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Abstract
The monarchies of Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland were the only monarchies that became Lutheran, and the only Lutheran realms placed outside of the Holy Roman Empire. This article investigates how Lutheranism affected the imaginary of kingship and state organisation in the Nordic Countries, and finds that the way reformation was introduced in the two realms respectively had impact on the way a common Seneca inspired and Biblical argued understanding of the ideal benevolent ruler with responsibility of the both eternal and temporal well-being of their subjects impacted on the imaginaries of kingship and of the organisation of society.
Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland was in a confessional cultural perspective marked by the lack of streitkultur in the same extent as in Germany. In discussion with existing literature, it is shown how a religious view on the king’s responsibility formed both the king’s and his subject’s view. Olaus Petri’s as agent of the reformation is compared with Johannes Bugenhagen, and Johannes Bugenhagen’s Kirkeordinans is compared both with the work of Georg Norman and with Swedish Kyrkoordningen from 1571.
In both realms a strong anti-macchiavelian view on rulership is clearly seen, however Johannes Bugenhagen’s introduction of a “mature” reformation in 1537 in Denmark, seems to have contributed to a more stable and centralistic development, whereas the reformation history in Sweden is much more complex, also due to the very early introduction of young reformation ideas.
Nevertheless, a central aspect of confessional culture in the Nordic Countries was a special imaginary of authority building on mutual obligations. Organisationally, the two countries however went in two directions. In Denmark the three estates of Church, household, and government melted into each other, whereas in Sweden the estates kept a much more independent role limiting state power.
Denmark-Norway and Sweden-Finland was in a confessional cultural perspective marked by the lack of streitkultur in the same extent as in Germany. In discussion with existing literature, it is shown how a religious view on the king’s responsibility formed both the king’s and his subject’s view. Olaus Petri’s as agent of the reformation is compared with Johannes Bugenhagen, and Johannes Bugenhagen’s Kirkeordinans is compared both with the work of Georg Norman and with Swedish Kyrkoordningen from 1571.
In both realms a strong anti-macchiavelian view on rulership is clearly seen, however Johannes Bugenhagen’s introduction of a “mature” reformation in 1537 in Denmark, seems to have contributed to a more stable and centralistic development, whereas the reformation history in Sweden is much more complex, also due to the very early introduction of young reformation ideas.
Nevertheless, a central aspect of confessional culture in the Nordic Countries was a special imaginary of authority building on mutual obligations. Organisationally, the two countries however went in two directions. In Denmark the three estates of Church, household, and government melted into each other, whereas in Sweden the estates kept a much more independent role limiting state power.
| Translated title of the contribution | Imaginaries of Kingship in the Nordic Household State – Danish and Swedish Variations |
|---|---|
| Original language | Danish |
| Title of host publication | Den Nordiska hushållstaten – variationer på ett tema av Luther : Auktoritet och ansvar i de tidigmoderna danska och svenska rikena |
| Editors | Urban Claesson, Nina Javette Koefoed |
| Number of pages | 39 |
| Publisher | Makadam Förlag |
| Publication date | 17 Dec 2024 |
| Pages | 145-183 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-91-7061-497-2 |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Dec 2024 |
| Series | Skrifter utgivna av svenska kyrkohistoriska föreningen. II ny följd |
|---|---|
| Volume | 81 |
Keywords
- Reformation
- Household state
- Johannes Bugenhagen
- Olaus Petri
- Gustav Vasa
- Confessional Culture
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Dive into the research topics of 'Imaginaries of Kingship in the Nordic Household State – Danish and Swedish Variations'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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Den nordiska hushållstaten: variationer på ett tema av Luther
Koefoed, N. J. (CoPI), Holm, B. K. (Participant), Harste, G. (Participant), Claesson , U. (PI) & Jansson, K. (Participant)
01/01/2018 → 31/12/2024
Project: Research
Activities
- 1 Lecture and oral contribution
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Social Imaginaries of Kingship in the Nordic Household State – Danish and Swedish Variations
Holm, B. K. (Lecturer)
11 May 2023Activity: Presentations, memberships, ownership and other activities › Lecture and oral contribution