Iben Fonnesberg Scmidt :
The crusading conquests of the royal powers of Scandinavia

A series of Swedish and Danish crusades in the Baltic region from the middle of the 12th century resulted in the subjugation of parts of the eastern Baltic, as Sweden conquered Finland and Denmark conquered Estonia. The Scandinavian kings were no doubt motivated by the same religious convictions that drove other crusaders, though it is possible that they also took other potential benefits, such as trade, into consideration. This article describes how the Scandinavian royal powers and the Church established themselves in the new territories during the13th century, and points out some similarities and differences between the Danish and Swedish rule in the region. Possible explanations for these differences include the varying extent of immigration, differences in the geographical distance between the conquerors’ homelands and the conquered regions, the varying threats facing the conquered regions, and differences in the extent of military activity which the royal powers were engaged in elsewhere.