View source for Mästerby

{{Infobox settlement
|official_name          = Mästerby
|native_name = Maistaböi{{small|([[Gutnish language|Gutnish]])}}
|image_skyline          = File:Masterbykyrka.jpg
|image_caption          = Mästerby church
|pushpin_map            = Sweden Gotland
|pushpin_label_position =
|subdivision_type       = [[Country]]
|subdivision_name       = [[Sweden]]
|subdivision_type3      = [[Municipalities of Sweden|Municipality]]
|subdivision_name3      = [[Gotland Municipality]]
|subdivision_type2      = [[Counties of Sweden|County]]
|subdivision_name2      = [[Gotland County]]
|subdivision_type1      = [[Provinces of Sweden|Province]]
|subdivision_name1      = [[Gotland]]
|area_footnotes         = <ref>{{cite book|title=Svensk Uppslagsbok|date=1947–1955|publisher=Förlagshuset Norden|location=Malmö|edition=2|editor=Gunnar Carlquist|url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/11112|access-date=4 June 2014}}</ref>
|area_total_km2         = 22.97
|population_as_of       = 2014
|population_footnotes   = <ref name=numbers>{{cite web|title=Gotland i siffror 2015|trans-title=Gotland in numbers 2015|url=http://www.gotland.se/64224|website=www.gotland.se|publisher=[[Gotland Municipality]]|access-date=25 May 2016}}</ref>
|population_total       = 181
|population_density_km2 =
|timezone               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
|utc_offset             = +1
|timezone_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
|utc_offset_DST         = +2
|coordinates            = {{coord|57|28|12|N|18|18|14|E|region:SE|display=inline,title}}
|website                = [http://masterbyhembygdsforening.wordpress.com/ Mästerby]
}}
'''Mästerby''' is a populated area, a [[socken]] or administrative parish (not to be confused with [[Parishes of the Church of Sweden|ecclesiastical parish]]), on the Swedish island of [[Gotland]].<ref>The exact extent of the socken, now district, can be obtained by clicking on ''Kartinställningar'' and check the ''Socken'' box in the menu of [http://www.fmis.raa.se/cocoon/fornsok/search.html?parish=953&tab=2&page=1 this map] from the [[Swedish National Heritage Board]] database.</ref> It comprises the same area as the [[Registration districts in Sweden|administrative]] Mästerby District, established on 1{{nbsp}}January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Förordning om district|trans-title=Regulation of districts|url=http://rkrattsdb.gov.se/SFSdoc/15/150493.PDF|date=17 June 2015|publisher=[[Ministry of Finance (Sweden)|Ministry of Finance]]|access-date=24 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930041909/http://rkrattsdb.gov.se/SFSdoc/15/150493.PDF|archive-date=30 September 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
When King [[Valdemar IV of Denmark]] and his troops invaded Gotland in 1361, they met the first line of resistance at the '''Battle of Mästerby'''.
== Geography ==
Mästerby is the name of the socken as well as the district. It is also the name of the small village surrounding the medieval [[Mästerby Church]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lagerlöf|first1=Erland|last2=Svahnström|first2=Gunnar|title=Gotlands kyrkor|trans-title=Gotland's Churches|language=sv|id={{LIBRIS|7232718}}|date=1973|publisher=[[Rabén & Sjögren]]|location=Stockholm|isbn=91-29-41035-5|pages=213–215}}</ref> sometimes referred to as ''Mästerby kyrkby''. It is situated on central Gotland. Mästerby consists of a number of farms spread over a larger area.<ref name=Guteinfo>{{cite web|last1=Enderberg|first1=Bernt|title=1361 i Mästerby|url=http://www.guteinfo.com/?id=3798|website=www.guteinfo.com|publisher=Guteinfo|access-date=3 June 2014}}</ref>
Mästerby parish was independent until 2012.<ref name=ne>{{cite web|title=Mästerby|url=http://www.ne.se/uppslagsverk/encyklopedi/lång/mästerby|website=www.ne.se|publisher=[[Nationalencyklopedin]]|access-date=30 May 2016}}</ref> {{As of|2019}}, Mästerby Church belongs to Sanda-Västergarn-Mästerby [[Parishes of the Church of Sweden|parish]] in Klinte [[pastorat]], along with the churches in [[Sanda, Gotland|Sanda]] and [[Västergarn]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Församlingar på Gotland |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/visbystift/f |website=www.svenskakyrkan.se |publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Visby stifts indelning 2018 |url=https://www.svenskakyrkan.se/default.aspx?id=1714164 |website=www.svenskakyrkan.se |publisher=[[Church of Sweden]] |access-date=12 January 2019}}</ref>
One of the [[asteroid]]s in the [[Asteroid belt]], [[10813 Mästerby]], is [[List of Gotland related asteroids|named]] after the settlement.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/sbdb.cgi?sstr=10813 | title = JPL Small-Body Database Browser | access-date = 2008-05-04 | publisher = [[NASA]]}}</ref>
== History ==
Mästerby has been a settlement since prehistoric times. A great number of archeological finds have been made here along with grave fields, stone mounds and traces of houses dating from the [[Bronze Age|Bronze]], [[Iron Age|Iron]] and [[Viking Age]]s as well as from [[Middle Ages|Medieval]] times.<ref name=Hembygd>{{cite web|title=Historia|url=http://masterbyhembygdsforening.wordpress.com/|website=www.masterbyhembygdsforening.wordpress.com|publisher=Mästerby Hembygdsförening|access-date=4 June 2014}}</ref> The finds also include a number of metal objects, jewelry and coins with the oldest coin a [[Rome|Roman]] [[dinar]] dated 160–180.<ref name=Hembygd /><ref>{{cite web|title=Mästerby|url=http://mis.historiska.se/mis/sok/start.asp|website=www.historiska.se|publisher=Historiska museet|access-date=4 June 2014}}</ref>
The name Mästerby originates from the [[Old Gutnish]] word ''maister'' meaning "master" or "foremost". In 1270, the name was written as "Mestraby", "Meystbye" in the 14th century and "Mesteby" in 1523.<ref name=Hembygd /><ref>{{cite book|last=Wahlberg|first=Mats|title=Svenskt ortnamnslexikon. Uppsala: Institutet för språk och folkminnen|date=2003|publisher=Wahlström & Widstrand|location=Stockholm|isbn=91-7229-020-X|url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/8998039}}</ref>
The courthouse for southern Gotland was situated at Mästerby, along with a [[gallows]] and a place for [[corporal punishment]] from 1000 until the end of the 16th century. The last execution was the hanging of Anders Botelson from [[Gothem]] in 1698, for stealing from a church.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Sandström|first1=Gunnar|title=Landsarkivets Avskriftssamling|journal=Ur domboken|volume=Förteckning över dödsdomar och avrättningar på Gotland|url=http://www.ulmes.se/hallges/brott.html|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
== Battle of Mästerby ==
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Battle of Mästerby<ref name=Invasion>{{cite web|last1=Lingström|first1=Allan|title=Invasionen-fakta och teorier|url=http://www.masterby1361.se/docs/faktaochteorier.htm|website=www.masterby1361.se|publisher=Mästerby1361|access-date=3 June 2014}}</ref>
| partof            = the prelude to the [[Second Danish-Hanseatic War]] and [[Valdemar Atterdag's invasion of Gotland]]
| image             = Fornsalen - Invasion 1361 - Schädel mit Pfeilspitzen.jpg
| caption           = The skull of a participant in the 1361 campaign, shot by three arrows.
| date              = 25 July 1361
| place             = Mästerby, [[Gotland]]
| result            = Danish victory
| combatant1        = [[Kingdom of Sweden]]<br>[[Gotland]]
| combatant2        = [[Kingdom of Denmark]]
| commander1        = Gotlandic Farmers
| commander2        = [[Valdemar IV of Denmark]]
| strength1         = about 1,500
| strength2         = 2,600
| casualties1       = 1,500
| casualties2       = unknown
| campaignbox       = {{Campaignbox Danish–Hanseatic Wars (1361–1370)}}
}}
When Danish troops invaded Gotland in 1361, they met the first line of resistance at Fjäle mire. This resulted in the Battle of Mästerby on the 25 July 1361. Through [[battlefield archaeology]] and some written accounts, archeologists have pieced together a likely course of events.<ref name=Invasion />
=== The Battle ===
In an effort to stop the Danish soldiers from advancing, the bridge at Ajmunds was destroyed. The Danes tried to cross the stream, but this proved to be a tactical error since the banks were very steep, making it hard for the heavily armed soldiers to advance. They therefore retreated and sent out scouts to search for a better crossing, while the main body of troops rested for the night. Finally the Danes found a crossing a kilometre to the northeast at Fjäle mire, where they crossed. The Gotlandic farmers who were trying to stop the invaders had hoped that the Danish soldiers with their heavy armour and equipment would have a hard time moving about in the mire, but the summer had been hot and the mire was almost dry. The failure of the plan resulted in a massacre, about 1,500 Gotlandic farmers and other local inhabitants being killed by the Danish invaders.<ref name=Invasion />
=== Memorial ===
A couple of decades after the battle a memorial for the fallen Gotlanders was built at Grens farm. The memorial is in the shape of a [[celtic cross]], on Gotland known as a "Branch cross" or a "Ring cross".<ref name=Invasion />
Fragments of an inscription can be found on the cross. The legible text is ''[[Anno Domini]]'' ''MCCCLXI'' (Roman numerals for "1361") and finally the word ''Iacobi'' (Latin for [[James, son of Zebedee|Saint Jacob]] and his day in the calendar). From this it was deduced that the battle took place on the day of Jacobi, 25{{nbsp}}July 1361.<ref name=Invasion />
At the Ajmunds bridge stands another memorial honoring the Gotlanders who died defending their freedom. The stone was raised in 1961, 600 years after the battle.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Enderborg|first1=Bernt|title=Ajmunds bro – Gotlands nyckel|url=http://www.guteinfo.com/?id=3062|website=www.guteinfo.com|publisher=Guteinfo|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
=== Legend ===
A priest in Mästerby parish, Hans Nielssön Strelow, wrote the ''Cronica Guthilandorium'' ("Chronicle of Gotland") in 1633. This is the only remaining written account mentioning the battle but written 300 years after the event. The chronicle was the only document remaining after a fire at the Mästerby vicarage in 1735.<ref name=Kallor>{{cite web|title=Källor till 1361 års strider i Mästerby|url=http://www.masterby1361.se/docs/kallor.htm|website=www.masterby1361.se|publisher=Mästerby1361|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
The legend written in the Chronicle states that King Valdemar Atterdag's forces landed at the Kronvall fishing village on the main island opposite [[Lilla Karlsö]] and [[Stora Karlsö]]. They were opposed by Gotlandic farmers at Fjäle mire. The fighting went on for two days between 25–26{{nbsp}}July 1361, outside Mästerby. King Valdemar erected a cross to honour the brave farmers and moved on to Visby.<ref name=Kallor />
Historians realized that it was unlikely that King Valdemar would have honoured his fallen enemies. But the battlefield team from the [[Swedish National Heritage Board]], archeologist Maria Lingström and the Mästerby History Society decided to investigate if there was any truth to the legend.<ref name=Ide>{{cite web|title=Projektidé|url=http://www.masterby1361.se/docs/projektide.htm|website=www.masterby1361.se|publisher=Mästerby1361|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
=== Battlefield archaeology ===
Investigation of the site, led by Lindström, has been conducted every year since 2006. Up until 2011, hundreds of finds related to the battle have been made. The distribution and nature of the finds indicate that the main battle occurred in a sandy part of the mire where Danish troops had been able to cross and advance on Mästerby.<ref name=Ide /><ref>{{cite web|title=Mästerby 1361 – kampen om vägen till Visby, pdf|url=http://www.slagfalt.se/|website=www.slagfalt.se|publisher=Riksantikvarieämbetet|page=67|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
The finds from the investigations are on display at a small museum in Mästerby, run by the Mästerby Historical Society,<ref>{{cite web|title=Ett nytt museum invigt i Mästerby.|url=http://masterbyhembygdsforening.wordpress.com/masterby/ett-nytt-museum-invigt-i-masterby/|website=Ett nytt museum invigt i Mästerby.|publisher=Mästerby hembygdsförening|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref> and at the Gotland museum in Visby.<ref>{{cite web|title=1361 – Striden om Gotland|url=http://www.gotlandsmuseum.se/1361-striden-om-gotland/|website=www.gotlandsmuseum.se|publisher=Gotlands Museum|access-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>
The battle has been reenacted by participants from historical societies from a number of countries, in connection with the reenactment of the [[Battle of Visby]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kalström|first=Tullan|title=Battle of Wisby 1361|url=http://www.battleofwisby.com/?page_id=693|website=www.battleofwisby.com|publisher=Battle of Wisby 1361|access-date=4 June 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606203857/http://www.battleofwisby.com/?page_id=693|archive-date=6 June 2014}}</ref>
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Grenskorset.JPG|Grenskorset, in memory of the Gotlanders who fought the Danes at Mästerby in 1361.
File:Ajmunds-bro.jpg|Bridge at Ajmunds, Mästerby. Modern bridge at the same place as the medieval.
File:Minnes märke.jpg|Memorial at the Ajmunds bridge dedicated to the Gotlanders who fought and died for their freedom in 1361. Built in 1961, 600 years after the battle.
File:Mästerby 01.jpg|Mästerby church.
</gallery>
== See also ==
*[[Military on Gotland]]
*[[Battle of Visby]]
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Further reading ==
* {{cite book
|last= Hammarhjelm
|first= Bengt
|date= 1998
|title=  Gotländsk krigshistoria: från Gutasagan till 1814
|url= http://libris.kb.se/bib/7751979
|language= sv
|location= Visby
|publisher= Ödin
|isbn= 91-85716-81-2
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Lingström
|first1=Maria
|title=Fjäle myr 1361: arkeologiska undersökningar av slagfältet från dagarna före slaget vid Visby ringmur
|journal=[[Fornvännen]]
|date=2009
|volume=104 |issue=1 |pages=33–44
|url=http://fornvannen.se/pdf/2000talet/2009_033.pdf
|language= sv
|access-date=6 June 2014
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Lingström
|first1=Maria
|title=Mästerby 1361: slagfältsarkeologi i Valdemar Atterdags fotspår
|journal=Gotländskt arkiv
|date=2007
|volume=79
|pages=141–150
|url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/10648443
|language= sv
|access-date=6 June 2014
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Lingström
|first1=Maria
|title=Jakten på slaget vid Ajmunds bro
|journal=Populär arkeologi
|date=2011
|volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=20–23
|url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/12166165
|language= sv
|access-date=6 June 2014
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Lingström
|first1=Maria
|title=Mästerby 1361-fortsatt sökande efter striden mellan gutar och danskar.
|journal=Dokumentation av fältarbetsfasen 2007:3, arkeologisk undersökning.
|date=2008
|publisher=Riksantikvarieämbetet, Avd. för arkeologiska undersökningar, UV Syd.
|language= sv
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Lingström
|first1=maria
|title=Mästerby 1361- gutarnas strid mot Valdemar Atterdag.
|journal=Dokumentation av fältarbetsfasen 2008:1, arkeologisk undersökning.
|date=2007
|publisher=Riksantikvarieämbetet, Avd. för arkeologiska undersökningar, UV Syd.
|language= sv
}}
* {{cite book
|last= Thordeman
|first= Bengt
|date= 1939
|title= Armour from the battle of Wisby 1361. 1, Text
|url= http://libris.kb.se/bib/8207359
|location= Stockholm
|publisher= Kungl. Vitterhets historie och antikvitets akademien
}}
* {{cite book
|last= Thordeman
|first= Bengt
|date= 1944
|title= Invasion på Gotland 1361: dikt och verklighet
|url= http://libris.kb.se/bib/53651
|language= sv
|location= Stockholm
|publisher= Geber
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Moberg
|first1=Ivar
|title=Gotland um das Jahr 1700. Eine kulturgeografische Kartenanalyse.
|journal=Meddelanden från geografiska institutet vid Stockholms högskola.
|date=1938
|language= de
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Slitberg
|first1=Tryggve
|title="Hundens like": bonderepublikens dom över Valdemar Atterdag
|journal=[[Fornvännen]]
|date=2002
|volume=97 |issue=1 |pages=25–43
|url=http://libris.kb.se/bib/8421935|access-date=6 June 2014
|language= sv
}}
* {{cite book
|last= Strelow
|first= Hans Nielsson
|date= 1633
|title= Cronica Guthilandorum.
|language= la
}}
* {{cite journal
|last1=Säve
|first1=C
|title=Sägner om konung Valdemar på Gotland
|journal=Folke, Et nordisk Tidsskrift I.
|date=1859
|language= sv
}}
* {{cite book
|last= Tortzen
|first= Christian
|date= 1961
|title= Gotland 1361: forudsætningerne : overleveringen
|series= Scandinavian university books, 99-0103642-9
|url= http://libris.kb.se/bib/418619
|language= da
|location= Copenhagen
|publisher= Gyldendal
}}
* {{cite book
|last= Westholm
|first= Gun
|date= 2007
|title= Visby 1361: invasionen
|url= http://libris.kb.se/bib/10415688
|language= sv
|location= Stockholm
|publisher= Prisma
|isbn= 978-91-518-4568-5
}}
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Mästerby}}
*[http://digitaltmuseum.se/search?query=M%C3%A4sterby%20socken%20gotlands Objects from Mästerby at the Digital Museum] by [[Nordic Museum]]
{{Gotland County}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Masterby}}
[[Category:Populated places in Gotland County]]