Gustav Skytte
Encyclopedia
Gustav Adolf Skytte of Duderhoff (1637 – 21 April 1663) was a Swedish
nobleman and pirate. Born as the child of Jacob Skytte and Anna Bjelkenstjerna, he became a pirate at the age of 20 and plundered ships in the Baltic Sea
together with his noble accomplices.
and nephew of the famous Vendela Skytte
. He was described as charming and made a good impression when he grew up. In 1657, Skytte hired a Dutch ship together with some of his friends. Out on the sea, the noblemen murdered the captain and took over the ship, which they used as a pirate ship, attacking ships in the Baltic Sea. They forced the crew to swore their legiance to them. One of his colleagues was his brother-in-law Gustaf Drake, the husband of his sister Anna Christina, who was also involved. When one of their accomplices wanted to stop, Drake and Anna had him killed. They pursued this secret business from a base in Blekinge
, Sweden.
In 1663, their pirate activity was exposed. Gustaf Drake and Anna Christina left the country, but Skytte was arrested and put on trial. He was convicted of piracy and was executed in Jönköping
, after which his mother was said to have "died of grief". He was said to have died regretting his crimes.
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....
nobleman and pirate. Born as the child of Jacob Skytte and Anna Bjelkenstjerna, he became a pirate at the age of 20 and plundered ships in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
together with his noble accomplices.
Biography
Skytte was born to noble Jacob Skytte of Duderhof and Anna Bielkenstjerna; he was the grandson of Johan SkytteJohan Skytte
Johan Skytte was a Swedish politician.Skytte was son of the Mayor of Nyköping, Bengt Nilsson Skräddare...
and nephew of the famous Vendela Skytte
Vendela Skytte
Vendela Skytte was a Swedish noblewoman, salonist and writer, Poet and Lady of Letters. She has been used as an example in history to describe an ideal of a well educated woman.- Biography :...
. He was described as charming and made a good impression when he grew up. In 1657, Skytte hired a Dutch ship together with some of his friends. Out on the sea, the noblemen murdered the captain and took over the ship, which they used as a pirate ship, attacking ships in the Baltic Sea. They forced the crew to swore their legiance to them. One of his colleagues was his brother-in-law Gustaf Drake, the husband of his sister Anna Christina, who was also involved. When one of their accomplices wanted to stop, Drake and Anna had him killed. They pursued this secret business from a base in Blekinge
Blekinge
' is one of the traditional provinces of Sweden , situated in the south of the country. It borders Småland, Scania and the Baltic Sea.The name "Blekinge" comes from the adjective bleke, which corresponds to the nautical term for "dead calm"....
, Sweden.
In 1663, their pirate activity was exposed. Gustaf Drake and Anna Christina left the country, but Skytte was arrested and put on trial. He was convicted of piracy and was executed in Jönköping
Jönköping
-Notable people:*Lillian Asplund, RMS Titanic survivor*John Bauer, illustrator, painter*Amy Diamond, singer*Agnetha Fältskog, ABBA*Carl Henrik Fredriksson, editor-in-chief and co-founder of Eurozine*Anders Gustafsson, kayaker, Olympian...
, after which his mother was said to have "died of grief". He was said to have died regretting his crimes.