Reforming Scandinavian Society Social structure and historical situation Reformation Effects –Theological –Political and ideological –Effects in Scandinavian Politics Effects in Daily Life

Social Structures Estates –Nobles –Clergy –Burghers –Landowning farmers Wealth accrues through land ownership –Rudimentary agricultural techniques –Dairy and grains Sweden-Finland’s local self governance Denmark-Norway’s centralized municipal system Tenant farm in Lärbro, province of Gotland, Sweden

End of the Kalmar Union (1523) Kalmar Union and Hansa League Stockholm Bloodbath 1520 Gustav Vasa King of Sweden r Sweden-Finland –Riksdag –Hereditary monarchy est Denmark-Norway-Iceland –Fredrick I r –Christian III r Counts War Balance of power with nobility Reformation as tool that provided leverage to monarchs Danish King Christian II ( )

Reformation Theology A return to theological sources justifying reorganization of church and state Why reformation? –Economic greed of papacy Sale of indulgences Construction of St. Peter’s Cathedral begun in 1507 –Political-economic institution, rather than religious institution Belief, not Works –Undermines authority of those who legitimate works –Shifts emphasis to subjective motivation, from objective appearance Religious life “by the people” –Religious texts in language of people –Religious leaders chosen, rather than appointed by bishops and popes 95 Theses (1517) and Letter to Pope Leo (1520) –Critique of Rome’s Corruption –Mediation of the Church Unnecessary for Salvation The Monk Martin Luther ( )

Political Effects of Reformation Danish Realm, Reformation Est Swedish Realm, Reformation Est Church Property Transferred to Crown Revision of Role of Church State takes on role as political and spiritual authority –State church –Translation of bible into vernacular Swedish Reformer Olaus Petri ( )

Reformation Ideology Cuius regio eius religio (Whoever the king, his religion) –Reformation from Above –Reformation from Below Melancthon—‘Prince responsible for secular and spiritual well-being of subjects’ Example of shift in power from church to King –Christian III imprisons Danish bishops –Appoints himself king of Danish church 1536 –Confiscates church lands Christian III

Overview of political- ideological effects Denmark-Norway –Reformation Introduced 1537 –Language –Church 40% => 0% –State 20 % => 50% Sweden-Finland –Gustav Vasa’s ideology Expropriation of church property –Land ownership –5% => 30 % Church deprived of taxation privilege –Petri Brothers –Language developments –Royal Politics Erik XIV Johan III Sigismund Karl –State Church established through reformation 1593 Gustav Vasa I

Changes in Everyday Life Translation Into Vernacular –Education and Reading –Danish Bible 1550 –Finnish NT 1548 –Swedish Bible 1541 From Collective to Individual Organization –Secular authority –Kings –Subjects Worldly flourishing tied to particular kings, as God’s representatives on earth New focus on individual religious practice Foundation for national consciousness Finnish New Testament

Conclusion Refashioning of Medieval Balance of Authority –Church –Nobility –Monarchy Consolidation of Monarchical Power in the State Revision of Worldview Governing Everyday Life Foundations of modern-nation state