List of wars involving Sweden
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This is a list of wars involving the Kingdom of Sweden. There are legendary accounts of Swedish kings well into prehistory and they are mentioned by Tacitus in his Germania, but Olof Skötkonung (995–1022) was the first ruler documented to have been accepted by both the Swedes around Lake Mälaren and by the Geats around Lake Vättern. The modern state of Sweden considers itself to have been established on 6 June 1523 by the acclamation of Gustav Vasa as king which finally ended the Kalmar Union with Denmark, although the current Swedish constitution dates to 1974.
Military engagements since 1814 have not been formally declared wars.
Kingdom of Sweden (800–1397)
[edit]Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Swedish–Gothic wars (500–800) Location: Sweden | Svealand | Geats | Consolidation of Swedes and Goths into a unified kingdom. |
Swedish slave revolts (500s) Location: Sweden | Svealand | Thralls | Slaves depose the king of Sweden and win their freedom. |
Ingvars raid of Estonia (600s) Location: Estonia | Svealand | Estonians | Estonian Victory[1] |
Anunds raid of Estonia (600s) Location: Estonia | Svealand | Estonians | Swedish Victory |
Battle of Brávellir (750s) Location: Brávellir | Svealand Estonians | Danes (tribe) Wends Geats | Swedish Victory Eastern Geatland falls under Swedish dominion |
Paphlagonian expedition of the Rus' | Rus'/Swedish Vikings | Byzantine Empire | Successful raid |
Swedish expedition to Courland (854) | Sweden | Curonians | Swedish victory |
Swedish raids in the Mediterranean Sea (859) Location: Mediterranean Sea, Spain, Italy Luni, Italy | Swedes (Germanic tribe) | Islamic Spain Carolingian Empire | Swedish victory[2][3] |
Swedish expedition to Courland (862) | Sweden | Curonians | Swedish victory |
Swedish wars of conquest in Eastern Europe (850s-870)
| Swedes (Germanic tribe) | Slavs Curonians Semigallians Finnic peoples. | Swedish victory establishment of control over the Route from the Varangians to the Greeks and Starya Ladoga route. |
Great Heathen Army (865–878) | Vikings | Wessex Northumbria Mercia East Anglia | Swedes, Norwegians and Danes under Ragnar Lodbrok sons occupies England and establishes the Danelaw |
Caspian expeditions of the Rus' (913–1041) | Khazars Abbasid Caliphate | Swedes establish trade routes | |
Olof the Brashs conquest of Denmark (900s) Location: Denmark | Swedes (Germanic tribe) | Denmark | Swedish victory |
Jomsviking–Swedish War (980s) Location: Uppsala | Sweden | Jomsviking | Swedish Victory[4] |
Erik the Victorious invasion of Denmark (990s) Location: Hedeby Baltic Sea | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish Victory[5][6] |
Swedish invasion of the Holy Roman Empire (990s) | Sweden Denmark | Holy Roman Empire | Unclear results[7] |
Olof Skötkonungs attack on Denmark Location: In Denmark | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish victory
|
Viking expedition to Wendland Location: In Wendland | Sweden | Wends | Successful expedition |
Battle of Svolder (999–1000) | Sweden Denmark Jarls of Lade | Norway | Swedish victory |
Swedish Norwegian war (1015–1018)
| Sweden | Norway | Norwegian victory[8] |
Battle of Helgeå | Sweden Norway | North Sea Empire Kingdom of England | Anglo-Danish victory |
Battle of Stiklestad Location: In Stiklestad | Sweden Olaf II of Norway | North Sea Empire | Anglo-Danish victory |
Swedish support for Magnus invasion of Norway (1035) | Sweden Magnus the Good | North Sea Empire | Swedish victory Magnus the Good becomes king of Norway defeats the Danish forces |
(1042) Ingvar the Far-Travelleds expedition Location: Georgia (country) | Varangians | Byzantine Empire | Swedish defeat |
Yaroslav the Wise and Mstislav of Chernigovs civil war Battle of Listven (1024) Location: Ukraine Russia | Kievan Rus' | Mstislav of Chernigov | Swedish defeat |
Swedish–Norwegian War (1063) Location: Vänern | Sweden | Kingdom of Norway | Swedish defeat |
Swedish–Norwegian War (1099–1101) Location: Unknown | Sweden | Norway | Inconclusive |
First Swedish Crusade (1150) Location: Unknown | Eric IX of Sweden, Henry (bishop of Finland) | Finns | Eventual incorporation of Southwest Finland into the Swedish kingdom |
Sweyn III's invasion of Småland (1153) | Sweden | Denmark | Invasion failed |
Harald Skraengs uprising (1182) | Harald Skraeng Sweden | Denmark | Uprising quelled |
Pillage of Sigtuna (1187) Location: Sigtuna | Sweden | Pagans from Eastern Baltic (probably Estonians or Karelians) | Sigtuna is sacked. Archbishop Johannes of Uppsala is killed. |
Battle of Lihula (1220) | Sweden | Oeselians | Death of Karl the Deaf |
Värmland campaign (1225/1249)[9] Location: Värmland | Sweden | Norway | Peace of Lödöse |
Öselborn's attack on Sweden (1226)[10] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Öselborn's | The Öselborn's take plunder and hostages |
Attack on Tavastia (1227–1228)[11] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Novgorod | Indecisive |
Battle of Olustra (1229)[12] Location: Södermanland or Östergötland | Eric XI | Knut Långe | Victory for Knut Långe
|
Eric XI's reinstatement war (1234)[13] Location: Unknown | Eric XI
| Knut Långe | Victory for Eric XI
|
Livonian Crusade (13th century) | Crusade | Pagans (Indigenous peoples) | Crusader victory. However, the Swedish expedition ended in disaster |
Tavastian uprising (1236–1237) Location: Finland | Sweden | Tavastians Novgorod Karelians | Uprising crushed
|
Battle of Neva (1240) | Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Tavastians | Novgorod Republic and Karelians | Novgorodian victory. |
First Folkung Uprising (1247)[14] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Folkung | Victory of the Swedish king |
Second Swedish Crusade (1249–1250) Location: Finland | Birger Jarl, Christians | Tavastians | Area of Tavastians and south-western Finland fall to Swedish rule, Häme Castle is founded |
Folkung era (1250–1389)
[edit]Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Second Folkung Uprising (1251)[15] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Folkung | Swedish victory
|
Campaign against Narva (1256–1257)[16] Location: Unknown | Sweden
| Novgorod | Neither side achieved much success |
The war against Valdemar Birgersson (1275) | Valdemar's Forces | Duke Magnus's Forces | Valdemar, King of Sweden is deposed Magnus Ladulås is crowned king of Sweden. |
6000 mark war (1276–1278) | Sweden | Denmark | Danish victory
|
Third Folkung Uprising (1278–1280)[17] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Folkung | Victory of the Swedish king
|
Ladoga Campaign (1283–1284)[18] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Novgorod | Indecisive |
War in Gotland (1288) Location: Gotland | Visby | Gotland | Victory for Visby |
Swedish campaign against the Karelians and Izhorians (1292) Location: Unknown | Sweden | Karelians Izhorians | Swedish defeat[19] |
Third Swedish Crusade (1293–1295) Location: Finland | Sweden | Karelians Novgorod republic | Swedish victory
|
Neva Campaign (1300–1301)[20] Location: Neva river | Sweden | Novgorod | Landskrona captured by Novgorod |
Swedish Brother's Feud (1304–1310) Location: Sweden | Birger Magnusson | Duke Eric and Valdemar | Victory for Birger Magnusson, death of Valdemar and Duke Eric |
War on Gotland (1313)[21] Location: Gotland | Sweden | Gotland | Gutes agree to pay an increased tax to the Swedish king. |
Tavastian war (1311–1314)[22] Location: Tavastia | Sweden | Novgorod Republic | Indecisive |
Uprisings in Hälsingland and Småland (1316–1317)[23] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Rebels in Hälsingland and Småland | Insurgents lose their property after a verdict by King Birger |
Attack on Åbo (1318)[24] Location: Åbo | Sweden | Novgorod Republic | Novgorodians burn the outskirts of Åbo |
War of Deposition against Birger Magnusson (1317–1319)[25] Location: Sweden | Birger Magnusson | Insurgents loyal to the Dukes Valdemar and Erik | Birger is deposed |
Kexholm war (1321–1323)[26] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Novgorod | Treaty of Nöteborg |
Swedish–Novgorodian Wars (1142–1323) Location: Finland | Sweden Norway (1319–1323) | Novgorod Republic | Treaty of Nöteborg (1323) |
Campaign against Ingeborg (1323)[27] Location: Sweden | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Ingeborg of Norway | Peace of Skara
|
Mats Kettilmundssons war against Reval (1325–1326)[28] Location: Unknown | Swedish-Norwegian Union (Mats Kettilmundsson) | Reval | Mats Kettilmundsson dies before any confrontations take place, peace signed in 31 May 1326 |
Sten bielkes war against Novgorod (1338–1339)[29] Location: Novgorod | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Novgorod | Peace signed in either August or September 1339.
|
Johan Offessons Uprising (1339)[30] Location: Sweden | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Johan Offesson | Lindholm Castle is destroyed, and Johan is forced to give Skytts and Oxie to the king |
Kalundborg War (1341–1343)[31] Location: Sweden | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Denmark | Swedish-Norwegian victory
|
Saint George's Night Uprising (1343–1345)[32] Location: Unknown | Swedish-Norwegian Union Estonians | Denmark Teutonic Order | Indecisive
|
Magnus's war against Russia (1348–1351)[33] Location: Unknown | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Novgorod | Truce of Dorprat
|
Campaign between Magnus and his son (1356–1359)[34] Location: Unknown | Magnus IV | Eric | According to the arbitration in Jönköping, Sweden is divided between Magnus and Erik, this ends after Eric's death in 1359 |
Valdemar Atterdags reconquest of Scania (1360)[35] Location: Scania | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Denmark | Denmark conquers all of Scania |
Valdemar Atterdags conquest of Gotland (1361)[36] Location: Gotland | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Denmark | Denmark conquers Gotland |
Danish-Hanseatic War (1361–1370) Location: Northern Germany, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Sea | First Phase (1361–1365) Second Phase (1367–1370)
| First Phase (1361–1365) Kingdom of Denmark Second Phase (1367–1370) | First Phase: Danish Victory Second Phase: Hanseatic victory Hanseatic League gains control over several forts in Scania |
War of deposition against Magnus (1363–1371)[37] Location: Unknown | Magnus IV | Albert of Mecklenburg | Albert becomes king of Sweden |
Swedish involvement in the Danish war of succession (1379–1381)[38] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Denmark | Truce signed in 1381 |
Invasion of Scania (1384)[39][40] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Denmark | Truce likely signed in 1384
|
War of deposition against Albrekt of Mecklenburg[41] (1388–1395) | Sweden | Denmark | Margaret I becomes regent |
Attack on Jama[42] (1395) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Novgorod Republic | Indecisive |
Northern Ladoga Campaign[43] (1396) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Novgorod Republic | Indecisive |
Union of Kalmar (1397–1521)
[edit]Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Campaign against the Victual Brothers[44] (1395–1398) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Victual Brothers | The Victual Brothers surrender their fortresses in Sweden |
War in Gotland (1398) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Teutonic Order | Gotland is conquered by the Teutonic Order |
Campaign against Knut Bosson Grip[45] (1398) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Knut Bosson Grip | Grip surrenders his Finnish fortresses to the crown. |
Novgorod's attack in the north (1399)[46] Location: Unknown | Sweden Kalmar Union | Novgorodian Republic | Indecisive |
War in Gotland (1403–1404) Location: Unknown | Sweden Kalmar Union | Teutonic Order | Teutonic victory |
Engelbrekt rebellion (1434–1436) | Sweden | Kalmar Union | Swedish victory |
Pukefejden (1436–1437) | Charles VIII of Sweden | Erik Puke | Erik Puke is executed |
War against the Flemingar (1437)[47] | Sweden | Flemingar | Indecisive |
Rebellion in Östergötaland (1437)[48] Location: Östergötland | Sweden | Rebels in Östergötaland | Uprising crushed |
Värmland rebellion (1437–1438)[49] Location: Värmland | Sweden | Rebels in Värmland | Uprising crushed |
David's Rebellion (1438–1439) | Sweden | Tavastian insurgents | Uprising quelled |
Karl Knutssons campaign against Eric of Pomerania (1439–1440)[50] | Sweden | Eric of Pomerania | The remaining fortresses loyal to Eric fall |
Karl Knutssons campaign against Novgorod (1444)[51] | Sweden | Novgorodian Republic | Indecisive |
War in Gotland (1446)[52] | Sweden Kalmar Union | Eric of Pomerania | Indecisive |
Novgorods war against Karl Knutsson (1448)[53] | Sweden | Novgorodian Republic | Indecisive |
War on Gotland (1448–1449) | Sweden | Eric of Pomerania Denmark | Swedish failure |
War for Norway (1448–1451) | Sweden | Denmark | Danish victory |
Karl Knutssons war against Denmark (1449–1457)[54] | Sweden | Denmark | Christian I fails to retake the Swedish throne |
War of deposition against Karl Knutsson (1457)[55] | Sweden | Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna | Christian I becomes King of Sweden |
Battle of Haraker (1464) | Sweden | Denmark | Karl Knutsson regains the throne |
Second War of deposition against Karl Knutsson (1464–1465)[56] | Sweden | Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna | Jöns Bengtsson takes power |
War of depositon against Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna (1466–1467)[57] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna Denmark | Karl Knutsson retakes the throne |
Dano-Swedish War (1468–1469)[58] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Christian I fails to retake the throne |
Erik Karlsson Vasa's Uprising (1469–1470)[59] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Erik Karlsson Vasa | Uprising crushed |
Dano-Swedish War (1469–1470)[60] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Christian I fails to retake the throne |
Dano-Swedish War (1470–1471) (1470–1471) Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish Victory |
First campaign to Livonia (1473–1475)[61] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Teutonic Order | Indecisive |
Tott's first Russian war (1475―1476)[62] Location: Finland | Sweden | Grand Duchy of Moscow | Truce in December 1475 or early 1476 |
Second campaign to Livonia (1478)[63] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Teutonic Order | Indecisive
|
Tott's second Russian war (1479–1482)[64] Location: Finland | Sweden | Grand Duchy of Moscow | Truce in Novgorod 17 January 1482
|
Third campaign to Livonia (1485–1486/1488)[65] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Teutonic Order | Indecisive, peace signed in 1488. |
Sten Stures war against the Tott's (1487)[66] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Tott | Tott family's power is reduced Gotland falls into Danish control |
Russo-Swedish War (1495–1497) (1495–1497)[67] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Grand Duchy of Moscow | Swedish victory |
Battle of Rotebro (1497) | Sweden | Denmark | Danish victory
|
Border conflict at Nyslott (1499) Location: Nyslott | Sweden | Grand Duchy of Moscow | Swedish Victory
|
War of Deposition against King Hans (1501–1503) Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish Victory
|
Dano-Swedish War (1501–1512) (1501–1512) Location: Sweden | Sweden Norwegian rebels (1501–1504) Free City of Lübeck (1509–12) | Kalmar Union | Treaty of Malmö:
|
Dano-Swedish War (1512–1520) (1512–1520) Location: Sweden | Sweden | Kalmar Union | Surrender of Stockholm:
|
Swedish War of Liberation (1521–23)[67] Location: Scandinavia | Sweden Free City of Lübeck (from 1522) | Kalmar Union | Kingdom of Sweden proclaims independence |
Vasa era (1523–1611)
[edit]Swedish Empire (1611–1721)
[edit]Age of Liberty (1718–1772)
[edit]Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | Casualties |
---|---|---|---|---|
Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743) (Part of the War of the Austrian Succession)[67] | Sweden | Russian Empire | Russian victory | 7000 |
Dalecarlian rebellion (1743) (1743) Location: Sweden | Sweden | Dalecarlian rebels | Rebellion crushed | +150 |
Expedition to the Mediterranean (1759–1760)[77] Location: Mediterranean Sea | Sweden | Pirates | Successful expedition | None |
Pomeranian War (13 September 1757 – 22 May 1762)[67] Location: Swedish Pomerania, Prussian Pomerania, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Sweden Russian Empire | Prussia | Prussian victory Status quo ante bellum | A couple thousands |
Tunis-Swedish War (1763)[78] Location: Mediterranean | Sweden | Tunis Ottoman Empire (De-jure) | Inconclusive | Unknown |
Gustavian era (1772–1809)
[edit]Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | Casualties |
---|---|---|---|---|
Battle of Ibiza (28–29 February 1780) Location: coast of Ibiza | Swedish Navy | United Kingdom | Swedish victory | 3 |
Theatre War 1788–1789 Location: Sweden | Sweden Supported by: | Denmark–Norway | Status quo ante bellum
| 5 |
Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)[67] Location: Finland, Baltic Sea, Sweden | Sweden | Russian Empire Denmark-Norway(1788–1789)[79] | Favourable outcome for Sweden; Status quo ante bellum | 3000 |
Swedish–Algerian war of 1791–1792 (1791–1792) Location: Mediterranean | Sweden | Regency of Algiers Ottoman Empire (De-jure) | Sweden agrees to pay tribute | Unknown |
First Barbary War (10 May 1801 – 10 June 1805)[67] Location: Off the Mediterranean coast of Tripoli; Derna | United States Sweden (1801–02) Sicily[80][81] | Tripolitania Morocco (1802)[82][83] | Peace Treaty | Unknown |
Franco-Swedish War (31 October 1805 – 6 January 1810)[67] Location: Swedish Pomerania | Co-belligerents:
| Co-belligerents:
| French victory | +6000 |
Finnish War (21 February 1808 – 17 September 1809)[67] Location: Scandinavia | Supported by: | Supported by: | Russian victory | 7000 |
Dano-Swedish War of 1808–1809 (1808–1809) Location: Scandinavia | Supported by: | Status quo ante bellum | ~200 |
Kingdom of Sweden (1809–1814)
[edit]Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | Casualties |
---|---|---|---|---|
Saint-Barthélemy Mutiny (1810) Location: Saint Barthélemy | Sweden | Mutineers | Mutinist victory | Unknown |
Anglo-Swedish War (1810–1812)[67] Location: N/A | Sweden | United Kingdom | Status quo ante bellum | None |
Dano-Swedish War (1813–1814) Location: Duchy of Schleswig, Duchy of Holstein | Sweden Russian Empire Hanover United Kingdom | Denmark-Norway | Coalition victory
| Unknown |
War of the Sixth Coalition (3 March 1813 – 30 May 1814)[67] Location: Central and Eastern Europe, France, Italy | Original coalition After the Armistice of Pläswitz After the Battle of Leipzig After January 1814 | France Until January 1814
| Coalition victory | Unknown |
Swedish–Norwegian War (1814)[67] Location: Norway | Supported by:
| Norway | Swedish victory | 400 |
United Kingdoms of Sweden and Norway (1814–1905)
[edit]Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | Casualties |
---|---|---|---|---|
First Schleswig War (1848–1851) | Denmark
Supported by: Russian Empire United Kingdom France | German Confederation | Danish victory | 1 (not including volunteers) |