Conflicts & Resolutions · Campaign

Second Swedish Crusade

c. 1249 · 13th century

The Second Swedish Crusade was a military expedition traditionally dated to 1249, in which a Swedish force led by Birger Jarl subdued the Tavastians of inland Finland. Known mainly from the 14th-century Erik's Chronicle, it brought Tavastia under Swedish rule and the Catholic Church, and Häme Castle was built to hold the region. Historians still debate its date and character.

Second Swedish Crusade
Image: Joseph Alanen · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 state history

Tavastia

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Second Swedish Crusade. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/second-swedish-crusade
MLA
“Second Swedish Crusade.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/second-swedish-crusade. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Second Swedish Crusade.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/second-swedish-crusade.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Second Swedish Crusade’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/second-swedish-crusade (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻