist
|author2=Sjöberg, Maria
| year = 2006
| publisher = [[Studentlitteratur]]
| language = sv
}}

* {{cite book
| title = A History of the Swedish People, Part II: From Engelbrekt to Dacke, 219-268.
| first = Wilhelm
| last = Moberg
| year = 1973
}} [https://openlibrary.org/books/OL31890376M/A_history_of_the_Swedish_people OpenLibrary]

{{Medieval and Early Modern European Peasant Wars}}
{{Catholic Church in Sweden}}

[[Category:Conflicts in 1542]]
[[Category:Rebellions in Sweden]]
[[Category:Popular revolt in late-medieval Europe]]
[[Category:Wars involving Sweden]]
[[Category:1542 in Sweden]]
[[Category:1542 in Europe]]
[[Category:Peasant revolts]]
[[Category:Feuds]]
[[Category:16th-century rebellions]]
[[Category:Swedish Reformation]]
[[Category:Catholic rebellions]]
[[Category:Gustav Vasa]]