War in Gotland (1288)

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War in Gotland
City wall of Visby
Date 1288 Location Gotland Result See result Territorial changes Status quo ante bellum:
Belligerents
Visby Supported by Lübeck[1] Wendish towns	Gotlandic peasants  Sweden[2] Supported by Livonian knights
Commanders and leaders
Unknown	Olof Rangvalds Peter Hardings Mickel Takstens Olof Gartarve Tomas Bilder Häfleif Qvinnegårda
Strength
Unknown	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Heavy	Heavy

The War in Gotland was an armed conflict between the rural farmers of the island of Gotland and the burghers of its town of Visby; two battles were fought, one at Högebro, at which the burghers emerged victorious^[3] and Roma, in which neither side won.^[3] However, the war concluded with the Treaty of Gotland which was mediated by King Magnus III.^[4]

In the 1280s, the city of Visby started construction of a large wall around its perimeter to prevent the rural people of Gotland from trading in the city,^[5] and establish a tax. These were the main reasons for the war.^[6] The farmers asked the German military leader in Livonia for help; he and a few knights may have personally traveled to Gotland to help the farmers.^[7][6]

Possibly with support from Livonian knights, the farmers of Gotland armed themselves and started their march toward Visby, intent on attacking the city.^[8] In response, the burghers of Visby also mobilized their forces.^[8]

When the peasants reached Visby, their assault caught the city's defenders by surprise,^[9] and they marched into Visby and plundered along the streets, then fled with their loot. The townspeople and their allies quickly organized for a counterattack.^[9] The city's troops consisted mostly of hired German mercenaries, but they were well-trained and combat ready.^[9]

At Högebro, the two sides met; the battle was a hard-fought one which lasted the entire day. The battle's progress initially favored the farmers, but the weapons of the Burghers were better and they were ultimately victorious.^[8] The defeated farmers retreated into a forest, but were pursued by the burghers' forces, resulting in many being captured and taken to Sjönem. However, the farmers did not lose hope, and mobilized for another battle.^{[citation needed]}

Roma, Gotland

Roma abbey, church ruins

At Roma monastery, which stands 2 miles from Visby, another battle occurred between the burghers and farmers. Both sides suffered a high proportion of casualties,^[8] but the battle was inconclusive. After the battle, the priests of the Roma monastery intervened and, with great persistence, managed to broker a temporary armistice.^[10]

But peace was not made there. The peasants withdrew from negotiations repeatedly, and it was with great difficulty that the priests were able to prevent the renewal of battle. Finally, Bodel Kallin and Gerved of Martebo declared on behalf of the peasants that Edvard von Lode and several knights wanted to enter the city themselves and confirm the peace.^[8] That was how things stood when the news reached King Magnus about what was occurring on the island; the king promptly sent word that diplomats for both parties should come to him.^{[citation needed]}

Magnus Ladulås

Portrait of Magnus III of Sweden from the 1400s located in Riddarholmskyrkan

In August 1288, King Magnus III summoned representatives from both sides to Nyköping to broker peace between the two. The envoys admitted that the burghers of Visby had offended the king, when they undertook, unprompted by him, to fortify their town and wage war against the peasants. They therefore paid 2,000 marks of silver and 500 mark assorted silver in penance.^[8]

The Visby burghers also agreed that if any further disagreement arose between Visby and the peasants, the matter would be referred to the king first, before the burghers escalated it into any hostility against the peasants. However, no such notification would be needed if such a fierce attack by the peasants took place that violence had to be met by violence.^{[citation needed]}

Furthermore, any complaints by the peasants to the king of Sweden would not be hindered in any way by the burghers from reaching him.^[10] Only the king of Sweden would be their master, and if the peasants should ever attempt to reject his authority, Visby would, with all the city was capable of, strive against it. And should the common people in any way prove rebellious against the king, the burghers, as soon as they received knowledge of it and were requested, would keep their gates open to the king, and give the king all possible help against the peasants.

The exact victor in the war is disputed between historians. The historian Mats Adolfsson says that the peasants won the war,^[11] while other historians like Christine Peel and Edward Miller say that the burghers of Visby won the war.^[12][13]