The rulers of Gotland after 1361

1361 King Valdemar does not demand that Visby/the Gotlandic Parliament pledge their allegiance. No tax increase for the farmers.

1362 King Valdemar is mentioned in a document as being King of Gotland. King Magnus IV of Sweden makes no attempt to recover Gotland. However, Öland is retaken by Sweden in 1362.

1364 Albert, King of Sweden, who became king after Magnus IV, believes he owns Gotland and pawns the island to the princely house of Holstein in order to shore up his poor finances.

1366 A source states that Gotland, which had been occupied by Albert, King of Sweden at Whitsun, was returned to King Valdemar by Albert’s father. This fact is ignored by the son who continues to consider Gotland his territory.

1376 Olof, son of Queen Margaret and her husband Haakon VI, was appointed as heir on Gotland, thus Gotland was to be Danish. But Albert, King of Sweden does not approve of this and still considers Gotland his.

1389 Gotland becomes a base for the Victual Brothers, a group of pirates originating from northern Germany. They support Albert, King of Sweden, who still occupies the castle Three Crowns in Stockholm, despite having been deposed by the Danish Queen Margaret and the Swedish nobility. Margaret I of Denmark, Valdemar’s daughter, has obtained the Swedish throne the same year.

1395 In peace negotiations with Margaret, Albert secures the right to Visby including Visborg Castle, while the rest of Gotland will belong to Denmark. The Victual Brothers remain on Gotland. They make a living by piracy under the leadership of Albert.

1398 The Teutonic Order (a political, military and financial organisation with influence from Prussia up to the Baltic region) takes control of Gotland by paying a ransom and using military force.

1408 The Teutonic Order leaves Gotland. Denmark continues to rule over Gotland.

1645 Following the Second Treaty of Brömsebro, Gotland becomes Swedish and remains so to this day.

Source: Gun Westholm’s book “Visby 1361 Invasionen”.