Medieval Scandinavian AD 1390 – AD 1500

Draft list by Ulf Olsson

A Medieval Scandinavian army must be either Union or Swedish. Swedish armies operated only in Sweden and Finland. Union Armies operated throughout the Baltic area.

The Union of Kalmar, Denmark and Norway

This list covers the armies of Scandinavia from the formation of the Kalmar Union until the introduction of Landsknechte in Scandinavian warfare and the large-scale use of gunpowder weapons.

The Union of Kalmar united the Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden (including Finland) under one regent.

In practice, the Union brought Danish domination. The economy and population of Denmark was roughly equal to that of the rest of Scandinavia combined. Denmark was also much more efficiently governed along main-stream Western European lines.

In the 1520s the Union finally fell apart with Sweden seceding under Gustav Vasa. Denmark and Norway were to remain united until Sweden forced Denmark to give up control of Norway after the Napoleonic Wars.

Sweden

Sweden had never really implemented feudalism and the commoners (the ‘Allmoge’) had quite extensive legal rights and political agendas of their own. The Swedish nobles were a wilful lot and very keen on the King not getting too powerful. Efforts by the Union to extract more taxes and to modernize the country at the expense of traditional rights and privileges met with stiff resistance.

Sweden was almost continuously at war. Various factions either curried favour with the Union monarch or rebelled against him. The result was a confusing series of wars between factions vying for power while supporting or rejecting the Union King.

The Allmoge in each region (‘Landskap’, roughly the equivalent of an English county) to a large extent made their own decisions and frequently found themselves fighting against the Allmoge of other regions.

The Union King, usually a Dane or German, responded to rebellions by sending an army bolstered by lots of mercenaries. He also always tried to lure Swedish nobles over to his side. Rebellions could be very successful militarily, but infighting among factions meant that the country always returned to recognizing a Union King after political compromise, treachery and/or the odd murder.

Finland was a part of Sweden and there were fairly frequent clashes with Novgorod and Muscovy along the ill-defined border in Karelia.

Swedish Armies

The Swedish armies of this period differed quite a lot from most other European forces. Royal power was weak and there were always very few knights and other mounted troops. Instead the armies were dominated by the Allmoge troops, who were surprisingly effective. At their best (in the 1430s to the 1480s) the Allmoge infantry gave a very good account of themselves.

Their Achilles-heel was the lack of higher level leadership and the difficulty of keeping the armies in the field for long periods. The Allmoge were farmers, not professional soldiers, and simply went home for harvest, etc. This led to quite a bit of campaigning in winter, when farmers have some free time.

No known Swedish army of the period could deploy more than a couple thousand mounted troops in total, the overwhelming majority of other troops were Allmoge, with a few mercenaries (artillery specialists, for example) sometimes available.

Swedish naval forces were almost non-existent, which made sieges of sea-side fortified sites such as Stockholm very time-consuming and often futile. Swedish armies often managed to take inland towns and forts but had no luck against places which could be supplied by sea unless the Swedes could enlist the help of foreign or mercenary naval forces.

Union Armies

Union armies cover the armies of the combined Kingdoms of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The Union armies were well equipped and of good quality, and included large numbers of mercenaries.

Apart from the usual knights available to European armies of the period, the Danes often used 'Obudshaer' forces. These were were good quality infantry with polearms. In emergencies they could call up a general levy, the 'Landevaernet', which was of dubious quality but available in large numbers. The Obudsher was intended for overseas service, but the Landevaernet was only used at home. Most Danish armies were based around noble retinues, mercenaries and the Obudshaer.

Norwegian military resources were even more limited than those of Sweden, and Norway did not field major independent forces. Troops from Norway often took part in Union militry operations, but are identical to Union units in game terms. Norway was, however, important as a major staging area for Union forces operating against Sweden.

The Union also had substantial naval forces at its command. Union armies were frequently engaged in trying to suppress Swedish rebellions and fighting various German states, especially Holstein.

Army List - Union

Terrain in Denmark: Normal - Plains

Terrain in Sweden and Norway: Normal - Hilly

1-3 Union Division

1c Dansk Fraelse

0-1 Dansk Fraelse

1 Skyttar

0-1 Småsvenner

0-2 Obudshaer Foot or Mercenary Foot

The C-in-C must command a Union Division.

1-2 Mercenary Division

1c Dansk Fraelse

0-1 Skyttar

1-2 Mercenary Foot

0–2 Union Levy Division (May not be used in Sweden)

1c Dansk Fraelse

2-3 Landevaernet Foot

0-2 Swedish Allmoge Division (May only be used in Sweden)

1c Svenskt Frälse or Allmoge

2-3 Allmoge

Additional units:

0-2 Skyttar (Note 1)

0-3 Skärmytslare (Note 2)

0-2 Lätta Stycken (Note 2)

0-10 Bråte (Note 3)

Additional Units Notes:

1. Skyttar can be added to any Division except a Union Levy Division.
2. Skärmytslare and Lätta Stycken can be added to any Division
3. Bråte barricades were employed by Swedish units only. Since a bråte could be created almost in a matter of minutes, it is allowed in any battle in Sweden. A Bråte can only be deployed within 4 base widths of woods and must be defended by Swedish Allmoge units for its entire length.

Army List - Swedish

Terrain: Normal - Hilly

0-1 Kunglig or Storman Division

1c Svenskt Kungligt Följe or Svenskt Frälse

0-1 Svenskt Frälse

1 Skyttar

0-1 Småsvenner

0-2 Allmoge

If a 'Kunglig' or 'Storman' Division is used, it must be commanded by the C-in-C. A 'Kunglig' (Royal) Division may only be used if personally commanded by the King, his deputy or the head of a reigning Council of Nobles. The 'Svenskt Kungligt Följe' may only be used in a 'Kunglig' Division.

A 'Storman' Division is commanded by a member of the highest nobility. ('Storman' literally means 'Big Man'!)

2-6 ‘Landskap’ Division

1c Frälse or Allmoge

2-3 Allmoge

No more than half the 'Landskap' Divisions used may contain a Frälse unit.

Additional units:

0-1 Skyttar (Note 1)

0-2 Skärmytslare (Note 1)

0-1 Lätta Stycken (Note 1)

0-1 Mercenary Foot (Note 2)

0-20 Bråte (Note 3)

Additional Units Notes:

1. Skyttar, Skärmytslare and Lätta Stycken can be added to any Division.
2. Mercenary Foot can be added to the Kunglig or Storman Division or an Allmoge Division also containing a Frälse unit.
3. Bråte barricades were employed in just about any situation. Since a Bråte could be created almost in a matter of minutes, it is allowed in any battle. A Bråte can only be deployed within 4 base widths of woods.

Mounted Units

Svenskt Kungligt Följe, Dansk Fraelse

Heavy Chevaliers – Initiative 6 (Audacious)

2 Bases – 66 Pts if Initiative 6, 77 Pts if Initiative 7

3 Bases – 87 Pts if Initiative 6, 103 Pts if Initiative 7

A Dansk Fraelse unit personally commanded by the C-in-C may be upgraded to Initiative 7.

Comments:

The Svenskt Kungligt Följe ('Swedish Royal Retinue') can only be used if personally commanded by the King, his deputy or the head of a ruling Council of Nobles. It consisted of the great man's personal retainers and also included numerous foreign knights, usually Germans, and mercenaries.

They are assumed to possess the best equipment and horses, often imported.

Please note that Sweden often did not actually have a King, and many medieval Swedish armies were fighting against the current King anyway.

Dansk Fraelse (Danish Nobles) depict Danish nobles and their retinues and/or German mercenary knights. They were much better equipped and mounted than most of their Swedish counterparts.

Svenskt Frälse

Medium Chevaliers – Initiative 6

2 Bases – 60 Pts

3 Bases – 72 Pts

The Svenskt Frälse can be deployed on foot as Heavy Shock in positional battles.

Comments:

Frälse (literally ‘the saved’) was the contemporary Swedish term for nobles and churchmen ‘saved’ from paying taxes. There were no more than a few hundred actual dubbed knights ('Riddare') in the entire country. The Frälse units include Riddare, militant Bishops (of which there were quite a few), and un-knighted nobles along with their retinues and mercenaries.

The Frälse were not as well mounted and equipped as their Danish and German adversaries and could not really stand up to them in mounted combat. It was common for Frälse to dismount, especially when defending or attacking fixed positions.

Skyttar

Heavy Cavalry – Initiative 6 (Bow, Wave)

4 Bases – 60 Pts

May dismount as Heavy Archers.

Comments:

The Skyttar (‘shooters’) were professional soldiers serving as mounted crossbowmen. They relied mainly on shooting and were more mobile than the Frälse, but did not really skirmish. Many of them were well armoured, but rode rather small unarmoured horses. At the very end of the period, some individuals in the Skyttar units may have started using handguns.

They were often used to ride ahead of the main army to seize terrain defiles.

Småsvenner

Medium Cavalry – Initiative 6 (Brittle)

2 Bases – 28 Pts

3 Bases – 36 Pts

Comments:

The Småsvenner depict young men serving as mounted lancers. They were often inexperienced, not well mounted and lacked heavy armour.

Foot Units

Mercenary Foot

Heavy Shock - Initiative 6

4 Bases - 36 Pts

6 Bases - 48 Pts

Comments:

The Mercenary Foot depict the large numbers of mercenaries primarily used by Union armies. The mercenaries were often Germans and well equipped with good armour and halberds.

Allmoge

Medium Shieldsmen - Initiative 6 (Deep Line)

Medium Archer Detachment & Medium Shock Detachment

6 Bases - 44 Pts, 38 Pts if Brittle

8 Bases - 52 Pts, 44 Pts if Brittle

OR

Heavy Shieldsmen - Initiative 6 (Deep Line)

Medium Archer Detachment & Medium Shock Detachment

6 Bases - 47 Pts, 41 Pts if Brittle

8 Bases - 56 Pts, 48 Pts if Brittle

Allmoge units varied in quality during the period, especially regarding leadership. To reflect this Allmoge may be Brittle. All or none of the Allmoge units in a division must be Brittle, reflecting the varying commitment and skill of the various regional contingents. Over time, the Allmoge became better equipped and armoured.

In AD 1390 – AD 1433 at least half the Allmoge Divisions must be Brittle. Allmoge may be Heavy Shieldsmen if commanded by the Division's General.

In AD 1434 – AD 1480 up to half the Allmoge Divisions may be Brittle. Any Allmoge may be Heavy Shieldsmen.

In AD 1481 – AD 1500 at least half the Allmoge Divisions must be Brittle. Any Allmoge may be Heavy Shieldsmen.

Comments:

The Allmoge depict the yeoman infantry of Sweden. They were unusually well equipped and effective for non-professional medieval infantry and fought in mixed formations of men with polearms and crossbowmen. The numbers of polearms and crossbows in the formation seems to have been roughly equal with 2-3 ranks of crossbowmen and 2-3 ranks of polearms.

Obudshaer Foot

Medium Shieldsmen - Initiative 6

6 Bases - 32 Pts

8 Bases - 40 Pts

Comments:

The Obudshaer was a Danish levy of selected men intended for overseas service.

Landevaernet

Medium Shieldsmen - Initiative 5

6 Bases - 26 Pts

8 Bases - 32 Pts

Comments:

The Landevaernet were the Danish equivalent of the Swedish Allmoge, but much less efficient and warlike. They were poorly equipped spearmen.

Skärmytslare

Light Archers – Initiative 6

4 Bases – 28 Pts

Comments:

Skärmytslare ('skirmishers') depict detached small units of men with crossbows that were not included in the main Allmoge units as well as lightly equipped mercenary crossbowmen. In the later parts of the period they also include small numbers of men with handguns. At the Battle of Brunkeberg in 1471, the King of Denmark was wounded by a bullet from a Swedish handgun.

Lätta Stycken

Artillery

1 Base - 20 Pts

Comments:

Swedish armies did not have much artillery, but did have the occasional light guns (‘Lätta Stycken’ means ‘Light Pieces’).

Union Armies were much better equipped and probably had access to more artillery. Heavy artillery was used in sieges, but probably not in open battle.

Bråte

Medium Fortification

1 Width – 8 Pts

Comments:

Swedish armies made extensive use of improvised barricades made from felled trees and brush. This was particularly effective in the dense Scandinavian terrain. Allmoge infantry defending ‘bråte’ barricades defeated professional enemy units on several occasions.