HISTORY AND ETHNOLOGY. 83 



Mecklenburg, Lubeck, and Hamburg. The house of Estritson reigned 

 until 1448, when it was succeeded by that of Oldenburg. 



In Sweden the house of Stenkil passed away, 1130, for that of Swerk, a 

 Goth, and this again yielded (1222) to that of Bonde. In 1250 the line of 

 the Folkungs began ; it ended in 1389. 



The old Ynglingian dynasty prevailed in Norway from 875 until 1319. 

 Margaret, daughter of Waldemar III., and wife of Hakon YIIL, king of 

 o^orway and Sweden, and guardian of her son Olaf, in Denmark, achieved a 

 union of Sweden, l^orway, and Denmark (the Calmar Union, 1397). 

 While the kingdoms were brought within one confederation, each j^reserved 

 its own laws and constitution. Erick of Pomerania, a grandson of her 

 sister, was destined to govern the united countries after her ; but Sweden 

 and Korway looked with jealousy and Qnvy upon Denmark, as the favorite 

 state ; besides, his tyranny at length drove the Swedes to rebellion. Even 

 the Danes could not brook the intolerant rule of the government at 

 Copenhagen. In 1436 -Charles Canuteson Bonde was appointed governor of 

 the empire ; Erick fled to Gothland, and the Danes, 1439, elected his 

 nephew Christopher, prince of Bavaria, whom the Swedes and l^orwegians 

 also recognised. He enjoyed a more tranquil and fortunate reign. At his 

 death, 1448, the Danes conferred the royal dignity on Christian L, count of 

 Oldenburg and Delmenhorst, and in 1450 the ^Norwegians, too, elected him. 

 He was the son of Dietrich of Oldenburg, who had married Iledwig, sister 

 of Count Adolphus YIIL, of Holstein, 1449. Christian received Schleswick 

 and Holstein by a solemn guarantee of their liberties ; but his brother 

 Gerard succeeded to the patrimonial inheritance. 



In Sweden the diet had elected Charles Canuteson Bonde king, but 

 owing to a quarrel with the clergy, he was banished from the kingdom. 

 After Christian I. had ascended the throne Charles was recalled. On 

 his death, his sister's son, Sten Sture, was chosen governor, and maintained 

 himself against the machinations of Christian. John, tlie son of Christian, 

 was elected after the death of Sten Sture, but by the abuse of his power he 

 drove the Swedes to revolt, and the Stures again won the supremacy. In 

 Sweden and Norway John was succeeded by his son, Christian II., 1513. 



hi the meantime the German order of Lords had converted Prussia to 

 Christianity, while the order of the Brethren of the Sword had accomplished 

 the same in Livonia and Courland. They also created these powers inde- 

 pendent states. By the peace of Thorn, 1466, Poland obtained the whole 

 of West Prussia, and the grand master of the Brethren of the Sword governed 

 East Prussia as a Polish vassal. Poland and Silesia suffered severely from 

 the Mono-olian incursions, but won a decided victor v at Liesrnitz, 1241. 

 In the thirteenth century the various Polish dependencies were united 

 under the names of Great and Little Poland, and in 1305 the two divisions 

 were combined, under King Vladislaus Loktieck. Among all his suc- 

 cessors none were more distinguished than Casimir the Great, of the 

 house of Piast (1333-70). His successor Louis, who was also king of 

 Hungary, having confirmed the Poles in their freedom and nation- 

 ality, they chose his daughter Hedwig queen, 1384. She soon 



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