FLOP No. 33 – The Nyköping Banquet (1317)

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The Promise: A Christmas feast to reconcile Sweden’s royal family—King Birger and his two estranged brothers.

What Happened: The banquet was a trap. Birger arrested his brothers mid-toast and locked them in a dungeon, where they starved. The kingdom was outraged. Birger was deposed.

What Failed: Ceremony masked treachery. Public theater failed as diplomacy.

What We Learned: Hospitality weaponized becomes a curse.

What an Event Pro Would’ve Advised: Don’t fake reconciliation on public stage. If your “toast” hides a padlock, history will turn on the host.