Gustav Vasa's forces secured Västerås during the Swedish War of Liberation, expelling Danish troops and advancing Swedish independence from the Kalmar Union.
Key Facts
- Date
- April 29, 1521
- Location
- Badelundaåsen, northeast of Västerås
- Swedish commander
- Gustav Vasa
- Danish commander
- Didrik Slagheck
- Danish withdrawal from city
- May 20, 1521
- Västerås Castle surrendered
- January 30, 1522
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
After rallying support in Gästrikland and Dalarna and learning of the Swedish victory at the Battle of Brunnbäck Ferry, Gustav Vasa marched his forces toward Västerås. Unbeknownst to him, a peasant army attacking nearby Köping had just been defeated by Danish forces under Didrik Slagheck, who had repositioned to defend Västerås.
On April 29, 1521, Gustav Vasa's Swedish troops arrived at Västerås and began preparing a siege on Badelundaåsen. Slagheck's Danish garrison sallied out to attack the Swedes but was repulsed and forced to retreat back into the city, leaving the Swedish forces in a besieging position around Västerås.
The Danish garrison held the city for roughly three weeks, making several failed sorties, before evacuating on May 20, 1521, withdrawing the bulk of their troops by ship. A small Danish force remained in Västerås Castle and held out until January 30, 1522, when a relief attempt from Stockholm by sea failed and the castle fell.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Gustav Vasa.
Side B
1 belligerent
Didrik Slagheck.