desire, she consented to appoint a successor; but fixed on one so young, that she would have full time to satisfy her ambition before he could be of age to take any share in the government; yet he was the true heir, and grandson of her sister.
She recommended herself so strongly to the Swedes, who were oppressed by their king, Albert, who had gone to war with her, that they renounced their allegiance to that prince, and made her a solemn offer of their crown, thinking that her good sense would set bounds to her ambition, and prevent any encroachment on their rights. She accepted the offer, marched to their assistance, defeated Albert, who was deposed, in 1388, after a war of seven years. She then imprisoned him another seven years, till he made a solemn renunciation of his crown, and retired to the dominions of his brother, the Duke of Mecklenburg. Margaret then assumed the reins of government in Sweden, and was distinguished by the appellation of the Semiramis of the North.
In 1395, she associated with her in the three elective kingdoms, her great-nephew Eric, Duke of Pomerania. She governed with absolute authority; and when reminded of her oaths by the nobility, who added, "they had the records of them," she replied, "I advise you to keep them carefully; as I shall keep the castles and cities of my kingdom, and all the rights belonging to my dignity."
At the treaty of Calmar, concluded in 1397, she endeavoured to make the union of the three kingdoms perpetual, and introduced Eric separately to all the deputies. She represented to them, with eloquence and address, the advantages that would accrue from the consolidation of the three nations into one kingdom; that it would put an end to the frequent wars which desolated them, and render them entirely masters of the commerce of the Baltic; keep in awe the Hanse-towns, grown powerful by the divisions of her people; and acquire for them all the advantages resulting from a perfect conformity of laws, customs, and interests. The majesty of her person, the strength of her arguments and her eloquence, gained over the deputies. They approved and established a fundamental law, which was received by the three nations, and solemnly confirmed by oath. This was the celebrated law called the union of Calmar, which only served to show how impotent are human wishes, though conceived with wisdom and forwarded by address.
Margaret is charged with only one political error, that of suffering Olaus to grant the important duchy of Keswick to the house of Holstein, whose enmity they thus wished to do away, but which proved a thorn in her side till the death of the duke; when she, by her vigorous measures, forced his successors to hold their possessions as a fief from Denmark.
Distinguished at the same time for moderation, solid judgment, enterprising and persevering ambition, Margaret receives different characters from Danish and Swedish historians. The latter were prejudiced against her, because she abridged the power of the nobles and favoured the clergy; but she was exceeded by none in prudence, policy, and true magnanimity. She died suddenly, in 1412, at the age of fifty-nine.
Though merciful, she made the wisest regulations for strict justice, and to prevent offenders being screened from punishment. Private oppressions and abuses she did away, and decreed that assistance should be given to all who were shipwrecked on her coasts; for
