When I visit a museum, I spend more time looking at the building than the exhibitions. When you enter the Nordic Museum in Stockholm, you’ll see this statue of the king Gustav Vasa sitting in an impressive hall. The text on the pedestal reads in translation “Be Swedes“. To understand why this statement we need a short history lesson.

Gustav Vasa or Gustav I was king between 1523-1560. He became king after leading a rebellion against the Danish king Kristian II who was king over the Kalmar Union. The union was made up of Sweden, Norway and Denmark. While king Kristian II in Denmark is referred to as the hero king he is in Sweden called Kristian the tyrant. To strengthen the grip over the Swedes Kristian lured the leading members of the Swedish administration to a meeting in the central square of Stockholm and slayed over 100 opponents.

Gustav Vasa managed to flee and made his way to Mora to seek the support from the rich mine and forest nobility in the area. This is the historical background to one of the most famous long ski races, Vasa race (Vasaloppet). He got the support he needed and could be named king of Sweden 1523 and with that ended the Kalmar union that had lasted for almost 150 years.

Know the past to understand the present, ha de Gött!