Nils Stensson Sture

Who is Nils Stensson Sture?

Nils Stensson Sture may have been Daljunkern, a revolt-leader in Sweden.

Nils was born in 1512 as eldest son of the new ruler of Sweden, Sten Sture the Younger, Lord of Ekesiö, the country's Regent from January 1512 to his death on 3 February 1520; and his wife Dame Kristina Nilsdotter, a great-granddaughter of the late king Charles VIII of Sweden.

The boy received his name Nils in honor of both his late maternal grandfather Nils Gyllenstierna and his late paternal great-grandfather Nils Bosson Sture.

In early 1520, the Danish attacked Sweden, and Nils's father the regent Sten Sture died from battle wounds. The boy Nils was sent to safety in Danzig, under guardianship of Chancellor Peder Sunnanväder. Later they returned, but King Christian II arrested them and the boy was kept in custody in Denmark. In 1524 he was released by Frederick I, the new Danish king. Nils got to Kalmar Castle, which was held by sir Berend van Melen, a supporter of the Stures, who then rebelled against the Stures' kinsman Gustav, the new king of Sweden. Kalmar capitulated after king's troops isolated it, and young Nils was taken to Gustav's royal court.