Sweden’s rise to the status of a European ‘great power’ in the early modern period can be traced back to a single, decisive victory against an invading Danish army in 1471.
Shortly after midday on 10 October of that year, Danish soldiers encamped on the northern outskirts of Stockholm, the Swedish capital, left their earthworks atop the prominent Brunkeberg ridge to counter-attack the local militia that had staged two unsuccessful assaults on them during the late morning.
The close-quarters fighting raged for half a mile along the western base of the Brunkeberg. Swedish peasant farmers held their ground with spears and polearms as Danish and German men-at-arms hacked and slashed with halberds, battle axes, and two-handed swords. Crossbowmen on both sides added their fire to the bloody work at hand.
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