May 7 in Swedish History

The “Tre Kronor” (Three Crowns) castle, Stockholm 1661. Painted by Govert Camphuysen.
May 7 in Swedish History
1697: A fire breaks out in the attic above the hall at the Tre Kronor castle in Stockholm. The fire spreads and the entire castle is eventually burnt down. The body of Karl XI, who had died a month earlier, is saved from the flames, but the greater part of the national archives as well as the royal library are totally destroyed. The reason for the fire is never established, but three possible culprits are found and in February the next year, Mattias Hansson, a soldier, and his superior, firefighter Sven Lindberg, are sentenced to death, while Anders Andersson, another soldier, is sentenced to running the gauntlet five times. They are deemed to have neglected their duties. The death sentences are commuted to running seven gauntlets and six years of forced labor at Carlsten fortress. Sven Lindberg died running the gauntlet.
Tre Kronor is believed to have been a citadel that Birger Jarl built into a royal castle in the middle of the 13th century. The castle got its name in 1588, when three golden crowns were placed on a spire on top of the keep. Stockholm Palace today is situated on the same site as the castle Tre Kronor.
Stockholm Royal Palace. Photo: Bo Zaunders
Tre Kronor is also the popular restaurant on Chicago's Foster Avenue, across the street from North Park University's Old Main, www.trekronorrestaurant.com. The castle's 17th century silhouette was inspiration for a design a collective including Sweden's Prince Carl Philip, see more under a brief from 2011, here: Royal castle by Carl Philip (Third brief from top)
Ulf Kirchdorfer's book, "Swede Among the Rednecks" - available at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/ztt7kbr" target="_blank">“Amazon”</a> or through Nordstjernan, 1.800.827.9333