A mutual confidence between a king who…
August 1536 CE
A mutual confidence between a king who has conquered his kingdom and a people who have stood in arms against him is not attainable immediately.
The circumstances under which Christian III has ascended the throne has exposed Denmark to the danger of foreign domination.
It is with the help of the gentry of the Germanic duchies that Christian has conquered Denmark.
Holsatian and other German noblemen have led his armies and directed his diplomacy.
The first six years of Christian III's reign will be marked by a contest between the Danish Rigsraadet and the German counselors, both of whom seek to rule through the king.
Though the Danish party wins a victory at the outset, by obtaining the insertion in the charter of provisions stipulating that only native-born Danes should fill the highest dignities of the state, the king's German Lutheran counselors will continue paramount during his early reign.
The triumph of a German-speaking Lutheran like Christian III will eventually bring about an end to Catholic Christianity in Denmark, but Catholics still control the Council of State.
On August 12, 1536, Christian III orders the arrest of three of the bishops on the State Council by his German mercenaries.
Martin Luther writes to the king congratulating him on his success.