The Sack of Turku in 1509: Recovering from a Catastrophe

In August 1509, the town of Turku (Swe. Åbo) in southwestern Finland, then a part of the Swedish realm, was attacked by a Danish fleet. The sources tell of great material devastation and loss of life. However, although the sack of 1509 has been mentioned in numerous works treating the history of medieval Turku or medieval Finland in general, historians have not so far analysed how the recuperation process actually looked and which individuals and institutions involved in it were the crucial actors. Contemporary sources, especially the correspondence between higher authorities, cast light on Turku’s urban recovery. Such sources may exaggerate the role of ecclesiastical authorities as leaders of the process, we get only sporadic glimpses of the actions of the town council. But it seems there were no plans to send material relief – at least not foodstuff – to Turku. Instead, the authorities were more interested in preventing further attacks and maintaining societal peace. The higher clergy focused on the restoration of the cathedral and retrieving stolen cult items. It is also possible that the translation of a local saint in the summer of 1514 was utilised as a unifying and healing event for spectators and participants.