Kalmar under Gustav Vasa och hans söner

Sammanfattning: The town of Kalmar in the sixteenth century was characterised by a functional dualism. As an important foreign trade-centre it was linked to the expanding northern European' market. It was also a strategic military centre and the residential seat of the regional administration in the south-eastern part of Sweden. The population was dominated by two large groups, the burghers and the so-called royal servants (Kungl Majts tjänare), which together constituted about 75—80% of the population. Another relatively large group consisted of the poorer stratum of the population. This latter group was probably growing in numbers arid importance. During the sixteenth century Kalmar underwent heavy fluctuations in growth and social structure. However, in the long run the town showed signs of stagnation. This long-term decline has been attributed to a number of factors: the stagnation of foreign trade, the recession and perhaps even regression of Crown interests in Kalmar, and political crises which exposed Kalmar to military threat. In spite of this long-term decline Kalmar retained its status as an important Swedish town. The population of Kalmar has been estimated to be roughly 2 000-—2 500 inhabitants.