For those who enjoyed the pod P3 Historia about Queen Christina and her time as a regent, here is the story of what happened after she left her throne, country and decided to become a catholic – all in a 17th century Europe where these things mattered a lot, not least for a former Queen. In this episode, Erik is your expert, and the story is based on his second book on Queen Christina, “Drottning utan land”. Listen to the episode here: https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/drottning-kristina-kung-utan-krona
News
Christian II is back in Malmö
Today it was time for Erik to come to one of Christian II’s favorite places, Malmö and more specifically Malmöhus, the early 16th century fortress that in our days lie in the middle of the lively city. Christian had one of his main pillars of support in the inhabitants of Malmö, and especially in his loyal mint coiner, Jörgen Kock, who also served several years as the city’s Mayor.
TELEVISION: THE HISTORY OF SWEDEN, EPISODE 5 & 6
The series The History of Sweden has just aired during this winter. Through 10 episodes all of the history since the Ice Age until the early 2000s is covered. Erik Petersson was one of the experts in episode 5, dealing with the years from 1361 to 1560, and in episode 6, from 1560 to 1658. The 6th episode was followed by an after talk, where the above picture is from. To watch the series, go to: https://www.svtplay.se/historien-om-sverige
For the after talk with Erik, go to: https://www.svtplay.se/video/8morLGv/historiskt-eftersnack/6-stormakt-pengar-och-sex?id=KPn7vdn
BOOK: QUEEN MARGARET’S DREAM NUMBER ONE HISTORY BESTSELLER IN September
We’re pleasantly surprised to see Queen Margaret’s Dream as the Number 1 Bestseller in the History Category on Sweden’s largest online bookstore, Adlibris, during the last week of September.
BOOK RELEASE: QUEEN MARGARET’S DREAM
New book out today!
The 14th century was a time of chaos. In the wake of climate change and the plague, political order had crumbled across Europe. The three kingdoms in the North were subjected to mounting pressures, both from external forces and internal strife.
Into this tumultuous world was born Margareta, the youngest daughter of Valdemar Atterdag. She would come to embody the unity of the North – raised in the Danish realm and married to the Norwegian king who had just lost his Swedish crown. As the regent for her son, she did everything in her power to pave his path to the three crowns, but fate had other plans. Soon, she found herself alone, without husband or children, with a dream that lived on through her alone: a united North.
Surrounded by adversaries – from the Hanseatic League to the emperor and King Albrekt – her prospects seemed bleak in her quest to achieve her goal. As history tells us, she eventually rode out of Kalmar on a July day in 1397 alongside her adoptive son, King Erik of the Union. How did she get there? In this story we witness how political maneuvering, kinship, personal determination, and chance allowed a person to realize her dream while simultaneously reshaping the history of the North.
EVENT: TALK AT ÖREBRO CASTLE
Tonight, Erik had the pleasure of speaking about a renowned figure at Örebro Castle: Duke Charles who became King Charles IX. Charles lived in turbulent times in the 16th century where the struggle ultimately escalated into a civil war, fought between himself and his nephew over who would claim the Swedish crown. The event was sold out, and the audience’s reactions, in the form of questions and appreciation after the lecture, made the evening highly enjoyable!
Radio: Guest in Morgonpasset, P3, Swedish Radio
Today, it was time for another visit by Erik Petersson to the curious hosts at Morgonpasset i P3, Swedish Radio, the largest radio morning show in Sweden. Through a conversation that spanned from the 16th century to the 20th century, once again marking the 500th anniversary of Gustav Vasa’s ascension to the throne, he selected five things that have shaped Sweden – from the Reformation in the 16th century, through the Age of Liberty in the 18th century, to the political neutrality of the 20th century. One of the hosts said after that he had never learned so much history in such a short time before. Hope you also enjoyed the program! Listen here: https://sverigesradio.se/embed/episode/2194001
Television: National Celebration in Swedish Television Channel 1
HISTORY COMMENTATOR IN THE STUDIO: The grand finale of the Swedish National celebration took place today, as the country commemorates 500 years since Gustav Vasa was elected king on the 6th of June 1523. Swedish Television honored this occasion with multiple programs, including the National Day celebration broadcasted from the terrace of Moderna Museet. Erik Petersson had the honor of being one of the guests and to start and end the program, which gave the opportunity for him to share both the historic significance of this day as well as a vision of what the National Day will symbolize in the future.
Television: Five milestones in 500 years
GETTING PREPARED TO CELEBRATE: Tomorrow it’s time to celebrate Sweden’s 500 years on this special National Day, marking the day Gustav Vasa was elected king. To mark this significant occasion, Erik Petersson appeared on Swedish Television’s morning show, “Morgonstudion,” where he discussed five pivotal milestones, one per century, highlighting significant events that have shaped the country’s journey up until today. Get ready for an exhilarating exploration of Sweden’s rich history and its remarkable evolution throughout the ages!
Event: Speaking Tour of spring, 2023
BORÅS, KALMAR, ESKILSTUNA, STRÄNGNÄS:
Erik Petersson’s talks during the spring of 2023 drew a crowded audience, from the first stop in Borås in January to the final one in Strängnäs in April. They have delved into the captivating stories of Queen Margareta, Gustav Vasa, and his son Karl IX. Two of them focused on Queen Margareta, offering a tantalizing preview of the upcoming book about her, set to be released in the fall. One lecture centered around Gustav Vasa, in honor of the 500th anniversary of his election as the King of Sweden, while another shed light on Gustav Vasa’s youngest son, Karl IX, who triumphantly claimed the crown after a long struggle. Thank you for being a part of our spring tour, and Erik sends his warm regards, hoping to meet many of you during the autumn or beyond. Get ready for more exhilarating adventures!