[citation needed] The Danes invaded Sweden by sea, but were defeated early at the Battle of Brunkeberg, in which King Christian I of Denmark was wounded by a cannonball.

After a few years, however, secessionist movements arose among the Swedish noble's council, led by Karl Knutsson Bonde.

When King Karl died, the Swedish council elected Sten Sture the Elder as viceroy.

In late July 1471, the fleet of 76 Danish ships with the 5,000 troops set out from Copenhagen harbour to land in southern Sweden.

Sture's victory over Christian meant his power as viceroy of Sweden was secure and would remain so for the rest of his life.

According to a 2019 study, "For the victorious Swedes, the battle could be used to confirm a powerful narrative of a long-term, but ultimately successful, struggle against the (Danish) enemies of the realm and the community, most famously represented through the monument of Saint George and the dragon that was erected in 1489.

Christian of Oldenburg still held Denmark and Norway (including Iceland and the Faroe Islands) after the war.