David's Rebellion
DateAutumn 1438 - 9 January 1439
Location
Tavastia, Finland
Result Swedish victory
Belligerents
Tavastian peasant rebels
Strength
Unknown ~75 total
Casualties and losses
~4 killed in action Unknown

David's Rebellion, also known as the Peasants' Revolt of 1438 was a peasant revolt from 1438 to 1439 in Tavastia, spreading from Vesilahti to Lempäälä. The rebellion was propagated by David of Ania, a peasant leader, in response to increased tax burdens.

Background

David or Daavid, was a wealthy householder of the Heikkilä estate from Ania village in Vesilahti to Ruovesi. He along with other people who were of the peasantry, had become frustrated with the increased tightening of taxation. The anger of the peasantry was only increased by the weakening of the fur trade and the increased land grabbing by the nobility in Finland of important lands such as fishing waters and economically important lands owned or controlled by the peasantry.[1] This anger was often directed at wealthy nobility and tax officials, such as Hannu Kröpelin, who was the Chief of Turku Castle. However it is also thought by some that David was involved as a political agent who was paid to stir up trouble by Karl Knutsson Bonde.[2][3]

The rebellion

The rebellion began in autumn 1438, and the rebellion's leader was chosen to be David, who was proclaimed the "peasant king" (bondekonung) by his fellow rebels. He and his rebels went on to kill 4 huovi in Nokia, where a mansion was located and owned by the Folkunga family.[1] Along with the rebellion in Tavastia, there was another rebellion in Lammi in anger towards Olav Tavast, who is reported to have thought that David's rebellion was a joke, which is why they reportedly also revolted.[1] The peasantry was reportedly tamed by Maunu II Tavas, who was the Bishop of Turku Ultimately the peasant rebels were given a lenient punishment, of promising to never rise up against the Swedish Crown on 9 January.[2] David and his brothers were forced to flee to Tallinn, Estonia to avoid a harsh punishment.[4][3][5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Matti Kurki". www.narvasoft.fi. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  2. 1 2 "Davidin kapina". www.messon.fi. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  3. 1 2 "David - Svenskt Biografiskt Lexikon". sok.riksarkivet.se. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
  4. ↑ Koskinen, Ulla (2016-12-28). Aggressive and Violent Peasant Elites in the Nordic Countries, C. 1500-1700. Springer. ISBN 978-3-319-40688-6.
  5. ↑ "Etusivu". kansallisbiografia.fi. Retrieved 2023-10-21.
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