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Fall of the Merchant-Farmer Republic by Michael Fredholm von Essen
£29.95
Available
Product Ref. (e.g. ISBN, SKU)
9781804518298
Published:
15 Sep 2025
Format:
Paperback
Number of pages:
176 pages
Dimensions:
248x180mm
Weight:
0.000kgs
Author:
The Battle of Visby was fought during the Danish invasion of Gotland in 1361. Fall of the Merchant-Farmer Republic describes the invasion, presents new research on the arms, armour, and military organisation of the Gotland merchant-farmer republic, details the opposing armies, and explains the outcome and consequences.
The Battle of Visby was fought during the Danish invasion of Gotland in 1361. Fall of the Merchant-Farmer Republic describes the invasion, presents new research on the arms, armour, and military organisation of the Gotland merchant-farmer republic, details the opposing armies, and explains the outcome and consequences.
Gotland, the largest island in the Baltic Sea, was an autonomous Swedish territory. Gotland suffered from tensions over trading rights between the traditional rural merchant-farmers, the Gotlanders, and the burghers, many of whom were of German origin, of the heavily fortified Visby which formed part of the powerful Hanseatic League. The Gotland merchant-farmers traded throughout the Baltic region, from England and the North Sea in the west to Novgorod, the Crimea, Constantinople, and the Black Sea in the east in direct competition with the wealthy and monopolistic Hanseatic League.
When King Valdemar Atterdag landed on the island with Danish knights on horseback and experienced German mercenaries on foot, his chief adversary was the Gotland Republic's well-armed rural militia. While many merchant-farmers had the means to raise armed men, the militia was untrained. Defeated twice, the Gotlanders withdrew to Visby, expecting the city's burgher militia and mercenaries to join them against the invaders. Would the Visby burghers join the Gotlanders in the battle against the Danes?
Fall of the Merchant-Farmer Republic details King Valdemar campaign which culminated in the Battle of Visby, and will appeal to those interested in medieval military history as well anybody who visits Gotland.
Gotland, the largest island in the Baltic Sea, was an autonomous Swedish territory. Gotland suffered from tensions over trading rights between the traditional rural merchant-farmers, the Gotlanders, and the burghers, many of whom were of German origin, of the heavily fortified Visby which formed part of the powerful Hanseatic League. The Gotland merchant-farmers traded throughout the Baltic region, from England and the North Sea in the west to Novgorod, the Crimea, Constantinople, and the Black Sea in the east in direct competition with the wealthy and monopolistic Hanseatic League.
When King Valdemar Atterdag landed on the island with Danish knights on horseback and experienced German mercenaries on foot, his chief adversary was the Gotland Republic's well-armed rural militia. While many merchant-farmers had the means to raise armed men, the militia was untrained. Defeated twice, the Gotlanders withdrew to Visby, expecting the city's burgher militia and mercenaries to join them against the invaders. Would the Visby burghers join the Gotlanders in the battle against the Danes?
Fall of the Merchant-Farmer Republic details King Valdemar campaign which culminated in the Battle of Visby, and will appeal to those interested in medieval military history as well anybody who visits Gotland.
About the Author: Professor Michael Fredholm von Essen is an historian and former military analyst who has published extensively on the history, defence strategies, security policies, and energy sector developments of Eurasia. He currently is the Head of Research and Development at IRI, an independent research institute. Educated at Uppsala, Stockholm, and Lund Universities, Michael Fredholm von Essen has lectured, including during conferences and as visiting professor, at numerous institutions and universities around the world. He is the author of a large number of books, articles, and academic papers, including Muscovy's Soldiers: The Emergence of the Russian Army, 1462-1689 (Helion, 2018); Charles XI's War: The Scanian War between Sweden and Denmark, 1675-1679 (Helion, 2018); Transnational Organized Crime and Jihadist Terrorism: Russian-Speaking Networks in Western Europe (Routledge, 2017); Understanding Lone Actor Terrorism: Past Experience, Future Outlook, and Response Strategies (Routledge, 2016); Afghanistan Beyond the Fog of War: Persistent Failure of a Rentier State (NIAS, 2018); Eight Banners and Green Flag: The Army of the Manchu Empire and Qing China, 1600-1850 (Pike and Shot Society, 2009); and a large number of articles on early modern warfare in the Arquebusier, the journal of the Pike and Shot Society.
| Number of pages | 176 |
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