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- BIOGRAPHY
Svend Nielsen Sture, Lord of Ekesiö, was of a Danish origins, not necessarily related to the sjöblad-Sture family, which was also nicknamed Sture. His ancestral home was in Halland, Denmark. Already at the start of the Scandinavian union, he acquired lands in Northern Smalandia, where he also was governor of Sundholm castle in Njudung.
Riddare Svend Sture was in 1394 appointed by queen Margaret to the governship of that part of the island of Gotland which was held by Denmark, including Visborg castle. One of his tasks was to reduce supporters of deposed king Albrekt, for example those Mecklenburg troops which held Landeskrone castle in Gotland, and were allied with the Vitalian Brothers, a pirate organization. Instead Svend ultimately joined the Vitalians, becoming a chieftain of the pirates, and they had even more fully the island as a base for robber operations. In 1398 Teutonic Knights from Livonia occupied the island and Svend had to flee. He managed to return to the queen's grace and service.
Svend Nielsen died in 1424 without leaving a son to succeed him.
HONOURS: Knighted by King Eric the Pomeranian in 1406 in coronation of Queen Philippa.
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