Treaty of Gotland (1288)

The conflict is believed to have stemmed from rivalry over the lucrative Gutnish trade on the Baltic sea and disagreement between the two factions over duties levied by the burghers on all goods entering Visby.

[3] Magnus also stipulated that future conflicts should be settled by him, and that the peasants should not be prevented from making complaints to the king.

Magnus also entered into an agreement with the city of Visby, which in principle stated that only the Swedish king should be the master of Gotland.

[2] The Swedish king had long been wanting to expand eastward and gain a larger share of the lucrative trade on the Baltic Sea.

The conflict provided a golden opportunity to strengthen his power over Gotland, which until then had enjoyed a large measure of autonomy.