Kalmar Union

Kalmar Union was a state in Scandinavia and the Baltic (Europe) that lasted from 1397 to 1523 CE, about 126 years. Its people spoke Germanic languages (Gothic, Frankish, English, German, Dutch, Norse).

Margaret I had her grand-nephew Eric of Pomerania crowned king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden at Kalmar in 1397. Swedish revolts ended the union when Gustav Vasa took the Swedish throne in 1523.

See Kalmar Union on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

1397 to 1523 CE

Duration

126 years

Type

State

Region

Scandinavia and the Baltic, Europe

Language family

Germanic

Capital

Copenhagen

Came from

• Kingdom of Norway c. 872 to 1397 CE
• Kingdom of Denmark c. 936 to 1397 CE
• Kingdom of Sweden c. 970 to 1397 CE

Became

• Denmark-Norway 1523 to 1814 CE
• Kingdom of Sweden (Vasa) 1523 to 1611 CE

Events in Europe during its time

• 1450 Gutenberg's printing press
• 1453 Fall of Constantinople
• 1492 Fall of Granada and Columbus's voyage
• 1517 Luther's Ninety-five Theses

Neighbours in Europe

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE
• Portuguese Empire 1415 to 1999 CE
• Spanish Empire (Habsburg Spain) 1516 to 1700 CE
• Papal States 756 to 1870 CE
• Kingdom of Scotland 843 to 1707 CE
• Republic of Genoa c. 1005 to 1797 CE
• Kingdom of Portugal 1139 to 1910 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ethiopian Empire (Solomonic dynasty) 1270 to 1974 CE, North and West Africa
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia
• Ottoman Empire 1299 to 1922 CE, Middle East
• Kingdom of Kongo c. 1390 to 1914 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Mali Empire c. 1235 to 1670 CE, North and West Africa
• Ayutthaya Kingdom 1351 to 1767 CE, Southeast Asia
• Portuguese Brazil 1500 to 1815 CE, South America
• New Spain 1521 to 1821 CE, Mesoamerica and Caribbean

Questions