Protestantism in Sweden and Denmark - James Aitken Wylie

time filled by Christian II., of the house of
Oldenburg. This monarch had spent his youth in
the society of low companions and the indulgence
of low vices. His character was such as might have
been expected from his education; he was brutal
and tyrannical, though at times he displayed a
sense of justice, and a desire to promote the
welfare of his subjects. The clergy were vastly
wealthy; so, too, were the nobles -- they owned
most of the lands; and as thus the ecclesiastical and
lay aristocracy possessed an influence that
overshadowed the throne, Christian took measures
to reduce their power within dimensions more
compatible with the rights of royalty. The opinions
of Luther had begun to spread in the kingdom ere
this time, and the king, quick to perceive the aid he
might derive from the Reformation, sought to
further it among his people. In 1520 he sent for
Martin Reinhard, a disciple of Carlstadt, and
appointed him Professor of Theology at
Stockholm. He died within the year, and Carlstadt
himself succeeded him. After a short residence,
Carlstadt quitted Denmark, when Christian, still
intent on rescuing the lower classes of his people
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