This is a list of wars and war-like conflicts involving Sweden.
*e.g. result unknown or indecisive/inconclusive, result of internal conflict inside Sweden, status quo ante bellum, or a treaty or peace without a clear result.
Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Swedish–Gothic wars (500–800)Location: Sweden | Svealand | Consolidation of Swedes and Goths into a unified kingdom. | ||
Swedish slave revolts (500s)Location: Sweden | Svealand | Thralls | Slaves depose the king of Sweden and win their freedom. | |
Ingvars raid of Estonia (600s)Location: Estonia | Svealand | Estonian Victory[1] | ||
Anunds raid of Estonia (600s)Location: Estonia | Svealand | Swedish Victory | ||
Battle of Brávellir (750s)Location: Brávellir | Danes (tribe) Wends Geats | Swedish Victory Eastern Geatland falls under Swedish dominion | ||
Paphlagonian expedition of the Rus' | Rus'/Swedish Vikings | Byzantine Empire | Successful raid | |
Swedish expedition to Courland (854) | Sweden | Curonians | Swedish victory | |
Swedish raids in the Mediterranean Sea (859) Location: Mediterranean Sea, Spain, Italy Luni, Italy | Swedes (Germanic tribe) | Islamic Spain Carolingian Empire | Swedish victory[2] [3] | |
Swedish expedition to Courland (862) | Sweden | Curonians | Swedish victory | |
Swedish wars of conquest in Eastern Europe (850s-870) Location: Eastern Europe | Swedes (Germanic tribe) | Slavs Curonians Semigallians Finnic peoples. | Swedish victory establishment of control over the Route from the Varangians to the Greeks and Starya Ladoga route. | |
Great Heathen Army (865–878) | Vikings | Wessex Northumbria Mercia East Anglia | Swedes, Norwegians and Danes under Ragnar Lodbrok sons occupies England and establishes the Danelaw | |
Caspian expeditions of the Rus' (913–1041) | Khazars Abbasid Caliphate | Swedes establish trade routes | ||
Olof the Brashs conquest of Denmark (900s) Location: Denmark | Swedes (Germanic tribe) | Denmark | Swedish victory | |
Jomsviking–Swedish War (980s) Location: Uppsala | Sweden | Jomsviking | Swedish Victory[4] | |
Erik the Victorious invasion of Denmark (990s)Location: Hedeby Baltic Sea | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish Victory[5] [6] | |
Swedish invasion of the Holy Roman Empire (990s) | Sweden Denmark | Unclear results[7] | ||
Olof Skötkonungs attack on DenmarkLocation: In Denmark | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish victory
| |
Viking expedition to WendlandLocation: In Wendland | Sweden | Wends | Successful expedition | |
Battle of Svolder (999–1000)Location: In Øresund or near Rügen | Sweden Denmark Jarls of Lade | Norway | Swedish victory | |
Swedish Norwegian war (1015–1018)
| Sweden | Norway | Norwegian victory[8] | |
Battle of HelgeåLocation: In Helge å or in Uppland | Sweden Norway | North Sea Empire Kingdom of England | Anglo-Danish victory | |
Battle of StiklestadLocation: In Stiklestad | Sweden Olaf II of Norway | North Sea Empire | Anglo-Danish victory | |
Swedish support for Magnus invasion of Norway (1035)Location: In Øresund or near Rügen | Sweden Magnus the Good | North Sea Empire | Swedish victory Magnus the Good becomes king of Norway defeats the Danish forces | |
(1042) Ingvar the Far-Travelleds expedition
Location: Georgia (country) | VarangiansKingdom of Georgia | Duchy of Kldekari | Swedish defeat | |
Yaroslav the Wise and Mstislav of Chernigovs civil warBattle of Listven (1024)Location: Ukraine Russia | Kievan Rus'Varangians | Mstislav of Chernigov | Swedish defeat | |
Swedish–Norwegian War (1063)Location: Vänern | Sweden | Kingdom of Norway | Swedish defeat | |
Swedish–Norwegian War (1099–1101)Location: Unknown | Sweden | Norway | Inconclusive | |
First Swedish Crusade (1150)Location: Unknown | Eric IX of Sweden, Henry (bishop of Finland) | Finns | Eventual incorporation of Southwest Finland into the Swedish kingdom | |
Sweyn III's invasion of Småland (1153) | Sweden | Denmark | Invasion failed | |
Harald Skraengs uprising (1182) | Harald Skraeng Sweden | Denmark | Uprising quelled | |
Pillage of Sigtuna (1187)Location: Sigtuna | Sweden | Pagans from Eastern Baltic (probably Estonians or Karelians) | Sigtuna is sacked. Archbishop Johannes of Uppsala is killed. | |
Battle of Lihula (1220)Location: Lihula, Estonia | Sweden | Oeselians Rotalians | Death of Karl the Deaf | |
Värmland campaign (1225/1249)[9] Location: Värmland | Sweden | Peace of Lödöse | ||
Öselborn's attack on Sweden (1226)[10] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Öselborn's | The Öselborn's take plunder and hostages | |
Attack on Tavastia (1227–1228)[11] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Indecisive | ||
Battle of Olustra (1229)[12] Location: Södermanland or Östergötland | Eric XI | Victory for Knut Långe
| ||
Eric XI's reinstatement war (1234)[13] Location: Unknown | Eric XI
| Victory for Eric XI
| ||
Livonian Crusade (13th century)Location: Estonia, Latvia | Crusade | Pagans (Indigenous peoples) | Crusader victory. However, the Swedish expedition ended in disaster | |
Tavastian uprising (1236–1237)Location: Finland | Sweden | Tavastians Novgorod Karelians | Uprising crushed
| |
Battle of Neva (1240) | Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Tavastians | Novgorod Republic and Karelians | Novgorodian victory. | |
First Folkung Uprising (1247)[14] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Folkung | Victory of the Swedish king | |
Second Swedish Crusade (1249–1250)Location: Finland | Birger Jarl, Christians | Tavastians | Area of Tavastians and south-western Finland fall to Swedish rule, Häme Castle is founded |
Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | |
---|---|---|---|---|
(1251)[15] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Folkung | Swedish victory
| |
Campaign against Narva (1256–1257)[16] Location: Unknown | Sweden
| Novgorod | Neither side achieved much success | |
The war against Valdemar Birgersson (1275) | Valdemar's Forces | Duke Magnus's Forces | Valdemar, King of Sweden is deposed Magnus Ladulås is crowned king of Sweden. | |
6000 mark war (1276–1278) | Sweden | Denmark | Danish victory
| |
(1278–1280)[17] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Folkung | Victory of the Swedish king
| |
Ladoga Campaign (1283–1284)[18] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Indecisive | ||
War in Gotland (1288) Location: Gotland | Visby | Gotland | Victory for Visby | |
Swedish campaign against the Karelians and Izhorians (1292)Location: Unknown | Sweden | Karelians Izhorians | Swedish defeat[19] | |
Third Swedish Crusade (1293–1295)Location: Finland | Sweden | Karelians Novgorod republic | Swedish victory
| |
Neva Campaign (1300–1301)[20] Location: Neva river | Sweden | Landskrona captured by Novgorod | ||
Swedish Brother's Feud (1304–1310)Location: Sweden | Birger Magnusson | Duke Eric and Valdemar | Victory for Birger Magnusson, death of Valdemar and Duke Eric | |
War on Gotland (1313)[21] Location: Gotland | Sweden | Gotland | Gutes agree to pay an increased tax to the Swedish king. | |
Tavastian war (1311–1314)[22] Location: Tavastia | Sweden | Novgorod Republic | Indecisive | |
Uprisings in Hälsingland and Småland (1316–1317)[23] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Rebels in Hälsingland and Småland | Insurgents lose their property after a verdict by King Birger | |
Attack on Åbo (1318)[24] Location: Åbo | Sweden | Novgorod Republic | Novgorodians burn the outskirts of Åbo | |
War of Deposition against Birger Magnusson (1317–1319)[25] Location: Sweden | Birger Magnusson | Insurgents loyal to the Dukes Valdemar and Erik | Birger is deposed | |
Kexholm war (1321–1323)[26] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Novgorod | Treaty of Nöteborg | |
Swedish–Novgorodian Wars (1142–1323)Location: Finland | Sweden Norway (1319–1323) | Novgorod Republic | Treaty of Nöteborg (1323) | |
Campaign against Ingeborg (1323)[27] Location: Sweden | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Ingeborg of Norway | Peace of Skara
| |
Mats Kettilmundssons war against Reval (1325–1326)[28] Location: Unknown | Swedish-Norwegian Union (Mats Kettilmundsson) | Mats Kettilmundsson dies before any confrontations take place, peace signed in 31 May 1326 | ||
Sten bielkes war against Novgorod (1338–1339)[29] Location: Novgorod | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Peace signed in either August or September 1339.
| ||
Johan Offessons Uprising (1339)[30] Location: Sweden | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Johan Offesson | Lindholm Castle is destroyed, and Johan is forced to give Skytts and Oxie to the king | |
Kalundborg War (1341–1343)[31] Location: Sweden | Swedish-Norwegian UnionHolstein | DenmarkLübeck Rostock Hamburg Stralsund Wismar Greifswald | Swedish-Norwegian victory
| |
Saint George's Night Uprising (1343–1345)[32] Location: Unknown | Swedish-Norwegian Union Estonians | Denmark Teutonic Order | Indecisive
| |
Magnus's war against Russia (1348–1351)[33] Location: Unknown | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Novgorod | Truce of Dorprat
| |
Campaign between Magnus and his son (1356–1359)[34] Location: Unknown | Magnus IV | Eric | According to the arbitration in Jönköping, Sweden is divided between Magnus and Erik, this ends after Eric's death in 1359 | |
Valdemar Atterdags reconquest of Scania (1360)[35] Location: Scania | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Denmark | Denmark conquers all of Scania | |
Valdemar Atterdags conquest of Gotland (1361)[36] Location: Gotland | Swedish-Norwegian Union | Denmark | Denmark conquers Gotland | |
Danish-Hanseatic War (1361–1370)Location: Northern Germany, Scandinavia, and the Baltic Sea | First Phase (1361–1365)
Second Phase (1367–1370)
| First Phase (1361–1365) Kingdom of DenmarkSecond Phase (1367–1370)
Kingdom of Norway | First Phase: Danish VictorySecond Phase: Hanseatic victory Hanseatic League gains control over several forts in Scania | |
War of deposition against Magnus (1363–1371)[37] Location: Unknown | Magnus IVHaakon VI | Albert of Mecklenburg | Albert becomes king of Sweden | |
Swedish involvement in the Danish war of succession (1379–1381)[38] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Denmark | Truce signed in 1381 | |
Invasion of Scania (1384)[39] [40] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Denmark | Truce likely signed in 1384
| |
War of deposition against Albrekt of Mecklenburg[41] (1388–1395) | Sweden | Denmark | Margaret I becomes regent | |
Attack on Jama[42] (1395) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Novgorod Republic | Indecisive | |
Northern Ladoga Campaign[43] (1396) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Novgorod Republic | Indecisive |
Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Campaign against the Victual Brothers[44] (1395–1398) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Victual Brothers | The Victual Brothers surrender their fortresses in Sweden |
War in Gotland (1398) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Teutonic Order | Gotland is conquered by the Teutonic Order |
Campaign against Knut Bosson Grip[45] (1398) | Sweden Kalmar Union | Knut Bosson Grip | Grip surrenders his Finnish fortresses to the crown. |
Novgorod's attack in the north (1399)[46] Location: Unknown | Sweden Kalmar Union | Novgorodian Republic | Indecisive |
War in Gotland (1403–1404)Location: Unknown | Sweden Kalmar Union | Teutonic Order | Teutonic victory |
Engelbrekt rebellion (1434–1436) | Sweden | Kalmar Union | Swedish victory |
Pukefejden (1436–1437) | Charles VIII of Sweden | Erik Puke | Erik Puke is executed |
War against the Flemingar (1437)[47] | Sweden | Flemingar | Indecisive |
Rebellion in Östergötaland (1437)[48] Location: Östergötland | Sweden | Rebels in Östergötaland | Uprising crushed |
Värmland rebellion (1437–1438)[49] Location: Värmland | Sweden | Rebels in Värmland | Uprising crushed |
David's Rebellion (1438–1439) | Sweden | Tavastian insurgents | Uprising quelled |
Karl Knutssons campaign against Eric of Pomerania (1439–1440)[50] | Sweden | Eric of Pomerania | The remaining fortresses loyal to Eric fall |
Karl Knutssons campaign against Novgorod (1444)[51] | Sweden | Novgorodian Republic | Indecisive |
War in Gotland (1446)[52] | Sweden Kalmar Union | Eric of Pomerania | Indecisive |
Novgorods war against Karl Knutsson (1448)[53] | Sweden | Novgorodian Republic | Indecisive |
War on Gotland (1448–1449) | Sweden | Eric of Pomerania Denmark | Swedish failure |
War for Norway (1448–1451) | Sweden | Denmark | Danish victory |
Karl Knutssons war against Denmark (1449–1457)[54] | Sweden | Denmark | Christian I fails to retake the Swedish throne |
War of deposition against Karl Knutsson (1457)[55] | Sweden | Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna | Christian I becomes King of Sweden |
Battle of Haraker (1464) | Sweden | Denmark | Karl Knutsson regains the throne |
Second War of deposition against Karl Knutsson (1464–1465)[56] | Sweden | Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna | Jöns Bengtsson takes power |
War of depositon against Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna (1466–1467)[57] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna Denmark | Karl Knutsson retakes the throne |
Dano-Swedish War (1468–1469)[58] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Christian I fails to retake the throne |
Erik Karlsson Vasa's Uprising (1469–1470)[59] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Erik Karlsson Vasa | Uprising crushed |
Dano-Swedish War (1469–1470)[60] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Christian I fails to retake the throne |
Dano-Swedish War (1470–1471) (1470–1471)Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish Victory |
First campaign to Livonia (1473–1475)[61] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Teutonic Order | Indecisive |
Tott's first Russian war (1475―1476)[62] Location: Finland | Sweden | Truce in December 1475 or early 1476 | |
Second campaign to Livonia (1478)[63] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Teutonic Order | Indecisive
|
Tott's second Russian war (1479–1482)[64] Location: Finland | Sweden | Truce in Novgorod 17 January 1482
| |
Third campaign to Livonia (1485–1486/1488)[65] Location: Unknown | Sweden | Teutonic Order | Indecisive, peace signed in 1488. |
Sten Stures war against the Tott's (1487)[66] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Tott | Tott family's power is reduced Gotland falls into Danish control |
Russo-Swedish War (1495–1497) (1495–1497)[67] Location: Sweden | Sweden | Grand Duchy of Moscow | Swedish victory |
Battle of Rotebro (1497) | Sweden | Denmark | Danish victory
|
Border conflict at Nyslott (1499)Location: Nyslott | Sweden | Grand Duchy of Moscow | Swedish Victory
|
War of Deposition against King Hans (1501–1503)Location: Sweden | Sweden | Denmark | Swedish Victory
|
Dano-Swedish War (1501–1512) (1501–1512)Location: Sweden | Sweden Norwegian rebels (1501–1504) Free City of Lübeck (1509–12) |
| Treaty of Malmö:
|
Dano-Swedish War (1512–1520) (1512–1520)Location: Sweden | Sweden |
| Surrender of Stockholm:
|
Swedish War of Liberation (1521–23)Location: Scandinavia | Sweden Free City of Lübeck (from 1522) |
| Kingdom of Sweden proclaims independence |
Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|
Count's Feud (May 1534 – 29 July 1536)Location: Denmark | Christian III (Protestants) Schleswig Holstein Sweden Duchy of Prussia Jutland Funen Supported by: Norwegian nobles[68] Duchy of Guelders | Christian II (Catholics) County of Oldenburg Free City of Lübeck Zealand Supported by: Norwegian nobles[69] Habsburg Netherlands | Victory for Christian III and the Danish Protestants. |
Dacke War (1542–1543)Location: Sweden | Sweden | Rebels led by Nils Dacke | Peasant uprising defeated |
(1551–1553) | Sweden | Karelian insurgents | Uprising quelled |
Russo-Swedish War (1554–1557) (1554–1557)Location: Sweden | Sweden | Tsardom of Russia | Disputed |
Northern Seven Years' War (1563–1570)Location: Scandinavia | Sweden | Free City of Lübeck Polish–Lithuanian Union | Swedish victory against Poland-Lithuania Dano-Norwegian victory against Sweden |
Livonian War (1558–1583)Location: Sweden | Livonian Confederation (before 1569 the Polish–Lithuanian union) Denmark–Norway Kingdom of Sweden Zaporozhian Cossacks Principality of Transylvania (after 1577) | Tsardom of Russia Qasim Khanate Kingdom of Livonia | Treaty of Teusina
|
Claus Kurssell's coup (1570–1571)Location: Reval (Tallinn) | Sweden Supported by---- Reval | Mercenaries | Revolutionaty failure |
Russo-Swedish War (1590–1595) (1590–1595)Location: Sweden | Sweden | Tsardom of Russia | Swedish victory |
Cudgel War (1596–1597)Location: Finland | Sweden | Finnish rebels | Nobility victory
|
War against Sigismund (1598–1599)Location: Sweden | Polish–Swedish union | Swedish separatists | Separatist victory, Polish-Swedish Union dissolved |
Polish–Swedish War (1600–1629) (1600–1629)Location: Baltic Sea, Prussia, Latvia, Poland | Sweden | Poland (Poland-Lithuania) (1626–1629) | Truce of Altmark, Livonia ceded to Sweden |
De la Gardie campaign (1609–1610)Location: Russia | Sweden Tsardom of Russia | Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth False Dmitry II | Polish-Lithuanian Victory |
Ingrian War (1610–1617)Location: Russia | Sweden Swedish Empire | Tsardom of Russia | Treaty of Stolbovo, Ingria ceded to Sweden |
Kalmar War (1611–1613)Location: Scandinavia | Sweden Swedish Empire | Treaty of Knäred, Dano-Norwegian victory | |
Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Russo-Swedish War (1741–1743) (Part of the War of the Austrian Succession)Location: Finland, Russia | Sweden | Russian victory | 7000 | ||
Dalecarlian rebellion (1743) (1743)Location: Sweden | Sweden | Dalecarlian rebels | Rebellion crushed | +150 | |
Expedition to the Mediterranean (1759–1760)[73] Location: Mediterranean Sea | Sweden | Pirates | Successful expedition | None | |
Pomeranian War (13 September 1757 – 22 May 1762)Location: Swedish Pomerania, Prussian Pomerania, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Schwerin | Sweden | Prussia | Prussian victory Status quo ante bellum | A couple thousands | |
Tunis-Swedish War (1763)[74] Location: Mediterranean | Sweden | Tunis Ottoman Empire (De-jure) | Inconclusive | Unknown |
Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | Casualties |
---|---|---|---|---|
Battle of Ibiza (28–29 February 1780)Location: coast of Ibiza | United Kingdom | Swedish victory | 3 | |
Theatre War 1788–1789Location: Sweden | Sweden Supported by:
| Status quo ante bellum
| 5 | |
Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790)Location: Finland, Baltic Sea, Sweden | Sweden | (1788–1789)[75] | Favourable outcome for Sweden; Status quo ante bellum | 3000 |
Swedish–Algerian war of 1791–1792 (1791–1792)Location: Mediterranean | Sweden | Regency of Algiers Ottoman Empire (De-jure) | Sweden agrees to pay tribute | Unknown |
First Barbary War (10 May 1801 – 10 June 1805)Location: Off the Mediterranean coast of Tripoli; Derna | United States Sweden (1801–02) Sicily[76] [77] | Tripolitania Morocco (1802)[78] [79] Ottoman Empire (De-jure) | Peace Treaty | Unknown |
Franco-Swedish War (31 October 1805 – 6 January 1810)Location: Swedish Pomerania | Co-belligerents:
| Co-belligerents:
| French victory | +6000 |
Finnish War (21 February 1808 – 17 September 1809)Location: Scandinavia | Supported by: | Supported by: | Russian victory | 7000 |
Dano-Swedish War of 1808–1809 (1808–1809)Location: Scandinavia | Supported by: | Status quo ante bellum | ~200 | |
Conflict | Sweden & its Allies | Sweden's opposition | Outcome | Casualties | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saint-Barthélemy Mutiny (1810)Location: Saint Barthélemy | Sweden | Mutineers | Mutinist victory | Unknown | |
Anglo-Swedish War (1810–1812)Location: N/A | Sweden | Status quo ante bellum | None | ||
Dano-Swedish War (1813–1814)Location: Duchy of Schleswig, Duchy of Holstein | Sweden | Coalition victory
| Unknown | ||
War of the Sixth Coalition (3 March 1813 – 30 May 1814)Location: Central and Eastern Europe, France, Italy | Original coalition
After the Armistice of Pläswitz After the Battle of Leipzig After January 1814 Denmark |
Until January 1814
| Coalition victory | Unknown | |
Swedish–Norwegian War (1814)Location: Norway | Supported by:
| Norway | Swedish victory | 400 | |
Invasion of Åland (1918)Location: Åland | Central Powers
Sweden | | Åland Islands dispute | 1 | |
Congo Crisis 5 July 1960 – 25 November 1965Location: Republic of the Congo | 1960–1963: Congo-Léopoldville Supported by: (1960) 1964–1965: Congo-Léopoldville United States Belgium Supported by: ONUC (1964) | 1960–1963: 1960–1962: Congo-Stanleyville Supported by: 1964–1965: Kwilu and Simba rebels | Victory | 19 | |
Gulf War (1990–1991) Location: | Coalition: | Allied victory | None | ||
Operation Deliberate Force (30 August – 20 September 1995)Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina | ---- UNPROFOR (Sweden was a part of UNPROFOR) | Strategic NATO victory
| 6 (in accidents)[80] | ||
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)Location: Afghanistan | ISAF/RS phase (from 2001): Resolute Support (from 2015)[81] | ISAF/RS phase (from 2001): Taliban
al-Qaeda Taliban splinter groups
---- | Defeat
| 5 | |
First Libyan Civil WarLocation: Libya | Anti-Gaddafi forces
Qatar----Enforcing UNSC Resolution 1973:
| Libyan Jamahiriya | Rebel victory | None | |
Mali War (16 January 2012 – Present)Location: Northern Mali | Government of Mali
France |
Nigerian jihadist volunteers
---- | Withdrawal in 2023[118] | None |