Ture Turesson (Bielke) (1425–1489/90) was a Swedish statesman and military commander and a prominent leader of the unionist party during the Kalmar Union period. 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. During his later years he was Lawspeaker of the province of Öland.
Charles Canutesson, twice-deposed and reinstated King of Sweden. 15th-century sculpture by Bernt Notke.
Present-day site of the ruins of Axvalla Castle.
Christian I, King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Helgeandsholmen in Stockholm with the Church of the Holy Ghost, detail from a copy of a 16th-century painting.
Lord High Constable of Sweden
The Lord High Constable was a prominent and influential office in Sweden, from the 13th century until 1676, excluding periods when the office was out of use. The office holder was a member of the Swedish Privy Council and, from 1630 and on, the head of the Swedish Council of War. From 1634, the Lord High Constable was one of five Great Officers of the Realm.
Karl Knutsson Bonde - Lord High Constable 1435-?.
Carl Gustaf Wrangel - Lord High Constable 1664–1676.
Lars Siggesson Sparre - Lord High Constable 1523–1554.
Svante Nilsson Sture the Younger - Lord High Constable 1561–1564.