Best Mikael Shainkman Podcasts (2025)

1
108 Scandinavian Slave Trade 32:41

Play Pause

12d ago32:41

32:41

In the 18th century, when the triangular trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas was booming, Denmark and Sweden established footholds in the West Indies. They tried to make money on trade, buying and selling sugar, tobacco, cotton–and people.By Mikael Shainkman

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107 Colonialism 32:19

26d ago32:19

32:19

In the 1600s, both Denmark and Sweden joined the race to establish colonies overseas. The Danes returned to Greenland, but also set up outposts in India. These colonial projects were quite successful. The Swedes, on the other hand, were less fortunate trying to gain a foothold in North America.By Mikael Shainkman

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106 Piety and Power 33:10

1M ago33:10

33:10

In the early 18th century, Denmark was ruled by absolute monarchs, whose personalities left their marks on the country. When Frederik IV was young, he didn’t say no to anything life had to offer. In old age, he turned to religion, and demanded that the rest of Denmark do the same.By Mikael Shainkman

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105 End of the Line 33:48

2M ago33:48

33:48

Karl XII had failed to get the Ottomans to ally with Sweden in the Great Northern War, but that didn’t mean he was willing to throw in the towel. As soon as he returned home, he decided to go back to fighting. This time, he had his sights on Sweden’s traditional enemy–Denmark.By Mikael Shainkman

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104 Long-Distance Rule 31:40

2M ago31:40

31:40

After the disaster at Poltava, the Swedish empire started to unravel. But instead of hurrying home to try and save what he could, Karl XII spent years in the Ottoman Empire. He wasn’t enjoying an extended vacation in southern climes, though. He was trying to convince the sultan to attack Russia, thereby easing the pressure on Sweden.…

1
103 The Final Boss 33:32

3M ago33:32

33:32

After defeating Denmark and Poland, Karl XII only needed to crush the Russians in order to declare victory in the Great Northern War. So as soon as he was done with his side quest in Saxony, he marched on Moscow to face the Final Boss, Peter the Great.By Mikael Shainkman

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102 The Great Northern War 31:39

3M ago31:39

31:39

In the year 1700, Sweden was ruled by an autocratic teenager with impulse control issues. That could have been bad enough, but then Denmark, Poland and Russia declared war and attacked simultaneously. Karl XII was going to have to shape up, and fast, if he wanted to remain king of anything at all in the years to come.…

1
101 Empire 29:55

4M ago29:55

29:55

After the Scania War, Karl XI realized that Sweden was too weak to defend its northern European empire. To change this, he pushed through three important reforms that radically changed the Swedish army, economy and system of government. But would it be enough? And would the reforms survive the death of the king?…

1
100 The Great Rumble 30:43

4M ago30:43

30:43

There had been a few witch trials here and there in Scandinavia since the Middle Ages, but it was only after the Reformation that they became a large-scale phenomenon. In the reign of Karl XI, Sweden became the scene for the greatest witch hunt in Scandinavian history.By Mikael Shainkman

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099 Swedification 32:33

5M ago32:33

32:33

In the second half of the 17th century, Swedish authorities initiated a campaign to turn the formerly Danish provinces of Blekinge, Halland and Scania Swedish. They used both carrots and sticks to change these new territories politically, economically and culturally. The process wasn’t always smooth.…

1
098 The Scania War 35:02

5M ago35:02

35:02

Christian V may not have been particularly interested in books, administration or the French language. He didn’t care much about governing Denmark, but he was passionate about restoring its old borders. For that reason, he declared war on Sweden in 1675–a few weeks after he promised his sister could marry the Swedish king.…

1
Special Episode: Christmas Weirdness 15:57

6M ago15:57

15:57

In a few days Christmas will be upon us. To mark the occasion, this episode of the Scandinavian History Podcast is dedicated to quirks of Nordic culture. It’s a totally subjective list of the five weirdest Scandinavian Christmas traditions–from the most normal to the weirdest.By Mikael Shainkman

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097 Absolut Denmark 30:39

6M ago30:39

30:39

The peace in Roskilde had been a triumph for Sweden. But Karl X Gustav wanted more, so he renewed hostilities hoping to capture Copenhagen and take over all of Denmark. The very reign of Frederik III hung in the balance.By Mikael Shainkman

1
096 Revenge 32:09

6M ago32:09

32:09

When Frederick III became king of Denmark, he was determined to get revenge. Revenge on the scheming nobility, including his own extended family, who had robbed him of almost all royal powers. But most of all, he wanted revenge on the Swedes for the defeat in the Torstenson War.By Mikael Shainkman

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095 The Apostate 33:32

7M ago33:32

33:32

Gustavus Adolphus’s daughter and successor Queen Christina had no time for fashion or suitors, but she loved culture and intellectual pursuits. She was mighty impressed by continental art, literature and philosophy. Maybe a little too impressed.By Mikael Shainkman

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094 Dowager Drama 35:25

7M ago35:25

35:25

When Gustavus Adolphus died, Axel Oxenstierna was left to handle several thorny issues. One of the thorniest was what to do with the king’s widow Maria Eleonora. Oxenstierna wanted her to disappear from political life and into the footnotes of history. The dowager queen herself had other plans.By Mikael Shainkman

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093 The Family Firm 34:06

8M ago34:06

34:06

Christian IV was a real family man. In fact, he had multiple families. He was married twice, and had a string of mistresses to boot. He had at least 12 children, and he used them to solidify his rule. It didn’t always work, though. To put it mildly.By Mikael Shainkman

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092 By the High Mast 31:39

8M ago31:39

31:39

In the late 1630s, tensions were once again rising between Denmark and Sweden. The Danish king was spoiling for a war, and in 1643 he got it. But not in the way he’d expected. Or wanted. Still, the conflict is remembered as Christian IV’s finest hour.By Mikael Shainkman

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091 Peace and Other Pipe Dreams 31:15

9M ago31:15

31:15

The Swedes spent the early 1640s trying to win the war, but even if they were successful on the battlefield, every campaign season seemed to end with them retreating north with an Imperial army in pursuit.By Mikael Shainkman

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090 The Show Must Go On 29:11

10M ago29:11

29:11

After the death of Gustavus Adolphus, his trusted advisor and chancellor Axel Oxenstierna was left to pick up the pieces. In the years that followed, he worked tirelessly to avoid a total collapse of the Swedish positions on the continent. It was not an easy job.By Mikael Shainkman

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089 Forecast: Fog 33:08

11M ago33:08

33:08

1632 was a year of victories and triumphs for the Swedes. They moved through the Holy Roman Empire capturing everything in their way. In the fall, they were back where they had started a year earlier, on a muddy field outside Leipzig, ready to fight a new Imperial army.By Mikael Shainkman

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088 Breitenfeld 29:44

11M ago29:44

29:44

In September 1631, the Swedish and the Imperial armies finally stood face to face. The battle took place just north of Leipzig, close to the village of Breitenfeld. It turned out to be the ultimate test for the new Swedish military tactics.By Mikael Shainkman

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087 Pray, Child, Pray! 31:13

12M ago31:13

31:13

Most German Protestants weren’t particularly happy about the Swedish intervention in the Thirty Years’ War. But Gustavus Adolphus didn’t care. He had come to save them–whether they wanted to or not.By Mikael Shainkman

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086 The Lion from the North 28:37

12M ago28:37

28:37

After the wars in Russia and Poland finally started to wind down, the thrill-junkie on the Swedish throne decided he also wanted to try his luck playing the role of Savior of German Protestants.By Mikael Shainkman

1
085 The Emperor's War 47:12

1y ago47:12

47:12

Encouraged by his success in the war against Sweden, Christian IV decided to get involved in the developing conflict in the Holy Roman Empire. He was convinced that a military genius like him would be able to save his Protestant coreligionists from the Catholic threat.By Mikael Shainkman

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084 The Kalmar War 33:49

1y ago33:49

33:49

Christian IV of Denmark wanted to prove that he was a proper king. So he started a war against Sweden to win glory and, hopefully, reestablish the Kalmar Union.By Mikael Shainkman

1
083 Worst Uncle Ever 32:13

1y ago32:13

32:13

When John III died, his son Sigismund took over as king of Sweden. Sigismund was already king of Poland, so he already had some relevant experience. Still, there were two problems: Sigismund was a Catholic, and his uncle Karl really wanted the crown.By Mikael Shainkman

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082 Catholic Comeback 31:21

1y ago31:21

31:21

As soon as the war with Denmark was over, Sweden got itself involved in a new conflict with Russia. The war started because king John refused to give up his wife or Estonia to the Russians. He also refused to accept the Reformation.By Mikael Shainkman

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081 Coup d'État 30:29

1y ago30:29

30:29

In 1568, Erik XIV of Sweden had never felt better. He had recovered from his temporary madness, he had chased off an invading Danish army and he had married the woman he loved. The future looked bright. At least if you weren’t looking too closely.By Mikael Shainkman

1
080 Murder Madness 32:47

1y ago32:47

32:47

In the spring of 1567, Erik XIV had a bit of a breakdown. The war was going poorly, and his spies and his trusted advisor Jöran Persson were feeding him information about a conspiracy among the nobility. The king decided that something needed to be done.By Mikael Shainkman

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079 Seven Years of War 36:13

1+ y ago36:13

36:13

The Nordic Seven Years’ War lasted (spoiler!) seven years. The war ended when the combatants ran out of steam and money. There was no clear winner. There were, however, plenty of clear losers.By Mikael Shainkman

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078 Kings, Cousins, Rivals 30:45

1+ y ago30:45

30:45

In the early 1560s, two inexperienced but ambitious monarchs had succeeded their fathers on the Danish and Swedish thrones. They happened to be cousins, but that didn’t stop them from spoiling for a fight over Scandinavian supremacy.By Mikael Shainkman

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077 New Kids on the Block 34:03

1+ y ago34:03

34:03

Gustav Vasa fought to establish his family as the ruling dynasty of Sweden, and to make the House of Vasa respected as equals among other European royal houses. That was often an uphill battle, and sometimes Gustav’s efforts were even undermined by members of his own family.By Mikael Shainkman

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Special Episode: Margrexit 21:31

1+ y ago21:31

21:31

We interrupt our regular programming for a special episode about the surprise abdication of Queen Margaret II of Denmark.By Mikael Shainkman

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076 The Greatest Rebellion 33:25

1+ y ago33:25

33:25

Gustav Vasa was the Swedish king who had to deal with the largest number of peasant rebellions. In the 1540s, he was also faced with the largest peasant rebellion of all time–at least in Scandinavia. He handled it like he always did, with skillful diplomacy, shrewd politics and overwhelming, brute force.…

1
075 Thunder and Bells 32:54

1+ y ago32:54

32:54

Even though the Lutheran Reformation was relatively moderate in Sweden to begin with, Gustav Vasa’s religious and financial reforms still provoked a number of rebellions with fanciful names throughout the country.By Mikael Shainkman

1
074 Sweden under New Management 32:36

1+ y ago32:36

32:36

Unlike his Danish counterpart, Gustav Vasa wasn’t particularly interested in the Lutheran Reformation. At least not to begin with. But when he realized he could solve his money problems by confiscating Church property, Lutheranism started to sound much more interesting to the heavily indebted king of Sweden.…

1
073 Reformation 37:36

1+ y ago37:36

37:36

When Christian III became king of Denmark, he implemented the Lutheran Reformation in his new kingdom. He fired all the Catholic bishops, replaced them with Lutherans and confiscated Church property, making the Crown immensely rich and powerful. The process was surprisingly undramatic. In Denmark. In Norway and Iceland, there was plenty of drama.…

1
072 The Count’s Feud 34:57

1+ y ago34:57

34:57

In the 1530s, Denmark was plagued by a civil war brought on by a combination of rivaling claimants for the crown, and a growing rift between Catholics and Protestants. Ex-king Christian was still causing trouble, and Frederick I wasn’t secure on his throne. When he died, the fighting only intensified.…

1
071 Breaking Up 33:47

2y ago33:47

33:47

The coronation in Stockholm had only just ended when another rebellion broke out, threatening Christian II’s Swedish crown. The business with the bloodbath had turned many in the Swedish nobility against the king, but regular people joined the uprising because he also raised taxes and forbade them from carrying weapons.…

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070 Bloodbath 29:19

2y ago29:19

29:19

In November 1520, Christian II was crowned king of Sweden. He celebrated this momentous event with a string of feasts and festivities that went on for days. But when it turned out that archbishop Gustav Trolle wasn’t willing to turn the other cheek, things got a bit out of hand.By Mikael Shainkman

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069 The Final Showdown 37:33

2y ago37:33

37:33

Christian II wasn’t going to stop until he had conquered Sweden and re-established the Kalmar Union. Two years in a row, he equipped a fleet and paid for an expensive army of foreign mercenaries, and both times the Swedes fought them off. Even though the nobles grumbled at home and he was seriously strapped for cash, Christian made a third attempt.…

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A Special Crossover Jubilee Episode 41:28

2y ago41:28

41:28

It's been 500 years since the Kalmar Union collapsed and Sweden became an independent kingdom again. The Scandinavian History Podcast marks the occasion with this Special Crossover Jubilee Episode together with A Flatpack History of Sweden.By Mikael Shainkman

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068 The Sixth King 33:37

2y ago33:37

33:37

Christian may have become king after his father John, but when he refused to give up his mistress, both the Danish nobles and his wife’s family started to send him barely veiled threats. Threats Christian chose to ignore.By Mikael Shainkman

1
067 Drifting Apart 30:18

2y ago30:18

30:18

When the Swedish steward Sten Sture died, this could have caused chaos in Sweden, creating an opening for king John to recapture the kingdom he’d recently lost. But the dead Steward’s inner circle kept his death secret until a successor could be elected. Eventually, John lost his patience and sent his son Christian to deal with the Swedes like he h…

1
066 Hopes and Schemes 31:06

2y ago31:06

31:06

King John inherited his father’s three crowns, as well as the headache brought on by the Swedish one. But thanks to a bit of scheming with the Russians, he managed to get the Swedes to yield. At least for about five minutes.By Mikael Shainkman

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065 A Kingdom without a King 32:42

2y ago32:42

32:42

The Swedes kept teasing King Christian, saying that they kind of sort of wanted him back–if he’d only hand over his power to the Swedish Council of the Realm. Christian refused, thinking he’d be able to force the Swedes to accept him as king. After all, no country can cope without a king. Right?By Mikael Shainkman

1
064 Fickle Fate 31:26

2y ago31:26

31:26

Christian of Oldenburg eventually won the power struggle against Karl Knutsson Bonde, and Karl had to give up his crown and go into exile. But even though Christian was now the undisputed king of the Kalmar Union, the wheel of fortune kept spinning. And Christian was in for a bumpy ride.By Mikael Shainkman

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063 One King Too Many 35:16

2y ago35:16

35:16

When Christopher of Bavaria died young and childless, it only took a few weeks for the “eternal peace” between the Scandinavian kingdoms to crumble as two pretenders, one Danish and one Swedish, both were declared king–of Norway.By Mikael Shainkman

1
062 Exit Erik 30:54

2y ago30:54

30:54

King Erik of Pomerania survived all the peasant rebellions in the 1430s only to get into real trouble in the 1440s. But it wasn’t some external threat or domestic unrest that threatened his continued rule, but–as usual–his own hamfisted actions.By Mikael Shainkman