Filters:
Iceland (Danish dependency)
Years: 1400 - 1918
Iceland remains under Norwegian kingship until 1380, when the death of Olav IV extinguishes the Norwegian male royal line.
Norway (and thus Iceland) then became part of the Kalmar Union, along with Sweden and Denmark, with Denmark as the dominant power.
Unlike Norway, Denmark does not need Iceland's fish and homespun wool.
This creates a dramatic deficit in Iceland's trade.
The small Greenland colony, established in the late tenth century, died out completely before 1500.With the introduction of absolute monarchy in Denmark–Norway in 1660 under Frederick III, the Icelanders relinquish their autonomy to the crown, including the right to initiate and consent to legislation.
Capital
Reykjavík Capital Region IcelandRelated Events
Filter results
Showing 10 events out of 90 total
Denmark becomes officially Lutheran on October 30, 1536, by decree of King Christian III, and in 1537 the reconstituted State Council approves the Lutheran Ordinances, which is worked out by Danish theologians and Johannes Bugenhagen, based on the Augsburg Confession and Luther's Little Catechism.
The government establishes the Danish National Church (Danish: Folkekirken) as the state church.
All of Denmark's Catholic bishops go to prison until such time as they convert to Luther's reform.
The authorities release them when they promise to marry and to support the reforms.
If they agree, they receive property and will spend the rest of their lives as wealthy landowners.
If they refuse conversion, they will die in prison.
The State confiscates Church lands to pay for the armies that had enforced Christian III's election.
Priests swear allegiance to Lutheranism or find new employment.
The new owners turn monks out of their monasteries and abbeys.
Nuns in a few places gain permission to live out their lives in nunneries, though without governmental financial support.
The Crown closes churches, abbeys, priories and cathedrals, giving their property to local nobles or selling it.
The King appoints Danish superintendents (later bishops) to oversee Lutheran orthodoxy in the church.
Denmark becomes part of a Lutheran heartland extending through Scandinavia and northern Germany.
The Catholic Church everywhere in Scandinavia has sealed its fate by supporting hopeless causes: Christian II and the emperor Charles V in Denmark, Norwegian independence in that country, and in Sweden the Kalmar Union.
Geographical distance also prevents them from receiving anything more than a sympathetic ear from Rome.
View Event
The government establishes the Danish National Church (Danish: Folkekirken) as the state church.
All of Denmark's Catholic bishops go to prison until such time as they convert to Luther's reform.
The authorities release them when they promise to marry and to support the reforms.
If they agree, they receive property and will spend the rest of their lives as wealthy landowners.
If they refuse conversion, they will die in prison.
The State confiscates Church lands to pay for the armies that had enforced Christian III's election.
Priests swear allegiance to Lutheranism or find new employment.
The new owners turn monks out of their monasteries and abbeys.
Nuns in a few places gain permission to live out their lives in nunneries, though without governmental financial support.
The Crown closes churches, abbeys, priories and cathedrals, giving their property to local nobles or selling it.
The King appoints Danish superintendents (later bishops) to oversee Lutheran orthodoxy in the church.
Denmark becomes part of a Lutheran heartland extending through Scandinavia and northern Germany.
The Catholic Church everywhere in Scandinavia has sealed its fate by supporting hopeless causes: Christian II and the emperor Charles V in Denmark, Norwegian independence in that country, and in Sweden the Kalmar Union.
Geographical distance also prevents them from receiving anything more than a sympathetic ear from Rome.
Christian II (reigned 1513–1523) comes to power in Denmark the early sixteenth century.
He allegedly declared, "If the hat on my head knew what I was thinking, I would pull it off and throw it away."
This quotation apparently refers to his devious and Machiavellian political dealings.
He conquers Sweden in an attempt to reinforce the union, and has about one hundred leaders of the Swedish anti-unionist forces killed in what comes to be known as the Stockholm Bloodbath of November 1520.
The bloodbath destroys any lingering hope of Scandinavian union.
View Event
He allegedly declared, "If the hat on my head knew what I was thinking, I would pull it off and throw it away."
This quotation apparently refers to his devious and Machiavellian political dealings.
He conquers Sweden in an attempt to reinforce the union, and has about one hundred leaders of the Swedish anti-unionist forces killed in what comes to be known as the Stockholm Bloodbath of November 1520.
The bloodbath destroys any lingering hope of Scandinavian union.
Civil war and the Protestant Reformation in Denmark and Norway follow in the wake of Sweden's definitive secession from the Kalmar Union in 1521.
When things settle down, the Privy Council of Denmark has lost some of its influence, and that of Norway no longer exists.
The two kingdoms, known as Denmark–Norway, operate in a personal union under a single monarch.
Norway keeps its separate laws and some institutions, such as a royal chancellor, separate coinage and a separate army.
As an hereditary kingdom, Norway's status as separate from Denmark remains important to the royal dynasty in its struggles to win elections as kings of Denmark.
The two kingdoms will remain tied until 1814.
View Event
When things settle down, the Privy Council of Denmark has lost some of its influence, and that of Norway no longer exists.
The two kingdoms, known as Denmark–Norway, operate in a personal union under a single monarch.
Norway keeps its separate laws and some institutions, such as a royal chancellor, separate coinage and a separate army.
As an hereditary kingdom, Norway's status as separate from Denmark remains important to the royal dynasty in its struggles to win elections as kings of Denmark.
The two kingdoms will remain tied until 1814.
The Reformation, which originates in the German lands in the early sixteenth century from the ideas of Martin Luther (1483–1546), has a considerable impact on Denmark.
The Danish Reformation starts in the mid-1520s.
Some Danes want access to the Bible in their own language.
In 1524 Hans Mikkelsen and Christiern Pedersen translate the New Testament into Danish; it becomes an instant best-seller.
View Event
The Danish Reformation starts in the mid-1520s.
Some Danes want access to the Bible in their own language.
In 1524 Hans Mikkelsen and Christiern Pedersen translate the New Testament into Danish; it becomes an instant best-seller.
...King Frederick appoints Tausen as one of his personal chaplains (October 1526) in order to protect him from Catholics.
Tausen's version of Luther's ideas spreads throughout Denmark.
Copenhagen becomes a hotbed of reformist activity and Tausen moves there to continue his work.
His reputation precedes him and the excitement of hearing the liturgy in Danish brings thousands of people out to hear him.
With the kings' permission, churches in Copenhagen open heir doors to the Lutherans and hold services for Catholics and for Lutherans at different times of the day.
At Our Lady Church, the main church of Copenhagen, Bishop Ronnow refuses to admit the "heretics".
In December 1531 a mob storms the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, encouraged by Copenhagen's fiery mayor, Ambrosius Bogbinder.
They tear down statues and side-altars and destroy artwork and reliquaries.
Frederick I's policy of toleration insists that the two competing groups share churches and pulpits peacefully, but this satisfies neither Lutherans nor Catholics.
Luther's ideas spread rapidly as a consequence of a powerful combination of popular enthusiasm for church reform and a royal eagerness to secure greater wealth through the seizure of church lands and property.
In Denmark the reformation increases the crown's revenues by three hundred percent.
View Event
Tausen's version of Luther's ideas spreads throughout Denmark.
Copenhagen becomes a hotbed of reformist activity and Tausen moves there to continue his work.
His reputation precedes him and the excitement of hearing the liturgy in Danish brings thousands of people out to hear him.
With the kings' permission, churches in Copenhagen open heir doors to the Lutherans and hold services for Catholics and for Lutherans at different times of the day.
At Our Lady Church, the main church of Copenhagen, Bishop Ronnow refuses to admit the "heretics".
In December 1531 a mob storms the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, encouraged by Copenhagen's fiery mayor, Ambrosius Bogbinder.
They tear down statues and side-altars and destroy artwork and reliquaries.
Frederick I's policy of toleration insists that the two competing groups share churches and pulpits peacefully, but this satisfies neither Lutherans nor Catholics.
Luther's ideas spread rapidly as a consequence of a powerful combination of popular enthusiasm for church reform and a royal eagerness to secure greater wealth through the seizure of church lands and property.
In Denmark the reformation increases the crown's revenues by three hundred percent.
Dissatisfaction with the established Catholic Church had already been widespread in Denmark.
Many people view the tithes and fees—a constant source of irritation for farmers and merchants—as unjust.
This becomes apparent once word gets out that King Frederick and his son, Duke Christian, have no sympathy with Franciscans who persistently make the rounds of the parishes to collect food, money, and clothing in addition to the tithes.
Between 1527 and 1536 many towns petition the king to close the Franciscan houses.
Frederick obliges by sending letters authorizing the closure of the monasteries, often offering a small sum of money to help the brothers on their way.
With the royal letter in hand, mobs forcibly close Franciscan abbeys all over Denmark.
They beat up monks, two of whom die.
The closure of Franciscan houses occurs systematically in Copenhagen, Viborg, Aalborg, Randers, Malmö and ten other cities; in all, twenty-eight monasteries or houses close.
People literally hound Franciscan monks out of the towns.
No other order faces such harsh treatment.
Considering how strongly many people feel about removing all traces of Catholic traditions from Danish churches, surprisingly little violence takes place.
Luther's teaching has become so overwhelmingly popular that Danes systematically clear churches of statues, paintings, wall-hangings, reliquaries and other Catholic elements without interference.
The only exceptions come in individual churches where the local churchmen refuse to permit reform.
View Event
Many people view the tithes and fees—a constant source of irritation for farmers and merchants—as unjust.
This becomes apparent once word gets out that King Frederick and his son, Duke Christian, have no sympathy with Franciscans who persistently make the rounds of the parishes to collect food, money, and clothing in addition to the tithes.
Between 1527 and 1536 many towns petition the king to close the Franciscan houses.
Frederick obliges by sending letters authorizing the closure of the monasteries, often offering a small sum of money to help the brothers on their way.
With the royal letter in hand, mobs forcibly close Franciscan abbeys all over Denmark.
They beat up monks, two of whom die.
The closure of Franciscan houses occurs systematically in Copenhagen, Viborg, Aalborg, Randers, Malmö and ten other cities; in all, twenty-eight monasteries or houses close.
People literally hound Franciscan monks out of the towns.
No other order faces such harsh treatment.
Considering how strongly many people feel about removing all traces of Catholic traditions from Danish churches, surprisingly little violence takes place.
Luther's teaching has become so overwhelmingly popular that Danes systematically clear churches of statues, paintings, wall-hangings, reliquaries and other Catholic elements without interference.
The only exceptions come in individual churches where the local churchmen refuse to permit reform.
Frederick I dies in 1533; the Viborg Assembly (Danish: landsting) proclaims his son, Duke Christian of Schleswig, King Christian III.
The State Council (Danish: Rigsråd) on Zealand, led by the Catholic bishops, takes control of the country and refuses to recognize the election of Christian III, a staunch Lutheran.
The regents fear Christian's zeal for Luther's ideas will tip the balance and disenfranchise Catholics—both peasants and nobles.
The State Council encourages Count Christopher of Oldenburg to become Regent of Denmark.
Christian III quickly raises an army to enforce his election, including mercenary troops from Germany.
Count Christopher raises an army (including troops from Mecklenburg and Oldenburg and the Hanseatic League, especially Lűbeck) to restore his Catholic uncle King Christian II (deposed in 1523).
This results in a three-year civil war called the Count's Feud (Danish: Grevens Fejde)
View Event
The State Council (Danish: Rigsråd) on Zealand, led by the Catholic bishops, takes control of the country and refuses to recognize the election of Christian III, a staunch Lutheran.
The regents fear Christian's zeal for Luther's ideas will tip the balance and disenfranchise Catholics—both peasants and nobles.
The State Council encourages Count Christopher of Oldenburg to become Regent of Denmark.
Christian III quickly raises an army to enforce his election, including mercenary troops from Germany.
Count Christopher raises an army (including troops from Mecklenburg and Oldenburg and the Hanseatic League, especially Lűbeck) to restore his Catholic uncle King Christian II (deposed in 1523).
This results in a three-year civil war called the Count's Feud (Danish: Grevens Fejde)
Armed rebellion by Catholic peasants led by Skipper Clement starts in northern Jutland.
Rebellion sweeps across Funen, Zealand and Skåne.
Christian III's army soundly defeats an army of Catholic nobles at Svenstrup on October 16, 1534.
Christian forces a truce with the Hanseatic League, which had sent troops to help Count Christopher.
Christian III's army, under Johan Rantzau, chases the rebels all the way back to Aalborg, then massacres over two thousand of them inside the city in December 1534.
The Protestants capture Skipper Clement (1534), and later execute him in 1536.
Christian III's mercenary troops put an end to Catholic hopes on Zealand, then Funen.
Skåne rebels go as far as proclaiming Christian II king again.
King Gustav Vasa of Sweden sends two separate armies to ravage Halland and Skåne into submission.
Besiegers finally starve the last hold-outs in the rebellion, Copenhagen and Malmø, into surrender in July 1536.
By the spring of 1536 Christian III has taken firm control.
View Event
Rebellion sweeps across Funen, Zealand and Skåne.
Christian III's army soundly defeats an army of Catholic nobles at Svenstrup on October 16, 1534.
Christian forces a truce with the Hanseatic League, which had sent troops to help Count Christopher.
Christian III's army, under Johan Rantzau, chases the rebels all the way back to Aalborg, then massacres over two thousand of them inside the city in December 1534.
The Protestants capture Skipper Clement (1534), and later execute him in 1536.
Christian III's mercenary troops put an end to Catholic hopes on Zealand, then Funen.
Skåne rebels go as far as proclaiming Christian II king again.
King Gustav Vasa of Sweden sends two separate armies to ravage Halland and Skåne into submission.
Besiegers finally starve the last hold-outs in the rebellion, Copenhagen and Malmø, into surrender in July 1536.
By the spring of 1536 Christian III has taken firm control.
Margaret I, the daughter of Valdemar Atterdag, had found herself married off to Håkon VI of Norway in an attempt to join the two kingdoms, along with Sweden, since Håkon had kinship ties to the Swedish royal family.
The dynastic plans had called for her son, Olaf II to rule the three kingdoms, but after his early death in 1387 she took on the role herself (1387–1412).
During her lifetime (1353–1412) the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (including the Faroe Islands, as well as Iceland, Greenland, and present-day Finland) become linked under her capable rule, in what becomes known as the Kalmar Union, made official in 1397.
View Event
The dynastic plans had called for her son, Olaf II to rule the three kingdoms, but after his early death in 1387 she took on the role herself (1387–1412).
During her lifetime (1353–1412) the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (including the Faroe Islands, as well as Iceland, Greenland, and present-day Finland) become linked under her capable rule, in what becomes known as the Kalmar Union, made official in 1397.
Margaret’s successor, Eric of Pomerania (King of Denmark from 1412 to 1439), lacks Margaret's skill and thus directly causes the breakup of the Kalmar Union.
Eric's foreign policy engulfs Denmark in a succession of wars with the Holstein counts and the city of Lübeck.
When the Hanseatic League imposes a trade embargo on Scandinavia, the Swedes (who see their mining industry adversely affected) rise up in revolt.
The three countries of the Kalmar Union all declare Eric deposed in 1439.
However, support for the idea of regionalism continues, so when Eric's nephew Christopher of Bavaria comes to the throne in 1440, he manages to get himself elected in all three kingdoms, briefly reuniting Scandinavia (1442–1448).
The Swedish nobility grows increasingly unhappy with Danish rule and the union soon becomes merely a legal concept with little practical application.
During the subsequent reigns of Christian I (1450–1481) and Hans (1481–1513), tensions grow, and several wars between Sweden and Denmark erupt.
View Event
Eric's foreign policy engulfs Denmark in a succession of wars with the Holstein counts and the city of Lübeck.
When the Hanseatic League imposes a trade embargo on Scandinavia, the Swedes (who see their mining industry adversely affected) rise up in revolt.
The three countries of the Kalmar Union all declare Eric deposed in 1439.
However, support for the idea of regionalism continues, so when Eric's nephew Christopher of Bavaria comes to the throne in 1440, he manages to get himself elected in all three kingdoms, briefly reuniting Scandinavia (1442–1448).
The Swedish nobility grows increasingly unhappy with Danish rule and the union soon becomes merely a legal concept with little practical application.
During the subsequent reigns of Christian I (1450–1481) and Hans (1481–1513), tensions grow, and several wars between Sweden and Denmark erupt.
Loading...