| Conflict: | David's Rebellion |
| Place: | Upper Satakunta, Finland |
| Date: | Autumn 1438 - 9 January 1439 |
| Result: | Swedish victory |
| Combatant1: | Kalmar Union |
| Combatant2: | Tavastians Supported by Karl Knutsson Bonde (alleged) |
| Casualties1: | ~4 killed in action |
| Casualties2: | Unknown |
| Strength1: | Unknown |
| Strength2: | ~75 total |
| Commander1: | Eric of Pomerania |
| Commander2: |
David's Rebellion also known as the Peasants' Revolt of 1438 was a peasant revolt from 1438 to 1439 in Upper Satakunta, spreading from Vesilahti to Lempäälä. The rebellion was propagated by David of Ania, also called Crazy David of Upper Satakunta, who was a peasant leader, in response to increased tax burdens.[1]
David was a wealthy householder of the Heikkilä estate from village in Vesilahti to Ruovesi. He along with other people who were of the peasantry, had become frustrated with the increased tightening of taxation. The anger of the peasantry was only increased by the weakening of the fur trade and the increased land grabbing by the nobility in Finland of important lands such as fishing waters and economically important lands owned or controlled by the peasantry.[2] This anger was often directed at wealthy nobility and tax officials, such as, who was the Chief of Turku Castle. It is also thought by some that David was involved as a political agent who was paid to stir up trouble by Karl Knutsson Bonde.[3] [4]
The rebellion began in autumn 1438, and the rebellion's leader was chosen to be David, who was proclaimed the "peasant king" (bondekonung) by his fellow rebels. He and his rebels went on to Viikki Manor (located in present-day Nokia) and killed four soldiers (Finnish: {{Ill|huovi|fi|huovi) who were in service of Jöns Turensson (Odygd), a member of the Folkunga family. The rebels went on to loot other manors in Pirkkala. Along with the rebellion in Upper Satakunta, there was another rebellion in Lammi in anger towards Olav Tavast, who is reported to have thought that David's rebellion was a joke, which is why they reportedly also revolted.
The peasant revolt was tamed by, who was the Bishop of Turku and by Hans Kröpelin by inviting the rebels to discuss tax reductions at Lempäälä. Ultimately the peasant rebels were given a lenient punishment of having some of their land such as meadows, handed over to the Folkunga family manor for their misdeeds, and the peasants were pardoned and they were forced to promise to never rise up against the Swedish Crown again, on 9 January. The rebels signed the following document in the, which was drawn up by Magnus II Tavast:[5] David and his brethren were forced to flee to Tallinn to avoid a harsh punishment, however David's family was allowed to keep their farm in Ania.[6]