The Great Dalecarlian Dance

Dissatisfaction with the lords' government grew among the peasants during the Age of Liberty. The Russian victory of the Hats' Russian War of 1741-1743 and the question of succession after the childless Frederick I were the main reasons. The dissatisfaction was even stronger in the province of Dalarna where the Hats had introduced restrictions on the Dalecarlians' free trade with Norway. In 1743 the peasants of Dalarna rebelled in what became known as the Great Dalecarlian Dance. They were joined by the local regiment who had suffered heavy casualties at the bloody battle of Villmanstrand in 1741. The election of the Danish crown prince Frederick as king and a harsh inquisition against the generals responsible for the disastrous Russian War became the uprising's main objectives. The mob armed themselves and on 11 June started to march on Stockholm.