Klas Horn

Baron Klas Kristersson Horn (1517 – 9 September 1566) was a Finnish-born Swedish nobleman and naval admiral who fought for Sweden in the Northern Seven Years' War of 1563–1570.

Biography Horn was born at Åminne Manor in Halikko, Finland. He was the son of Krister Klasson Horn and Ingeborg Siggesdtr Sparre. He received his early education in the court of Philip I, Duke of Pomerania. In 1550, King Gustav I of Sweden made him the head of the district of southern Finland at Raseborg.

He participated in the expeditions of Jakob Bagge during autumn 1555. In 1556, he was sent to Viborg Castle and the following year was made commander. In 1559, he won a number of battles against Danish naval forces under Herluf Trolle and the Free City of Lübeck. Horn was sent to Reval (now Tallinn) by King Eric XIV of Sweden in March 1561. By June, Toompea Castle was conquered by his troops and Reval became a dominion of Sweden.

Klas Horn was raised to nobility (Horn af Åminne) and made a baron in June 1561. In February 1564, he led an unsuccessful siege of Bohus Fortress. After Jakob Bagge was captured, Klas was promoted to admiral in the Royal Swedish Navy in autumn 1564. In January 1565, forces under his command sacked the Danish provinces of Scania and Halland. He won a decisive victory over the Danish navy at Bornholm on 7 July 1565 and on 26 July 1566 in the third battle of the northern part of Öland. He died shortly after being called to command Swedish land forces.

Personal life In 1551, he married Kerstin Krumme (1532–1611). He died at Stora Åby parish in Östergötland, Sweden and was buried at Uppsala Cathedral.

Legacy Baron Klas Kristersson Horn has been recognized as a naval hero, with both the Royal Swedish Navy and Finnish Navy naming vessels in his honor: HSwMS Klas Horn (1929) and Klas Horn (1892).