Named for Nils Dacke (?–1543), born in Torsås in the Swedish province Småland. Dacke was the leader of the peasants who rebelled against king Gustav Wasa in 1542. This uprising, mainly against clerical policy, tax policy and prohibition of trade across the Danish border, was the last of the large rebellions in Sweden against the king and centralized power. Initially, Dacke and his army had great success and forced the king to sign a peace treaty after he lost most of the southern provinces to the rebels. The next year the king hired foreign mercenaries, and Dacke’s army was beaten. Dacke was shot, and the uprising was at an end. (M 31297) _ _.