Call for Papers
Baltic Bloodbaths. The Use of Political Violence in the Baltic Sea Region 1400–1600
Stockholm University, 23-24 April 2026
Due 29 September 2025
A workshop in 2021 discussed international perspectives on the Stockholm Bloodbath, an important event in the history of the Nordic countries. However, it asks for a follow-up, in order to understand the events in a broader perspective, focusing the use of political violence in the Baltic Sea Region in late medieval, early modern times.
In 2021, we organized a workshop on occasion of the 500th commemoration of the Stockholm Bloodbath in November 1520 (one year late due to Covid). The workshop aimed at presenting new research on the historical events, in particular focusing the international consequences (which previously had not received proper attention in the Danish and Swedish research). We also focused on the aftermath of the event. The workshop has been published, the anthology appeared just a few weeks ago. For more information, see https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789463724197/the-stockholm-bloodbath-of-1520.
Whereas the workshop was able to present new sources and perspectives, we think that one vital aspect of the picture is still missing. The Stockholm Bloodbath of November 1520 takes up an iconic status in Sweden and Scandinavia as a decisive turning point in Scandinavian history. Therefore, it has mostly be researched as a singular event, despite different other bloodbaths taking place in Sweden and other realms in the Baltic Sea Region between 1400 and 1600.
With the present conference, we intend to broaden the perspective by applying a comparative approach to the use of political violence in the Baltic Sea Region from roughly 1400–1600. We are especially interested in comparative approaches on acts of political violence, both within a certain realm as well as between different realms. How where these acts of violence legitimized in their times? How are they explained by contemporary and modern historians? What is the role of religious dissent, dynastic conflicts and social uprisings? How can violence be explained as a political instrument?
Papers should be 20 minutes long and in English. The number of presenters is limited to 20. We hope to be able to cover travel and accommodation expenses for all invited speakers.
Are you interested in participating in the conference, please send a paper proposal, no later than 29 September 2025 to the conference secretary at sekreterare@medeltid.su.se.
Contact: heiko.droste@historia.su.se and kurt.villads.jensen@historia.su.se