The upcoming BBC Four documentary, Vasa: The Ghost Ship, explores the story of the majestic galleon Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628, just 18 minutes after leaving Stockholm harbour. The film explores the impact of this loss on Sweden’s ambitions in the Baltic during a turbulent era.
The documentary, airing on Monday 3 June, reveals how the Vasa, one of the most impressive galleons ever to sail the seas, met its untimely end. The sinking of the Vasa in 1628 dealt a significant blow to Sweden’s aspirations to establish itself as a power in the Baltic region during a period of political upheaval in Europe. Fast forward three centuries, and the wreck of the Vasa was successfully raised in 1961, remarkably well-preserved by the Baltic Sea’s mud and water.
Vasa: The Ghost Ship investigates the human stories behind this ill-fated warship. Archaeologists, divers, and historians collaborate to uncover new insights and shed light on the lives of those who constructed, sailed, and perished aboard the Vasa, one of the most heavily armed ships of its time.
Vasa: The Ghost Ship airs on BBC Four on Monday, 3 June 2024, at 9:00 pm.
