Ture Turesson (Bielke)
He was a Privy Councillor and Castellan of Axvall Castle during the reign of separatist King Charles Canutesson, before defecting to the unionist side in 1452, spending several years in exile in Denmark.
He was appointed Lord High Constable of Sweden, Castellan of Stockholm and Kalmar and Captain-General during the reign of King Christian I, and commanded the unionist forces during several major battles during the turbulent 1460s, before surrendering to Sten Sture the Elder's separatists in 1472.
His stepfather's opposition caused Charles Canutesson's men to arrest Kristiern Nilsson in January 1439 at the family estate of Revelsta, injuring Ture Turesson's mother.
According to the contemporary rhyme chronicle Karlskrönikan, which relates a pro-separatist version of events, Ture Turesson was reluctant to enter hostilities with the Danish army, keeping his actions to a minimum, and distrust reigned between him and King Charles.
The Bishop of Skara, Bengt Gustavsson (Tre Rosor), publicly declared for the unionist King Christian with many of his influential family members, and Charles Canutesson feared further defections.
Before the arrival of King Charles, Ture Turesson managed to escape to Rumlaborg Castle in present-day Huskvarna, where his relative Eggert Krummedigge was in command.
Ture Turesson and Krummedigge left Rumlaborg to join with King Christian in Denmark, ordering the garrison to resist capture by Charles Canutesson.
Rumlaborg was captured by the separatists in October, and on 15 September 1453 a court convened by King Charles condemned Ture Turesson and other unionist defectors as traitors, forfeiting their lands to the Crown and sentencing them to death in their absence.
In 1463, during rising opposition to Christian I's taxation policies, the King arrived in Stockholm to repress the rebel sentiments and to prevent the return of Charles Canutesson from exile.
After the capture of the Archbishop, his relative Kettil Karlsson (Vasa), Bishop of Linköping, took up arms against the King, organising a major uprising in the provinces of Småland and Östergötland.
In August 1464, the burghers of Stockholm opened the city gates for Charles Canutesson, who had returned from his exile in Danzig after receiving word of the uprising and was hailed as King.
However, the return of Archbishop Jöns Bengtsson caused friction between the Bishops' party and King Charles Canutesson, eventually escalating into open warfare.
In 1472, he abandoned the unionist cause by surrendering Kalmar and acknowledged Sten Sture as Regent of Sweden, in return for being allowed to remain in possession of his lands and civil offices.
