It is time for another special episode! This time, as we see Swedes win medals in Beijing in 2022, we thought we would look at some of their predecessors and the Swedish athletes who competed in the first modern Olympic Games. Meet Sweden's first Olympians, first medallists and a great old man who would become an Olympic legend!

Listen to find out about all this and more, including the mystery of a disappearing Japanese marathon runner... 

Just like at the end of the Viking Age and at the start of the High Middle Ages, we've now covered enough of the Medieval period to warrant an "everything else we haven't mentioned yet" style episode! Lots of things come up in the research that don't fit neatly into the chronological narrative, but they are still worth knowing, so we decided to talk about them in a dedicated episode.

Listen and enjoy some trivia, facts and stories about life in Medieval Sweden, as we discuss everything from medicine and skeletons to Hnefatafl and Tug of War!

Includes minor spoilers about our next special episode and keep listening for some rubbish whistling after the outro music...

Our milestone 50th episode is a case study on the Great Copper Mountain Mine (GCMM)! Since the Viking Age, we have seen great examples of entrepreneurship and business in Sweden, but nothing as long lasting as the Great Copper Mountain Mine, or Stora Kopparbergs Gruva. First mentioned in text way back in 1288 when the bishop of Västerås bought a share in the mine, but in reality a lot older, the GCMM is Sweden's oldest still operating company and is sometimes even called the world's oldest limited company. We look into the background of the mountain, what open cast mining entails and discuss Chris' visit to one of Australia's biggest bauxite mines... 

Welcome to the third and final instalment of the Shakespearean tale of an epic Swedish royal brotherly feud! Last time we saw Sweden being split in three with Birger, Erik and Valdemar getting one part each to rule over. At first it looks like this might work out, but it's not long before the three brothers are at each other's throats again. And this time, it's a fight to the death!

The final showdown has gone down in Swedish history as the Nyköpingsgästabud - The Nyköping Banquet! 

This episode will start and end with two of Sweden's most famous historical events from the Medieval period. That means that the 11 years between the two dramatic incidents are sometimes skimmed over in histories of the era. However, so much happens and the royal family drama somehow manages to go up a level!

Bonus mini story at the end as we recount the tale of Botulf, the only Swede to ever be convicted of heresy!

Our history of Sweden podcast has reached a point often compared to a level of drama usually seen in a Shakespeare play! King Birger is finally old enough to take the reigns from the regency council but it doesn't take long for his two brothers Erik and Valdemar to try and grab that power for themselves. Thanks to their web of marriage alliances, the brothers' feud lights the touch paper and all of Scandinavia is at war! The episode ends with a ploy worthy of Birger Jarl himself.

King Magnus III is dead and his young son Birger is too young to steer the Kingdom through choppy waters. Instead it is up to Marsk Torgil Knutsson to lead Sweden for the time being as head of the Regency Council. The 1200s end with Swedish attention turning to the east and a series of campaigns against old enemy Novgorod are launched. Back home, King Birger gets married to a Danish princess, setting up a marriage alliance that will affect the political layout of Scandinavia for many years to come.   

King Magnus gets a chance to spend at least some of his time formalising royal control in Sweden during the 1280s. His brother gets a Dukedom, influential figures get the titles of Drots, Marsk and Kansler, and the important building project of Uppsala Cathedral comes under new management. The King mediates in two high profile conflicts and we also explain his unusual Swedish name, Ladulås. Oh, and he imprisons his brother, former King Valdemar!

After nearly 10 years feuding with his brother King Valdemar over who should rule Sweden, Magnus Birgersson finally gets his way and takes the throne after the Battle of Hova in 1275. The next five years are action-packed for Magnus and the Kingdom, as ex-King Valdemar sticks around stirring up trouble for his brother. Magnus quickly realises that Danish mercenaries are expensive as he starts his reign off deep in debt and it only gets worse. He even manages to find the time to get married, fight off a rebellion and lay the foundations for the Swedish nobility with the Alsnö Stadga. Busy times!

King Valdemar is finally free of the shackles that his father, Birger Jarl, placed on his rule and he is ready to do some actual kinging! He will reign, he will rule, he will change things, and he will build things. Or no, he actually will not do much at all. Because Valdemar has brothers, and one brother in particular, Magnus, will cause endless trouble for him and hamper his reign. 

Still, he does find time to get nice and cosy with a runaway Danish nun...!