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Kingdom: Swedish Rulers

A Flatpack History of Sweden

From the hosts of A Flatpack History of Sweden, we are reviewing and judging all the kings, queens and regents of Sweden, from Olof Skötkonung to Carl XVI Gustaf. Each episode includes a biography and a number of categories, where we try and find the most interesting characters in Swedish history.

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#40
August 30 · 1 hr 23 min
40. Sten Sture the Elder
We finally have a clean slate and can move the story forward with someone we haven't covered before! We also get to cover our second "the Elder" which is fun. The name Sten Sture is quite famous in Swedish history, but what does this chap get up to as Sweden tries to move on from the backstabbing era of Karl Knutsson Bonde! There will of course be more war with Denmark though, don't worry... Here is the Kingdome explosion! https://youtu.be/Yt2ekbkDVv4?is=LxyII_t3TYIjMrND You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#39
August 16 · 1 hr 3 min
39. Karl Knutsson Bonde Part Three
He's back for one more try (and another)! After spending some time in exile down in Poland, Karl Knutsson Bonde is now back and this time he has a plan. Sort of... How does one even go about trying to pick up the pieces when Sweden has been torn apart more times than we can remember over just this one man's lifetime? Join us to find out and see what score KKB gets, both for this period and what his grand total will be after we combine both of his rankings into one! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#38
August 2 · 46 min
38. Erik Axelsson Tott
We hope you are hungry for some more Swedish history content, as today we cover our sixth regent; EAT! Erik Axelsson Tott won't starve you of excitement, coming from a powerful border nobility family with all the credentials needed for a 15th century nobleman. But having a powerful family doesn't mean you can deal with an exiled Swedish king, a kicked out Danish ruler and a whole bunch of other angry Swedish opponents. Let's see if EAT has bitten off more than he can chew... You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#37
July 19 · 1 hr 30 min
37. Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna
Last time we had our first bishop on the podcast and today we upgrade and see our first archbishop! Why does Åsa not want to seem soft on torture, why is JBO Chris' favourite character we have covered so far and how will our man navigate the choppy waters of the 1400s during not one but two spells as regent? Let's look into our 5th person to serve as Riksföreståndare in the past thirty years! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#36
July 5 · 44 min
36. Kettil Karlsson Vasa
It is time for our third episode covering a regent. But how will Kettil Karlsson Vasa manage as Riksföreståndare after he leads a revolt to avenge his cousin the archbishop and remove the deeply unpopular Kristian I from Sweden? Perhaps his great education in Germany and connections to the powerful Oxenstierna family will help lead him towards claiming The Three Crowns? You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#35
June 21 · 1 hr 13 min
35. Kristian I
We have a German king of Denmark on the throne of Sweden this time. There's tumult within the Kalmar Union and a lot of Swedes aren't keen for this chap to come in and start ruling them. However, as long as Kristian sticks to two very simple rules, we're sure he'll be fine... You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#34
June 7 · 1 hr 9 min
34b. Karl Knutsson Bonde Part Two
It is time for the second part of KKB's life. Karl Knutsson Bonde will be the first, but not last person to be both riksföreståndare and king, but how will his terms as regent and monarch be judged in the cold light of history? Listen to find out! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#34
May 24 · 53 min
34a. Karl Knutsson Bonde Part One
We've reached one of our favourite, or at least most interesting rulers. Karl Knutsson Bonde, or KKB, will go on to bend Swedish political life to his will, but how does he go about doing it? In this first part, we look at his early travels around Europe, how he received political offices very young and discuss the first few of his many rivalries with other nobles. He also manages to squeeze in a period as regent before we crown him at the end of the part one... A busy chap! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#33
May 17 · 49 min
33b. Castles in Medieval Sweden
This time we're not judging or ranking anyone, but looking into the way castles dominated the landscape of Sweden, both physically and politically. We have seen in the last few episodes how commanders of castles played key roles and even rose to the heights of being a regent of all Sweden, but what did they do when they were back at home in the castle? Who lived there, what jobs were done and what did the 9-to-5 in Swedish castle look like? This is an edited and republished version of Episode 84 of A Flatpack History of Sweden! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you liked this bonus episode from the Flatpack archives, you can check out A Flatpack History of Sweden wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#33
May 10 · 1 hr 4 min
33. Bengt Jönsson Oxenstierna and Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna
We have our first regents and our first episode on two people; the Oxenstierna brothers! In this very long titled episode, we cover the life of and political rise of Bengt Jönsson Oxenstierna and Nils Jönsson Oxenstierna. We look into how they rose through the ranks before judging their brief time at the helm as they rule Sweden as Riksföreståndare! One of them likes castles and one of them likes politics, but how will this help them stand up against other big hitters such as Karl Knutsson Bonde? Check out the fancy mural of Bengt here! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#32
April 26 · 1 hr
32. Kristofer of Bavaria
King Chris is brought in from abroad after Erik of Pomerania was unceremoniously removed from his throne. But will Chris really lead the Kalmar Union into its most calm and stable period, or is he going to have a fight on his hands to pick up all the pieces? You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#31
April 12 · 1 hr 29 min
31. Erik of Pomerania (XIII)
Erik was the result of a wide search to find an heir for Margareta, following the death of her son Olof. He's been taking on ruler-responsibilities whilst his foster mother was still alive, but now he's on the throne for real. Will he be able to follow in Margareta's footsteps and keep the kingdoms of the Kalmar Union together, or will the independent minded Swedes eventually tire of his constant warfare along Denmark's southern border? Get settled for a jampacked, and quite long episode about a ruler whose life has peaks and troughs like few others. Please do check out So You Think You Can Rule Persia? wherever you find your podcasts or on their website! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdom, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#30
March 29 · 1 hr 20 min
30b. Margareta Part Two
This time we conclude the epic story about the life of Queen Margareta. How will she hold together everything she has built so far and how will her actions shape the surrounding region? Plus, how will people react when her adopted son Erik gradually wields more power as the ruler of all three Scandinavian kingdoms, in the brand new and unprecedented Kalmar Union? You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#30
March 15 · 58 min
30a. Margareta Part One
Finally, after 30 episodes, it's time for a woman ruler! And not just any woman. Margareta is born a Danish princess and her journey to the Swedish throne is quite a remarkable one. So remarkable in fact, we need two episodes to cover it. In this first one, we will see Margareta using her skills to manoeuvre both her son and herself to tremendous positions of power across all three Nordic kingdoms. You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#29
March 1 · 1 hr 8 min
29. Albert
Albert's dad, confusingly also called Albert, gives him the throne of a foreign country. But what will our Albert do once he has an entire realm to rule by himself? The most important question is though; why is nobody turning up to his meetings? You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#28
February 15 · 47 min
28. Håkan
The second son of Magnus IV was perhaps more successful than his brother Erik XII, but does that mean he scores more points? He had to deal with his brother's rebellion, his father's capture by Albert of Mecklenburg and a whole bunch of stuff to do with his rule over in Norway. Plus at the end he had a formidable woman by his side too. Lots to talk about this week! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#27
February 1 · 42 min
27. Erik XII
Erik XII doesn't spend too much time on the throne, as we saw last time in his father's episode, but he does manage to get up to a fair amount of stuff. Plus, rebelling against your father to get there in the first place is a pretty big deal. But how will we judge him when it comes to the categories? You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#26
January 18 · 1 hr 19 min
26b. Magnus IV Part Two
The Black Death has arrived in Sweden and promises to upend Magnus IV's reign. Add in money woes and problems in the family and you get a choatic mix that even the best rulers of medieval Europe would struggle to deal with. But how does Magnus go about dealing with all of this and will he come out of it with The Three Crowns on his head? You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#26
January 4 · 54 min
26a. Magnus IV Part One
We're back with the next king and ready to kick start 2026 with the reign of another King Magnus! We cover his early life, the period his mother was in control whilst he was busy being a child, as well as the beginnings of his own rule. We'll see how he expands the kingdom, creates some new laws but also sees the beginnings of some discontent brewing. If you want some homework before Part Two, you can listen to Episode 56 of A Flatpack History of Sweden to see how the Black Death arrives in Scandinavia and will set the stage for the second half of Magnus' reign in disastrous fashion! You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
#25
Dec 21, 2025 · 40 min
25b. Sweden in the 1300s
We've covered around 300 years of Swedish history on our first year of Kingdom and a lot has changed in the country since the time of Olof Skötkonung. So what does Sweden look like now we enter the new century of the 1300s? What are the major towns and cities and what sort of things have stood out on the way so far? We look back into the Flatpack archives for an episode that fits in perfectly here! Thanks for all your support over this first year of Kingdom - we're really looking forward to continuing the story in 2026. You can find out more information about the podcast on our website, and follow us on social media here: Facebook Bluesky Twitter P.S. If you like Kingdöm, how about you check out A Flatpack History of Sweden? It’s available wherever you find your podcasts! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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