Conquest of Scania

The Conquest of Scania is a war between Sweden and Denmark over Scania.
Disgruntled over the Sound Toll, Sweden declared war to take control of all Danish lands on the mainland. The war was massive, involving England and Lithuania on Sweden's side, and Dithmarschen and Friesland on the Danish side. The war was ultimately successful, with Scania and the province of Bohuslan being ceded.
==Background==
Scania has always been sought after Sweden, who wished to end the Danish sound toll imposed upon all ships passing through the Oresund. The most notable incident was on 7 February 1455, when Danish guards harassed Swedish traders and forced them to pay additional fees for going through the Oresund.
In 1471, King Gustav II of Sweden considered attacking Denmark, but was reluctant to do so as the country was falling behind in technology, and more conquered territories would increase the strain on the Swedish government. Despite this, he was inclined to do so anyways, possibly due to his martial background.
==The War==
===Denmark and Norway===
Sweden declared war on Denmark on 4 January 1472, calling in both allies England and Poland. Swedish troops rushed to take Malmo Castle in Skane, which was mothballed (i.e. without a garrison) before the war. Sure enough, just after 44 days, the castle fell. The troops then returned to Elfsborg where they wiped out 9,000 Norwegian men. Danish troops then arrived at Malmo Castle on 11 April to attempt to retake it. Estonian troops helped siege down the rest of Scania, while the main Swedish force attacked the fortress at Bohuslan. The castle fell on 6 March 1473. Swedish troops then attacked Akershus, while numerous small armies occupied the Norwegian countryside.
Skane was retaken by the Danish on 25 March 1474. Akershus fell on 11 June. Swedish troops then attacked Danish ones in Blekinge on 24 July and won on 7 August, both sides losing much of their armies. Skane was once more besieged, this time by English troops, while Kolding was being saved by Danish ones. Once Skane fell once more on 31 January 1476, the war finally ended.
====The English landing forces====
English troops landed in Schleswig on 14 May 1472 and moved to besiege the fortress at Kolding, which fell on 25 October 1473. Another English detachment landed in Norway proper and occupied Stavanger, then attacked a Norwegian army in Akershus on 3 November 1472.
===Dithmarschen and Friesland===
Danzigian troops landed in Dithmarschen in 1472 and laid siege to the fortress. The city fell on 1 November 1472, and the nation left the war a week later.
Danzigian troops landed in Friesland sometime in 1473 and besieged Leeuwarden. The fortress finally fell on 11 August 1473. Meanwhile, English troops landed on 31 March 1473, and later attacked Frisian troops in neutral Berg, defeating them. Friesland left the war shortly after Leeuwarden fell.
==End==
The Treaty of Viborg was signed on 1 February 1476. Skane, Blekinge, Goinge, Halland, and Bohusland were all ceded to Sweden. In addition, straight cash and war reparations were to be paid to the Swedish alliance.
Category:Wars