I don't think Scandinavian dialects is really distinct enough on the main to stay separate language under a unified state.
The Sons of Semiramis - A house of Folkung Kalmar Union
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I don't think Scandinavian dialects is really distinct enough on the main to stay separate language under a unified state.
So it'd be like Italian, where there is the standardized language and a bunch of related but often mutually unintelligible dialects.
Part 7 – Semiramis and Nimrod [1422-1426]
Part 7 – Semiramis and Nimrod [1422-1426]
The re-capture of Gotland and subsequent banishment of Duke Bogislaw back to Pomerania was a celebrated occasion and seen by many as proof of the Union working to it’s intended effect; protect each of the three Kingdoms from German threats. It also became the common given reason why Danes sometimes say “go to Pomerania” instead of “go to hell”, even if the expression likely has roots going back further than this. Olaf’s reputation as a defender of the union was ensured and his already high popularity soared, especially in Sweden. The only part of the union Olaf wasn’t all that well liked was Denmark, in many ways it’s most leading Kingdom. Much of the Danish nobility was unhappy that the peace of Margaret was still being enforced, even after the Sovereign Lady had died. The more bellicose portions of the Danes also believed he had been far to soft on Schleswig and should have demanded total subjugation of the Duchy, rather than the compromise he had seeked instead. Even so they did not dare challenge Olaf, for he had at this point become the very symbol of the the virtues of the union and even abroad he had a reputation of being a wise and just ruler. If she could see him from the heavens above, Margaret was surely proud of her son.
Margaret had earned the honorific “Semiramis of the North” alluding to the legendary Queen of Babylon, her son Nimrod was “the first ruler on earth” much like Olaf was the first King of the Kalmar Union.
“Eric, I do not have long left.” Olaf’s voice was steady, even if it sometimes was interrupted by coughing. “My luck has caught up to me. A miracle saved my from this very illness many years before you were born, but I doubt that it will do so again.” Eric stood before his father’s bed in the castle of Helsingborg. They had come to the castle to celebrate christmas together, but before it had arrived Father had been overwhelmed by a cough and forced to take to his bed. “When you see Margaret next time, do be sure to tell her I will be happy in my final moments, knowing that she and my grandson both are well.”
Eric’s wife had given birth just a few weeks ago, he had not yet seen the boy but reports told him it was a healthy strong child. “Tell me again Eric, what name did you decide on for the little one?” Eric felt slightly akward, Father had asked several times already, but he never seemed to get tired of hearing it. “Valdemar, after great-grandfather.” Olaf coughed again, but smiled. “A great Grandfather he truly was. It is a good name, a strong one. Now I think I need to rest, and you’re probably sicker than I am of hearing me blabber, you go.”
Eric couldn’t help but feel annoyed at his father as he left the bedchamber. The last few days he’d been summoned again and again, each time to be informed that his Father didn’t have long left and then either have some vague words of wisdom imparted on him or having father tell that he too had been afraid when he realized he was to rule alone. Well Eric wasn’t afraid, and he actually took offense that father assumed so. He’d been preparing his entire life for eventually taking over the crowns and while he didn’t exactly wait in anitcipation for father to die, he was excited that his rule would soon begin. In fact he already ruled in some capacity in parts of the union atleast, he was the Duke of Lolland which he governed as his personal fief. Olaf had made also made the privy council recognize Eric as his co-regent in Denmark two years ago.
But he supposed there was a world of difference between partaking in government and actually being King, and father only meant well after all. Eric got to the castle window and looked out over the view, you could see very far from this place, Helsingør was clearly visible on the other side of the sound, with many ships passing the narrow straits. If one of those great bombards he had heard of would be placed on top of this very castle tower, would it’s shot be able to reach all the way over? A page came up to the prince and made himself heard. “My prince, it’s your Father. It seems to be his time, he is requesting your presence.” Eric took a deep breath and then turned around and then began making it back to the bedchamber, wondering if it was for real this time or not.
Kernen, “the core”, the only part of Helsingborg castle surviving until modern day.
On the 23rd of December 1425, Olaf IV Haakonson of the house of Folkung, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the Goths and the Wends, passed away at an age of 55. He officially ruled Denmark for a grand total of 50 years, Norway 45 and Sweden for either 37 or 29 years, depending on how you count. He outlived his mother by 13 years. He left behind him his widow Helvig and their 4-year old daughter Margaret, as well as his oldest daughter Bridget, Duchess of Schleswig, and of course his son Eric, heir to all of the union.
In later years he would most commonly be known by the name Olaf “Arv”, usually translated to “the heir” or “the inheritor”. Several theories exist about this nickname. One theory suggests that it stems from the title “true heir to Sweden”, which he used either until 1388 or 1396. Another suggests that the nickname hinted to his rich ancestry, which included many important Scandinavian rulers, like Harald Fairhair, Eric the Victorious, Birger Jarl and all Danish Kings going back to Gorm the Old. A third, more malicious theory, suggests that those who saw him as nothing more than a puppet of his mother had refused to call him King, but merely her heir. Whatever the case, it is a fitting nickname, for he did rise to power to no small degree through inheritance, the question now was what legacy he would leave?
The King was dead, long live the King!
Part of the stone carvings over Olaf’s grave, displaying the arms of Norway. Despite it being the weakest of the union Kingdoms, it held a special place in Olaf’s heart as his birthplace.
Eric Olafson looked down at the long sheet of parchement. The handwriting on it was absolutely sub-par for such an important document, in fact he could not at all make out what was written in some places. That which could be read on it was however absolutely outrageous. The document in question was a proposed håndfæstning, a contract put forward by the nobles of the realm that he was expected to sign to be elected King. He had read his father’s håndfæstning before coming to the negotiations, so that he knew what to expect, and it was nowhere near as restrictive as this one. It seemed to leave very little room for what he could actually do in his own right without approval of the privy council. “None of this was in King Olaf’s håndfæstning.” He pointed out to the council, which had been waiting for his response to the document in silence.
“My King.” An ancient nobleman who Eric actually didn’t know the name of began to speak. “When your Father, may he rest in peace, signed his håndfæstning the realm was in a state of mortal danger, I was there you see. There was therefore cause to sacrifice some of our rightful liberties in the name of security, but the same cannot be said now. This håndfæstning is much more in line with tradition.” Eric looked down at the document, if these were the liberties the nobility had in the past it was no surprise that Denmark had fragmented. “I’m sorry my Lords, but this draft is simply unacceptable. We will have to work out a new one. I also cannot help but notice that you do not mention your commitments to the peace of Margaret in it.”
There went a shudder through the room. The peace of Margaret had been an increasingly growing source of discontent amongst nobles, especially in the later years of Olaf’s reign. Among other things it forbade the building of castles by the nobles, something Eric had noticed this håndfæstning directly contradicted, as it stated that the right to build castles should not be touched upon. “But your majesty, even your Father agreed that those laws were harsh beyond reason.” Eric put down the document. “I see no reason why they should be considered as such. King and nobility are supposed to rule together no? Then why should only the King have to sign a contract? If you believe the laws of 1396 are unreasonable we can perhaps look at a revised version, just like this håndfæstning should be revised.” A bitter murmur arose in the council, it was clearly time for a break.
Eric V, better known as Eric Klipping, had signed the first håndfæstning in 1284. His reign was part of the long decline that saw Denmark disappear by 1332.
Discussions, discussions, discussions. They carried on for days, then weeks. Eventually Eric grew extremely frustrated and it was clear the council did the same. In that time letters had arrived from both Norway and Sweden, the privy councils there announced that they were ready to crown Eric if he’d only show up in Trondheim and at Mora äng. Thus Eric declared that the negotiations would continue once he had been crowned in the two other realms. In late January he left Nyborg for Odense and from there began the journey to Trondheim. Bad weather, which is to be expected for the season, meant he only arrived there by March. Well there, there was little conflict, he was hailed by a large crowd of people and crowned King Eric III of Norway in the cathedral there.
By April Eric had made it to Stockholm and from there he journeyed inland to Mora. Eric was there crowned King Eric VIII of Sweden and began his Ericsgata. On the journey news caught up to him. Tired of negotiations and seemingly believing Eric intended to rule as a despot, much of the Danish nobility had risen in rebellion. The journey around Sweden thus became a hastened affair, where less time was spent recieving oaths of loyalty and more of asking for men to help crush the rebellion. The Danish privy council had denied Eric the power his father had wielded because the union wasn’t in crisis, but in doing so one had certainly been created.
19th century painting depicting the conspiring nobles who had killed Eric Klipping in 1286, Eric Olafson saw the rebellion of his own nobles as the greatest treason in Denmark since.
The re-capture of Gotland and subsequent banishment of Duke Bogislaw back to Pomerania was a celebrated occasion and seen by many as proof of the Union working to it’s intended effect; protect each of the three Kingdoms from German threats. It also became the common given reason why Danes sometimes say “go to Pomerania” instead of “go to hell”, even if the expression likely has roots going back further than this. Olaf’s reputation as a defender of the union was ensured and his already high popularity soared, especially in Sweden. The only part of the union Olaf wasn’t all that well liked was Denmark, in many ways it’s most leading Kingdom. Much of the Danish nobility was unhappy that the peace of Margaret was still being enforced, even after the Sovereign Lady had died. The more bellicose portions of the Danes also believed he had been far to soft on Schleswig and should have demanded total subjugation of the Duchy, rather than the compromise he had seeked instead. Even so they did not dare challenge Olaf, for he had at this point become the very symbol of the the virtues of the union and even abroad he had a reputation of being a wise and just ruler. If she could see him from the heavens above, Margaret was surely proud of her son.
Margaret had earned the honorific “Semiramis of the North” alluding to the legendary Queen of Babylon, her son Nimrod was “the first ruler on earth” much like Olaf was the first King of the Kalmar Union.
“Eric, I do not have long left.” Olaf’s voice was steady, even if it sometimes was interrupted by coughing. “My luck has caught up to me. A miracle saved my from this very illness many years before you were born, but I doubt that it will do so again.” Eric stood before his father’s bed in the castle of Helsingborg. They had come to the castle to celebrate christmas together, but before it had arrived Father had been overwhelmed by a cough and forced to take to his bed. “When you see Margaret next time, do be sure to tell her I will be happy in my final moments, knowing that she and my grandson both are well.”
Eric’s wife had given birth just a few weeks ago, he had not yet seen the boy but reports told him it was a healthy strong child. “Tell me again Eric, what name did you decide on for the little one?” Eric felt slightly akward, Father had asked several times already, but he never seemed to get tired of hearing it. “Valdemar, after great-grandfather.” Olaf coughed again, but smiled. “A great Grandfather he truly was. It is a good name, a strong one. Now I think I need to rest, and you’re probably sicker than I am of hearing me blabber, you go.”
Eric couldn’t help but feel annoyed at his father as he left the bedchamber. The last few days he’d been summoned again and again, each time to be informed that his Father didn’t have long left and then either have some vague words of wisdom imparted on him or having father tell that he too had been afraid when he realized he was to rule alone. Well Eric wasn’t afraid, and he actually took offense that father assumed so. He’d been preparing his entire life for eventually taking over the crowns and while he didn’t exactly wait in anitcipation for father to die, he was excited that his rule would soon begin. In fact he already ruled in some capacity in parts of the union atleast, he was the Duke of Lolland which he governed as his personal fief. Olaf had made also made the privy council recognize Eric as his co-regent in Denmark two years ago.
But he supposed there was a world of difference between partaking in government and actually being King, and father only meant well after all. Eric got to the castle window and looked out over the view, you could see very far from this place, Helsingør was clearly visible on the other side of the sound, with many ships passing the narrow straits. If one of those great bombards he had heard of would be placed on top of this very castle tower, would it’s shot be able to reach all the way over? A page came up to the prince and made himself heard. “My prince, it’s your Father. It seems to be his time, he is requesting your presence.” Eric took a deep breath and then turned around and then began making it back to the bedchamber, wondering if it was for real this time or not.
Kernen, “the core”, the only part of Helsingborg castle surviving until modern day.
On the 23rd of December 1425, Olaf IV Haakonson of the house of Folkung, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, the Goths and the Wends, passed away at an age of 55. He officially ruled Denmark for a grand total of 50 years, Norway 45 and Sweden for either 37 or 29 years, depending on how you count. He outlived his mother by 13 years. He left behind him his widow Helvig and their 4-year old daughter Margaret, as well as his oldest daughter Bridget, Duchess of Schleswig, and of course his son Eric, heir to all of the union.
In later years he would most commonly be known by the name Olaf “Arv”, usually translated to “the heir” or “the inheritor”. Several theories exist about this nickname. One theory suggests that it stems from the title “true heir to Sweden”, which he used either until 1388 or 1396. Another suggests that the nickname hinted to his rich ancestry, which included many important Scandinavian rulers, like Harald Fairhair, Eric the Victorious, Birger Jarl and all Danish Kings going back to Gorm the Old. A third, more malicious theory, suggests that those who saw him as nothing more than a puppet of his mother had refused to call him King, but merely her heir. Whatever the case, it is a fitting nickname, for he did rise to power to no small degree through inheritance, the question now was what legacy he would leave?
The King was dead, long live the King!
Part of the stone carvings over Olaf’s grave, displaying the arms of Norway. Despite it being the weakest of the union Kingdoms, it held a special place in Olaf’s heart as his birthplace.
Eric Olafson looked down at the long sheet of parchement. The handwriting on it was absolutely sub-par for such an important document, in fact he could not at all make out what was written in some places. That which could be read on it was however absolutely outrageous. The document in question was a proposed håndfæstning, a contract put forward by the nobles of the realm that he was expected to sign to be elected King. He had read his father’s håndfæstning before coming to the negotiations, so that he knew what to expect, and it was nowhere near as restrictive as this one. It seemed to leave very little room for what he could actually do in his own right without approval of the privy council. “None of this was in King Olaf’s håndfæstning.” He pointed out to the council, which had been waiting for his response to the document in silence.
“My King.” An ancient nobleman who Eric actually didn’t know the name of began to speak. “When your Father, may he rest in peace, signed his håndfæstning the realm was in a state of mortal danger, I was there you see. There was therefore cause to sacrifice some of our rightful liberties in the name of security, but the same cannot be said now. This håndfæstning is much more in line with tradition.” Eric looked down at the document, if these were the liberties the nobility had in the past it was no surprise that Denmark had fragmented. “I’m sorry my Lords, but this draft is simply unacceptable. We will have to work out a new one. I also cannot help but notice that you do not mention your commitments to the peace of Margaret in it.”
There went a shudder through the room. The peace of Margaret had been an increasingly growing source of discontent amongst nobles, especially in the later years of Olaf’s reign. Among other things it forbade the building of castles by the nobles, something Eric had noticed this håndfæstning directly contradicted, as it stated that the right to build castles should not be touched upon. “But your majesty, even your Father agreed that those laws were harsh beyond reason.” Eric put down the document. “I see no reason why they should be considered as such. King and nobility are supposed to rule together no? Then why should only the King have to sign a contract? If you believe the laws of 1396 are unreasonable we can perhaps look at a revised version, just like this håndfæstning should be revised.” A bitter murmur arose in the council, it was clearly time for a break.
Eric V, better known as Eric Klipping, had signed the first håndfæstning in 1284. His reign was part of the long decline that saw Denmark disappear by 1332.
Discussions, discussions, discussions. They carried on for days, then weeks. Eventually Eric grew extremely frustrated and it was clear the council did the same. In that time letters had arrived from both Norway and Sweden, the privy councils there announced that they were ready to crown Eric if he’d only show up in Trondheim and at Mora äng. Thus Eric declared that the negotiations would continue once he had been crowned in the two other realms. In late January he left Nyborg for Odense and from there began the journey to Trondheim. Bad weather, which is to be expected for the season, meant he only arrived there by March. Well there, there was little conflict, he was hailed by a large crowd of people and crowned King Eric III of Norway in the cathedral there.
By April Eric had made it to Stockholm and from there he journeyed inland to Mora. Eric was there crowned King Eric VIII of Sweden and began his Ericsgata. On the journey news caught up to him. Tired of negotiations and seemingly believing Eric intended to rule as a despot, much of the Danish nobility had risen in rebellion. The journey around Sweden thus became a hastened affair, where less time was spent recieving oaths of loyalty and more of asking for men to help crush the rebellion. The Danish privy council had denied Eric the power his father had wielded because the union wasn’t in crisis, but in doing so one had certainly been created.
19th century painting depicting the conspiring nobles who had killed Eric Klipping in 1286, Eric Olafson saw the rebellion of his own nobles as the greatest treason in Denmark since.
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Glad you like it, he’ll face his fair share of challenges.
I thought about it, but I think “arv” just sounds more like a nickname a danish king would have than “arving”, more in line with Kings like Erik Lam, Oluf Hunger and Valdemar Sejr
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I think it is more a matter of Arv translating more as inheritance (as in the actual possessions being transfered) rather than as heir or inheritor - which is what you are going for.
Arv = Inheritance
Arving = Inheritor/Heir
Arvingen = The Inheritor/Heir
Lam, Hunger and Sejr are all descriptors, which Arving would be as well, if that makes sense.
I speak danish, I know what the words means. Sejr means victory, but he's still usually rendered as "the victorious". This is also what the name is interpreted as in Danish, even if it's not the literal meaning. Royal nickames aren't always so literal, a lot of them don't even make sense before you learn their context. I think "arv" sounds better, even if it's literal meaning isn't exactly what I'm going for.
That is your authorial right, and you should keep it as it stands if that is what you feel sounds best.
But because I am a bit of a smartass, I would point to Erik Klipping and Erik Plovpenning for examples of the longer cognomen ending in -ing as a counterpoint to the short royal titles.
Smartassery is what alternate history is all about.That is your authorial right, and you should keep it as it stands if that is what you feel sounds best.
But because I am a bit of a smartass, I would point to Erik Klipping and Erik Plovpenning for examples of the longer cognomen ending in -ing as a counterpoint to the short royal titles.
Again, not saying Arving wouldn’t make sense either, but a shortened form isn’t unprecedented and I like it better.
Interesting , this could be an excuse to add a bit of land to the royal domain , and curb the unruly danish nobles.
I’m curious how much the competing interests of the kingdom will influence each other. Will the inclusion of Norway and Sweden make the Swedes look less hungrily at Ingria/Latvia/eastern Baltic? Will Denmark still get drawn into north Germany as much ? A more insular union would probably be for the best long term.
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, North Sea islands , that’s a powerful country. With no additional land and an early industrialization(to keep people from leaving for America when there are good jobs in malmo or whatever) , easily 75+ million people today.
The linguistic effects are interesting. A more inward “Norse” kingdom might be seen as something very different from the rest of Western Europe. More like how many see early modern Russia as not quite European. I wonder how much the languages could get pulled together. Where would the midpoint of the Norse continuum be ? That’s probably what the language will most resemble. Although whoever publishes the first Bible will have a big advantage.
I’m curious how much the competing interests of the kingdom will influence each other. Will the inclusion of Norway and Sweden make the Swedes look less hungrily at Ingria/Latvia/eastern Baltic? Will Denmark still get drawn into north Germany as much ? A more insular union would probably be for the best long term.
Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, North Sea islands , that’s a powerful country. With no additional land and an early industrialization(to keep people from leaving for America when there are good jobs in malmo or whatever) , easily 75+ million people today.
The linguistic effects are interesting. A more inward “Norse” kingdom might be seen as something very different from the rest of Western Europe. More like how many see early modern Russia as not quite European. I wonder how much the languages could get pulled together. Where would the midpoint of the Norse continuum be ? That’s probably what the language will most resemble. Although whoever publishes the first Bible will have a big advantage.
Your point about linguistics is interesting. Probably ends up sounding like abominable Swedish 🤮 with a goodly icelandic undertone. Probably also have an astonishing welter of different dialects, accents and the like.
75+ million seems like a huge stretch, that’s 3 times modern Nordic countries, roughly. Though we’re still no where near modern times so so knows what’s gonna happen.
Perhaps , however ,
1)Denmark and Sweden can feed significantly more people than they have currently.
2) millions of Scandinavians were lost to immigration, many of whom might have stayed if there were industrial jobs available as happened in England
you are obviously correct , any number of things can happen between now and the modern era. However , who is to say that Scandinavia doesn’t basically stay how it is for the next 400 years ? Only the author
1700 England and Wales 5.2 millions people
1700 this Scandinavian empire around 4 million.
so 75 might be a stretch, however there are currently 59 million people in England and Wales
Using same multiple gives us in the ballpark of 46 million people.
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I see a general cap of somewhat over 35 million at best with 50-ish if you really extend it avoiding the harsh losses in some various wars along the way and the like.
As a question what was the process for levying an army in the northern kingdoms compared to the more high medieval France "raise the levies" that occupies popular imagination and how much of Finland is under Swedish rule?
As a question what was the process for levying an army in the northern kingdoms compared to the more high medieval France "raise the levies" that occupies popular imagination and how much of Finland is under Swedish rule?
Honestly a lot of factors will affect population growth I would personally put OTL population of 26 millions is in the low end for a unified Norden. But let’s be honest with roughly OTL Nordic states I think 75 million everything going the right way. I lean toward 40-50 millions would be most natural population for a unified Nordic state from this early one without any major changes, while 50-60 millions would be be the result of some earlier introductions of new crops and tactics. Both red clover and potatoes could have been introduced centuries earlier.
So let’s discuss the major factors in population growth.
1: a unified state allowed Danish surplus population to settle on the frontier in the neighboring countries (Sweden in OTL imported a lot Finns to settle on Sweden agricultural belt, here it would be Danes instead, as Danes were usual the early adopters this would mean the spread of more advanced agricultural knowledge. The cross border nobility as central educated clergy also help with this.
2: The Danish—Swedish borderland doesn’t regularly end up being depopulated in wars and the local infrastructure destroyed. In OTL much of the early Danish manufacturing (which was ore advanced than the early Swedish one) lay on northern Zealand to protect it from warfare, here it will likely move to central Scania around Lund making greater use of the local hydropower (superior to the hydropower of Northern Zealand) and access to timber, while staying close to the major population centers of Øresund. I expect to see a earlier textile industry develop and I expect Scania to be center of it.
3: A larger population push a earlier urbanization which push manufacturing (thanks to a bigger middle class) and result i the introduction of new crops and farming technics from abroad.
4: If The crown have more revenue it can also afford greater experimentation both with crops, manufacturing and exploration.
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While it‘s not impossible for Northern kingdoms to be a innovator I doubt it. I think they will heavily depend on mercenaries, simply because they can get away with it. When they finally shift to proto-national armies, it will likely mostly be militias raised in Denmark and to lesser extent Sweden among the tenants on crown land. The Finns will likely have their own small local high morale militia for fast reaction to invasion from the east, pretty much the same as you saw in Norway under Danish rule. The Finns will likely not be used in wars outside Finland and potential invasions of Russia. Norway and the regions of Sweden without crown land will likely mostly deliver mercenaries to the King’s Nordic Regiments. The officer corps will likely be better than OTL Danish one, simply because there will be a bigger nobility to raise it among. The navy officer corps will be far better as it will be raised among the much bigger burgher class, while the sailors and marine corps will likely be conscript among Danish and Norwegian fishermen and in general be well treated and have a high combat morale.
Now it is getting to the interesting stuff. You really took this in a route I didn't expect. Not focusing on Olaf particularly much and making him a merely decent ruler (adequate is the word that probably describes it best) is a good way to not rely on the 'Great Man' version of events to drive the TL in the way you want. You just get to take a more distant look, and write a probably way in which a general Kalmar Union develops. I admit that's almost completely the opposite of my own vision, which focused a great deal on Olaf as an heir worthy of Margaret (and I am working on it).
Otherwise, the Danes are the ones who rebelled here. Ah, how amusing. Especially after Erik was crowned King of Norway and Sweden. Do they intent to outright break the union? Or is this more an attempt to properly shackle Erik by making clear that the aristocracy still has the right to elect their king, on whatever terms they think fitting?
Some of the other topics being discussed here. I don't see a united Kalmar Union not turning covetous eyes somewhere. Schleswig is not a solved issue quite yet. Estonia was still Danish in the past century, and the Teutonic Order is not on the best ground now. Bogislaw's attacks likely have opened up some thoughts that Rugen could be taken, since it was also once Danish controlled. No idea how you actually plan to take them, but I'd be very shocked if the Union didn't try to expand somewhere. Estonia especially would be tempting. There's a claim, taking it would weaken the Hanseatic League, etc.
It's likely that the navy is going to receive more focus. It's going to be needed if they create the Sound Tolls. A Baltic force shared between Denmark and Sweden, and a blue water navy. Likely primarily composed of Norwegians, since they have almost no other commitments while Denmark has the Baltic and Jutland to worry about.
Otherwise, the Danes are the ones who rebelled here. Ah, how amusing. Especially after Erik was crowned King of Norway and Sweden. Do they intent to outright break the union? Or is this more an attempt to properly shackle Erik by making clear that the aristocracy still has the right to elect their king, on whatever terms they think fitting?
Some of the other topics being discussed here. I don't see a united Kalmar Union not turning covetous eyes somewhere. Schleswig is not a solved issue quite yet. Estonia was still Danish in the past century, and the Teutonic Order is not on the best ground now. Bogislaw's attacks likely have opened up some thoughts that Rugen could be taken, since it was also once Danish controlled. No idea how you actually plan to take them, but I'd be very shocked if the Union didn't try to expand somewhere. Estonia especially would be tempting. There's a claim, taking it would weaken the Hanseatic League, etc.
Whoever starts operating the first printing press, really. A royally sanctioned and funded one could decide to try the most mutually intelligible form of Danish/Swedish/Norse as they can come up with. Create a standard that can be distributed all over the realm without issue. A private entrepreneur, but local, printer would likely favor Danish. It just has the highest population, and thus the largest market. A private entrepreneur, but foreign, printer would likely favor a form that incorporates more German. While this is before many of the nobles spoke German over their countries' local languages, German is still very influential. The Hanseatic League speaks Low German/Saxon, Germans are involved with the Nordic administrations, etc.
This is some of what I'm most interested in. How things will develop differently internally when the risk of war is lessened in the land borders with each other. It's such a huge component of OTL development. Konghelle could actually become a proto-Gothenburg if its purpose isn't half to place tolls on Swedish goods going down the Gota alv. Agree about Scania. A lot of Gotaland isn't exactly going to boom just from no wars, but Scania is a fertile region, just as close to the sea as most of Zealand, and with land access to the peninsula.
Yeah. It would take a notably expansionist Nordic Union to create enough conflict for it to likely be an innovative military force. Very unlikely to find much focus and investment in the military when you have comparatively secure borders. They only have two land borders, Schleswig and Finland, and neither would exactly be knockout blows even if they were overrun completely. There's some strategic depth. Rather than a well-trained militia in the majority of the Scandinavian Peninsula, providing a safe tax base to put into border fortifications or mercenaries does seem sensible. Hell, any well-trained militias in those areas are likely to be more focused on countering any tyranny from the king.
It's likely that the navy is going to receive more focus. It's going to be needed if they create the Sound Tolls. A Baltic force shared between Denmark and Sweden, and a blue water navy. Likely primarily composed of Norwegians, since they have almost no other commitments while Denmark has the Baltic and Jutland to worry about.
Good point about Rügen and Estonia. Honestly I could see the Union simply paying pawned sum back to Teutonic Knights after PL nerf them.
The nobility never really spoke German as first language except for a few nationalized families from Holstein among the Danish nobility and even they shifted to Danish pretty fast. Danish Royalty spoke Low German from Frederik III to Frederik VIl. But I could see German letters being adopted for Nordic use.
Really good points, but it should be said that West Gotaland and Bohuslen was in fact one of the more fertile regions of Sweden (this the central Swedish lowland cross Sweden from Bohuslen to Svealand was really the Swedish breadbasket before the Swedish conquest of Livonia and Scania), it too will enjoy the benefit of peace even if it won’t enjoy the benefit of being close to big population centers and a close by coastline. I would think of The Central Swedish Lowland as a second Jutland. Konghelle will likely serve as the main export port from this region, I could see cattle export would become very important as the region is good for raising cattle with similar results for the local peasantry. Konghelle in that case would grow to a similar port to Altona.
Good point, I personally think it will be pretty much like this, German mercenaries on the Jutish peninsula and in any possessions in the Baltic states or Pomerania, a few Nordic Regiments in Finland backed by local militias. Sweden and Norway mostly having town militias but the coastal fortifications making use of Nordic mercenaries. The Royal Guard in Copenhagen also being Nordic mercenaries (likely recruited among a group being seen as extra loyal to the king) and backed by a local town militia.
I think the navy would make use of Danes too, it did so in OTL. It mostly established a conscript system for fishermen and their families from pretty early on. While the naval officers (outside the most important ones) mostly came from merchant families. Because fishermen were a pretty small minority, social isolated and was in general rather poor, there was little risk in setting up a conscription system for them. They were still treated well, because they were seen as a important national resource, which also resulted in fishing communities being okay with the conscription system.
Historical the land militia tended to be a okay fighting force (at least until the Træsko battle at Køge), but they often suffered under the fact that their officer corps were overwhelming recruited among the Danish nobility (which were a small group with a very limited talent mass). The Union army will do better simply because they will also recruit among the much larger Swedish nobility.
I was asking what the process was to raise an army and how much if at all it differed from the peasant levy of popular imagination, not about general military innovation and practices really.