Brita Olsdotter
Encyclopedia
Brita Olsdotter was an old Swedish woman who, according to legend, saved the city of Linköping
from being burnt by the Russia
ns during the Great Northern War
.
In 1719, in the last years of the war, Sweden was invaded by the Russian army which burned several cities and plundered villages along the coasts. A lot of stories are maintained which describe how some of the villages, churches and farms was saved by individual acts and personal courage.
During the plunderings in 1719, the Russian army burned Norrköping
and then marched south towards Linköping
to burn that city as well. On the way to Linköping, the Russian army met an old woman and apparently stopped to ask her something. She improvised a story and told them that a courier had arrived in Linköping with the message that the British fleet had come to Sweden's rescue, and that a Swedish army of 20,000 soldiers was on its way. This made the Russian army turn back and refrain from attacking the city. As a result, the city of Linköping, which was in fact without any protection at all, was saved from being burned.
There were a lot of such local legends. For example, the vicar's wife Maria Faxell
was said to have armed her maids in Värmland
, defending her parish against an attack from Norway. But Brita Olsdotter was, of all those, the person said to have saved the largest place from attack.
Linköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
from being burnt by the Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
ns during the Great Northern War
Great Northern War
The Great Northern War was a conflict in which a coalition led by the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the supremacy of the Swedish Empire in northern Central Europe and Eastern Europe. The initial leaders of the anti-Swedish alliance were Peter I the Great of Russia, Frederick IV of...
.
In 1719, in the last years of the war, Sweden was invaded by the Russian army which burned several cities and plundered villages along the coasts. A lot of stories are maintained which describe how some of the villages, churches and farms was saved by individual acts and personal courage.
During the plunderings in 1719, the Russian army burned Norrköping
Norrköping
Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
and then marched south towards Linköping
Linköping
Linköping is a city in southern middle Sweden, with 104 232 inhabitants in 2010. It is the seat of Linköping Municipality with 146 736 inhabitants and the capital of Östergötland County...
to burn that city as well. On the way to Linköping, the Russian army met an old woman and apparently stopped to ask her something. She improvised a story and told them that a courier had arrived in Linköping with the message that the British fleet had come to Sweden's rescue, and that a Swedish army of 20,000 soldiers was on its way. This made the Russian army turn back and refrain from attacking the city. As a result, the city of Linköping, which was in fact without any protection at all, was saved from being burned.
There were a lot of such local legends. For example, the vicar's wife Maria Faxell
Maria Faxell
Maria Faxell was a Swedish vicar's wife who, according to legend, averted a Norwegian attack in Sweden during the Great Northern War.During the war between Sweden and Denmark–Norway, a Norwegian troupe passed the border in to Sweden and was observed at the farm Gryttve by Kölns church in Värmland....
was said to have armed her maids in Värmland
Värmland
' is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. It borders Västergötland, Dalsland, Dalarna, Västmanland and Närke. It is also bounded by Norway in the west. Latin name versions are Vermelandia and Wermelandia. Although the province's land originally was Götaland, the...
, defending her parish against an attack from Norway. But Brita Olsdotter was, of all those, the person said to have saved the largest place from attack.
See also
- Lovisa von BurghausenLovisa von BurghausenLovisa von Burghausen was a Swedish memoirist who became famous for her story about her time in captivity as a slave in Russia after being taken prisoner by the Russians during the Great Northern War...
- Ulrika Eleonora StålhammarUlrika Eleonora StålhammarUlrika Eleonora Stålhammar was a Swedish corporal and crossdresser who served during the Great Northern War. She was put on trial for having served as a military posing as a man and for marrying a woman...
- Anna ColbjørnsdatterAnna ColbjørnsdatterAnna Colbjørnsdatter Arneberg was a Norwegian national heroine, known for her participation in the Battle of Norderhov in Norway during the Great Northern War 29 March 1716.She was the daughter of the vicar Colbjørn Torstenssøn Arneberg Anna Colbjørnsdatter Arneberg (1667–1736) was a Norwegian...
Litterature
- Stålberg, Wilhelmina; Anteckningar om svenska qvinnor (Notes on Swedish women)