Reforming the North : The Kingdoms and Churches of Scandinavia, 1520–1545

The turbulence of the Protestant Reformation marks a turning point in European history, but the Scandinavian contribution to this revolution is not well known outside the Northern world. Reforming the North focuses on twenty-five years (1520–1545 A.D.) of this history, during which Scandinavians terminated the medieval Union of Kalmar, toppled the Catholic Church, ended the commercial dominance of the German Hanse, and laid the foundations for centralized states on the ruins of old institutions and organizations. This book traces the chaotic and often violent transfer of resources and authority from the decentralized structures of medieval societies to the early modern states and their territorial churches. Religious reform is regarded as an essential element in the process – in the context of social unrest, political conflict, and long-term changes in finance, trade, and warfare. Reforming the North offers a broad perspective on this turbulent period and on the implications of the Protestant Reformation for Northern history. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Abbreviations Introduction 1 The North Part I Lord of the Northern World, 1513–1523 2 Preliminary 3 Christian II’s Other Kingdom 4 A Conquest 5 Hubris 6 Insurrection 7 The King’s Fall Part II Successors, 1523–1533 8 The New Men 9 Brushfires Unrest in skaane and southern sweden Treachery in kalmar, agitation in dalarna A good regiment in norway Discord among norway's leaders Duke christian visits norway 10 Reform by Indirection 11 Reform by Decree 12 The Return of the King Part III Civil War, 1533–1536 13 A Republic of Nobles The succession, religion, and foreign relations The evangelical faction in lübeck Alliance with the netherlands Norwegian sovereignty Popular discontent in denmark Sweden breaks with lübeck Lübeck's ambitions in the north 14 Reactions Norwegian councillors in danish waters Jylland and fyn acclaim duke christian Troubles in northern jylland Peace between holstein and lübeck Northern jylland pacified Troubles in eastern denmark New combinations, action in skaane 15 The War of All Against All Troubles on sjælland Duke christian in northern jylland Opposition to duke christian in norway Reverses by land and sea Reaction in lübeck Duke christian in stockholm Wullenweber's commanders 16 The Fall of Copenhagen Archbishop engelbrektsson attempts a coup The siege of copenhagen Duke christian’s peace with lübeck Brussels moves to exploit the unstable situation The surrender of copenhagen Terminations Part IV The Settlement, 1536–1545 17 A New Order 18 Under the Crown of Denmark Eternally 19 Dilemmas of a Very Early Modern State 20 Supremacy and Its Discontents 21 Conclusion Bibliography Sixteenth-century sources in print Secondary sources Index "The turbulence of the Protestant Reformation marks a turning point in European history, but the Scandinavian contribution to this revolution is not well known outside the Northern world. Reforming the North focuses on twenty-five years (1520-1545 A.D.) of this history, during which Scandinavians terminated the medieval Union of Kalmar, toppled the Catholic Church, ended the commerical dominance of the German Hanse, and laid the foundations for centralized states on the ruins of old instiutions and organizations."--[P.] 2, cover. "The turbulence of the Protestant Reformation marks a turning point in European history, but the Scandinavian contribution to this revolution is not well known outside the Northern world. Reforming the North focuses on twenty-five years (1520-1545 A.D.) of this history, during which Scandinavians terminated the medieval Union of Kalmar, toppled the Catholic Church, ended the commercial dominance of the German Hanse, and laid the foundations for centralized states on the ruins of old institutions and organizations."--Page 2, cover "The turbulence of the Protestant Reformation marks a turning point in European history, but the Scandinavian contribution to this revolution is not well known outside the Northern world. Reforming the North focuses on twenty-five years (1520-1545 A.D.) of this history, during which Scandinavians terminated the medieval Union of Kalmar, toppled the Catholic Church, ended the commerical dominance of the German Hanse, and laid the foundations for centralized states on the ruins of old instiutions and organizations."--Page 2, cover