Didrik Slagheck
Encyclopedia
Didrik Slagheck, dead January 24 1522, was a Danish
archbishop
, military commander during the Swedish War of Liberation
, and often pointed out as an active participant in the Stockholm Bloodbath
.
Slagheck was the illegitimate son of a Westphalian
priest
and appears to have been worked in the papal
office during his early life. He arrived in Norway
in 1510 and soon received appreciation for his service from both Christian II of Denmark
and his advisor, Sigbrit Willoms
. After some time abroad he returned to Scandinavia
in 1517, as assistant to the papal representative Arcimboldus. Arcimboldus is said to have received bribes from Sten Sture the Younger
, regent of Sweden
, something which Slagheck reported to the king. He was soon sent to Rome
to report about Arcimboldus' activities.
1520 Slagheck followed Christian II to Stockholm
, and is said to have helped inspire the Stockholm Bloodbath. He was soon appointed to the position as bishop of Skara
, as the previous bishop Vincent Henningsson had been executed. He became one of the three Danish leaders left behind to govern Sweden when Christian II returned to Denmark, soon making himself unpopular among the population. Slagheck participated as a military commander during the early stages of the rebellion
led by Gustav Vasa, leading the Danish forces during the Battle of Västerås
.
He was recalled to Denmark later in 1521, where he was given the position of archbishop of Lund
. He would not keep this position for long, as Pope Leo X
had been greatly discontented when he received word of the execution of two bishops in the Stockholm Bloodbath, prompting Christian II to put the entire blame on Slagheck. He was sentenced to death by hanging
, which was changed in the last minute to death by burning, which took place in Copenhagen
on January 24 1522.
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
, military commander during the Swedish War of Liberation
Swedish War of Liberation
The Swedish War of Liberation , , was a civil war in which the Swedish nobleman Gustav Vasa successfully deposed the Danish king Christian II as regent of the Kalmar Union in Sweden. The war started in January 1521 when Gustav Vasa was appointed "hövitsman" over Dalarna. After Gustav Vasa sacked...
, and often pointed out as an active participant in the Stockholm Bloodbath
Stockholm Bloodbath
The Stockholm Bloodbath, or the Stockholm Massacre , took place as the result of a successful invasion of Sweden by Danish forces under the command of King Christian II...
.
Slagheck was the illegitimate son of a Westphalian
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and appears to have been worked in the papal
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
office during his early life. He arrived in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1510 and soon received appreciation for his service from both Christian II of Denmark
Christian II of Denmark
Christian II was King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden , during the Kalmar Union.-Background:...
and his advisor, Sigbrit Willoms
Sigbrit Willoms
Sigbrit Willoms , , was a Danish politician, mother to the mistress of King Christian II of Denmark, Dyveke Sigbritsdatter, and advisor and de facto minister of finance for the king between 1519 and 1523....
. After some time abroad he returned to Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
in 1517, as assistant to the papal representative Arcimboldus. Arcimboldus is said to have received bribes from Sten Sture the Younger
Sten Sture the Younger
Sten Sture the Younger , Lord of Ekesiö , was a Swedish statesman and regent of Sweden, under the era of the Kalmar Union.-Life:...
, regent of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
, something which Slagheck reported to the king. He was soon sent to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to report about Arcimboldus' activities.
1520 Slagheck followed Christian II to Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
, and is said to have helped inspire the Stockholm Bloodbath. He was soon appointed to the position as bishop of Skara
Skara
Skara is a locality and the seat of Skara Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 18595 inhabitants in 2005. Despite its small size, it has a long educational and ecclesiastical history. One of Sweden's oldest high schools, Katedralskolan , is situated in Skara...
, as the previous bishop Vincent Henningsson had been executed. He became one of the three Danish leaders left behind to govern Sweden when Christian II returned to Denmark, soon making himself unpopular among the population. Slagheck participated as a military commander during the early stages of the rebellion
Swedish War of Liberation
The Swedish War of Liberation , , was a civil war in which the Swedish nobleman Gustav Vasa successfully deposed the Danish king Christian II as regent of the Kalmar Union in Sweden. The war started in January 1521 when Gustav Vasa was appointed "hövitsman" over Dalarna. After Gustav Vasa sacked...
led by Gustav Vasa, leading the Danish forces during the Battle of Västerås
Battle of Västerås
The Battle of Västerås was a battle in the Swedish War of Liberation that took place on Badelundaåsen, north of Västerås, Sweden on April 29, 1521...
.
He was recalled to Denmark later in 1521, where he was given the position of archbishop of Lund
Lund
-Main sights:During the 12th and 13th centuries, when the town was the seat of the archbishop, many churches and monasteries were built. At its peak, Lund had 27 churches, but most of them were demolished as result of the Reformation in 1536. Several medieval buildings remain, including Lund...
. He would not keep this position for long, as Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
had been greatly discontented when he received word of the execution of two bishops in the Stockholm Bloodbath, prompting Christian II to put the entire blame on Slagheck. He was sentenced to death by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
, which was changed in the last minute to death by burning, which took place in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
on January 24 1522.