73. A Letter From Beyond the Grave
First up in this action and intrigue-packed episode is a story that took Scandinavia by storm in the early 1400s. Margareta receives a letter from someone long gone and the revelations threaten to tear apart her Kingdom. A strange man arrives at court but doesn't exactly receive a warm welcome. The same applies to Margareta's men sent to deal with the situation on Gotland, with the leader of this group having a particularly singable name! A special thanks to our voice actor Jerry, from the Presidencies of the United States podcast. When he isn't busy voicing German egg salesmen, he's covering the lives and politics of the presidents of the United States! Check him out wherever you get your podcasts, as well as on Twitter, Facebook and his website!
22 Jan 202347min
72. How I Met Your Herring
Of course the first episode back after a Swedish Christmas has to include a healthy dose of herring! We round off the 1300s with a quick tale about Novgorod and more developments on Gotland, before diving into the great herring markets of Skåne to start off the new century. The 1400s was a time of great trade in Skåne and herring was of vital importance to the entire Kalmar Union. What happened if you tried to salt your own fish or carried your herring around in a bag? Find out here!
8 Jan 202345min
S7. Swedish Symbols
A special episode for a special time of year! We celebrate the festive season with a visit to one of Sweden's most famous Christmas symbols and a discussion about symbols of the country in general. From the flag to the Three Crowns, we discuss the most common things people think of when they think of Sweden - we even include the Dala Horse by special request! Read more about the Christmas goat here.
25 Dec 202245min
71. Not the Only Union in Town
A surprise arrival on the island of Gotland leads to our biggest digression yet! There's drama all over the north of Europe as we cover the backstory of these new players in the Swedish story - although some of them aren't that new. The Teutonic Knights are here and they're ready to take some new land! Note: The joke section at the end is not the announcement of a new project...! :)
11 Dec 202245min
70. And So It Was Spoken In Kalmar
We have building up to this big meeting for quite a while now and trust us, it is worth it! A formal union between old enemies Denmark, Sweden and Norway is agreed in a major historical milestone. Erik will be crowned King of this new entity and it is a certainly a win for Margareta. But what was actually agreed on and was the meeting even that important at the time? Sources are confused and there is a lot of historical debate to cover! Plus, we try and figure out why not many Norwegians attended...
27 Nov 202239min
69. The Road To Kalmar
Margareta is now truly in charge after capturing King Albert in battle last time around. In Sweden, her heir Erik is elected king at Mora Stenar, despite Margareta really being in charge. A sign of this power is how she curtails noble power and continues to make laws strengthening royal control over her three countries. Meanwhile, the Baltic Sea is still a bit of a haven for pirates though, and the Mecklenburgs aren't going to give up just yet. Oh, and some priests throw a sword through a window!
13 Nov 202246min
68. The Mecklenburg Menace
The situation on the Baltic Sea is about to go from bad to worse as piracy takes hold. The Dukes of Mecklenburg assemble a giant fleet to try and keep Stockholm resupplied and terrorise all merchants foolish enough to risk a voyage on the water. It gets so bad that even the Dutch and the English are annoyed! Just like 100 years previously, icy water plays its part in naval combat, and two sides finally sit down to discuss peace.
30 Okt 202245min
67. Worst First Day Ever
The 1380s is drawing to a close and the decade ahead has been described by historians as "one of the most troublesome, bloody and unstable times in the history of the nations around the Baltic sea.” Queen Margareta has lost her son King Olof and now her enemies in Mecklenburg won't give in. It is time for the two sides to meet in battle, namely at Åsle in February 1389. In this episode we'll cover that battle, what happens afterwards and a bloody event in Stockholm.
16 Okt 202239min
