Kalmar is a city in Småland in the south-east of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. It has 35,170 inhabitants (2005), and is the seat of Kalmar Municipality with a total of 61,321 inhabitants (2006). It is also the capital of Kalmar County, which comprises 12 municipalities with a total of 233,776 inhabitants (2006).

From the thirteenth to the seventeenth centuries, Kalmar was one of Sweden's most important cities. Between 1602 and 1913 it was the episcopal see of Kalmar Diocese, with a bishop, and the Kalmar Cathedral from 1702 is still a fine example of classicistic architecture. It became a fortified city, with the still mighty Kalmar Castle as the center. After the Treaty of Roskilde 1658 Kalmar's importance diminished, until the industry sector was initiated in the 19th century.

Geographically Kalmar is the main route to the island of Öland thanks to the Öland Bridge.

History

The area around Kalmar has been inhabited since ancient times. Diggings have found traces of stone age gravefields. The oldest sources of there being a town are however from the 11th century. According to a medieval folk tale, the Norwegian patron Saint Olav had his ships moved to Kalmar. The oldest city seal of Kalmar is from somewhere between 1255-1267, making it the oldest known city seal in Scandinavia.

In the 12th century the first foundations of a castle were established, with the construction of a round tower for guard and lookout. The tower was continuously expanded on in 13th century, and as such, Queen Margaret called an assembly there between head of states of Sweden and Norway, and on July 13, 1397, the Kalmar Union treaty was signed, which would last until 1523. Kalmar's strategic location, near the Danish border (at the time the Scanian lands, i.e the provinces of Blekinge, Halland and Scania, were part of Denmark), and its harbour and merchancy, also involved it into several feuds. There are two events independently labelled Kalmar bloodbath: The first in 1505, when King John of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden let execute the mayor and city council of Kalmar; the second in 1599 by command of Duke Charles, later to became King Charles IX of Sweden.

In the 1540s, first King Gustav Vasa, and later his sons Erik XIV of Sweden and John III of Sweden would organize a rebuilding of the castle into the magnificent Renaissance castle it is today.

Kalmar became a diocese in 1602, a position it held until 1903. In 1634, Kalmar County is founded, with Kalmar as the natural capital. In 1660, the Kalmar Cathedral was begun by drawings of Nicodemus Tessin the Elder. It would be inaugurated in 1702.

In 1611-1613, it suffered in the Kalmar War, which began with a Danish siege of Kalmar Castle. 1611 is mentioned as the darkest year of Kalmar's history, but by no means the only dark year; much blood has been shed in the vicinity of the castle. The last was during the Scanian War in the 1670s, leading its sieges to a total of 22 -- yet, the castle was never taken.

After the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658, the strategical importance of Kalmar gradually diminished as the borders were drawn to a southern latitude. In 1689, the King established his main naval base south in Karlskrona and Kalmar lost its status as one of Sweden's main military outposts.

Today

In more recent times, Kalmar has been an industrial city with Kalmar Mekaniska Verkstad making steam engines and large machinery. It has a university with over 9,000 students and a research facility for Telia Sonera.

Gallery

Kalmar Castle in the summer sun Öland bridge was built from Kalmar to the town of Färjestaden on Öland

Notable natives

• Helena Josefsson - musician, lead singer in Sandy Mouche
• Ivar Kreuger
• Jenny Nyström

Sister cities

• flagicon USA Wilmington, Delaware, United States

• flagicon Finland Savonlinna, Finland

• flagicon Turkey Samsun, Turkey

See also

• Kalmar Municipality
• Kalmar Airport
• Kalmar Mekaniska Verkstad
• Spawn of Possession
• University of Kalmar
• Kalmar Nyckel, historical ship named after the city of Kalmar
• Kalmar FF, premier division football club from the city

References

• article Kalmar, Nordisk familjebok

External links

• Kalmar Municipality - Official site
• iKalmar - a social network for citizens of Kalmar
• Kalmar Castle
• Kalmar City - pictures from nightlife in Kalmar
• University of Kalmar
• CityRapporten - local publication about Kalmar
• Barometern Oskarshamns-Tidningen - daily newspaper from Kalmar and Oskarshamn