Events

2023

January 26. 1523 — 2023: King Gustav Vasa and the making of modern scandinavia

This year marks the 500th anniversary of king Gustav Vasa getting elected to the Swedish throne, an event that officially split the Nordic union of the past 150 years. He had to rebuild and reshape the kingdom that he was elected to lead, and this lecture is concerning how he did that on both the local and central level, inspired by international trends like the reformation and the more formal building of an administration. Lecture in Borås at the Textile Museum, more information: https://tinyurl.se/5Su

March 14. Queen Margaret and the making of the nordic union

In 1397 the leading figures in the three Nordic countries Denmark, Sweden and Norway met in the city of Kalmar to discuss the future. The times were turbulent, to say the least. The economy had not yet recovered after the great plague some fifty years earlier, the Hansiatic league and the Teutonic order fought over the influence and domination of the Baltic Sea. In that time the three Nordic countries decided that they should form a union, led by Queen Margaret (1353-1412), creating the largest realm in all of Europe. How this was done and Margaret’s role in this making is the focus of this lecture. For information and booking: https://kalmarslott.se/de/se-gora/vara-evenemang/

March 21. Duke Charles and his fight for the crown

Lecture in Eskilstuna. More information forthcoming.

april 19. Duke charles and his fight for the crown

Lecture in Strängnäs. More information forthcoming.

2022

October 26. Duke Charles and his fight for the crown

More information forthcoming. Lecture in Nyköping at Sörmlands Museum. Booking and details: https://www.sormlandsmuseum.se/

October 6. The Women and the cathedral

Lecture at Linköping Castle on women’s importance for early Christianity in the North and especially around the building of the Cathedral in Linköping. Arranged by Folkuniversitetet in cooperation with Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum. For booking, see https://lsdm.se/

may 5. The women and the last prince of the north

Lecture about the women around Kristian II (r. 1513-23), the last prince that ruled the Nordic union. We meet his warrior-like mother, his highborn wife and – most of all – the love of his life – and her mother. Arranged by Folkuniversitetet in cooperation with Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum. For booking, see https://lsdm.se/

march 31. history-writing and storytelling. A conversation about writing and motivations

This conversation will focus on writing, storytelling and the motivation for writing historical books. It will concern my books so far and especially the latest, “Kings: A World history”. It will take place on the Royal Castle in Stockholm. For booking and details, see https://livrustkammaren.se/start/om-museet/livrustkammarens-vanforening/

march 24. The life of an european renaissance prince

Lecture about the Swedish monarch Johan III (r. 1568-92) and his life in the European post-reformation era. We follow him, the second heir to the Swedish throne, on diplomatic expeditions to Queen Elizabeth I of England, with Russia and the Polish-Lithuanian realm, as he strengthened his position until he finally challenged his brother about the throne. Arranged by Folkuniversitetet in cooperation with Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum. For booking, see https://lsdm.se/

2021

Dec 2. on the importance of regions in medieval and early modern scandinavia

Lecture on the importance of regional cooperation over borders during centuries, far from king’s and regulated state power. Trade brought regions together in Europe and some parts took up fights for their self-government, like a peasants-republic that was formed in the southwestern part of the Nordic Union in the 1480s. The lecture is in Ulricehamn, details and information on booking coming soon.

NOV 18. what happend to the nordic union in november 1520?

Talk on Prince of the North and how the Nordic union came to dissolve following the events of 1520 in Stockholm. How important was the execution of some opponents when they took place, and what role did they play in a larger scope of nationalistic history writing? Arranged by Folkuniversitetet in cooperation with Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum. For booking, see https://lsdm.se/

OCT 21. A QUEEN REGENT IN ROME

Lecture in Linköping on Queen Christina (1626–1689). Arranged by Folkuniversitetet in cooperation with Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum. For booking, see https://lsdm.se/

OCT 20. A RENAISSANCE PRINCE RULING ALL OF SCANDINAVIA

Lecture in Strängnäs, Prince of the North (Furste av Norden) on the last monarch of the Nordic Union, Christian II (ruled 1513–1523). Arranged by “Gustav Vasa-föreningen, Strängnäs”, for info and tickets, see https://www.gustavvasa.se/

OCT 11. EMPIRES AND AUTOCRATIC RULERS FROM ANCIENT EGYPT TO ThE FIRST WORLD WAR

Lecture in Linköping on Kings. A World History (Kungar. En världshistoria). Arranged by FAS Linköping, for booking see https://faslinkoping.se/

Oct 7. A marriage for the sake of the crown – the story of queen Margareta Eriksdotter (Leijonhufvud)

Lecture in Linköping about the noble woman Margareta Eriksdotter (Leijonhufvud) and her marriage to the Swedish king, Gustav Vasa (ruled 1523–60), in 1536. This marriage was pivotal for preserving the then new Swedish monarchy, binding the king to the nobility rather than fighting it. In cooperation with Folkuniversitetet and Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum. For booking, see https://lsdm.se/

Oct 5. THE COUNCIL AND the kINg

Lecture in Trollhättan, Prince of the North (Furste av Norden) on Christian II, the last monarch of the Nordic Union, 1513–1523. Arranged by “Clios vänner”, for info and tickets, see http://www.cliosvanner.nu/

SEP 23. AT WAR WITH RUSSIA, DENMARK-NORWAy AND POLAND – Charles IX and the fight for the Crown

Lecture in Linköping on Charles IX (Karl IX. Kampen om kronan). Introducing the new book, out as audiobook in July and as physical book on September 6. In cooperation with Folkuniversitetet and Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum. For booking, see https://lsdm.se/

2020

OCT 22 – 2020 ON TELEVISION WITH A QUEEN

Participating in Swedish Channel 4 largest history television production ever – “Queens” (Drottningarna). Tune in on October 22 at 9pm CET!

SEP 24 – 2020 POLAND’S CLAIMS ON SWEDEN

Lecture in Linköping on the battle of Stångebro just outside of the city centre in 1598. In cooperation with Folkuniversitetet and Linköpings Slotts- och Domkyrkomuseum.

APR 28 – 2020 ON AUTOCRATIC RULE: EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI, LOUIS XIV AND Theudebert I

Swedish Radio P1 Science – History (Vetenskapsradion Historia) – participating about Kings. A World History. Tune in the radio at 28th of April at 6pm CET!

APR 16 – 2020 THREE YEARS IN THE MAKING!

Keep an eye out for the upcoming book release – three years in the making. Make sure to follow on on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter!

MAr 12 – 2020 A UNION IN DISSOLUTION

Lecture at Kalmar Castle. If you want to join, please check the lecture details on Kalmar Castle – Events.