DENMARK, 1513-1660: THE RISE AND DECLINE OF A RENAISSANCE MONARCHY

Jogtörténeti Szemle, 2021

The origins of the medieval Norse term dönsk tunga (‘common Scandinavian language’) are obscure, but the term may indicate that the term ‘Danes’ once referred generically to Germanic-speaking Scandinavians. An original tribal name ‘Danes’ may have evolved this meaning with the emergence of a pan-Scandinavian identity focused on developments in southern Scandinavia during the pre-Viking period, much as the Germanic language of Britain came to be known as ‘English’ regardless of its speakers’ continental tribal ancestry. By the Viking Age, political developments may have ended such a generic meaning for ‘Danes’, though the use was fossilzed in dönsk tunga.

History of European Ideas, 1995

Revue belge de philologie et d'histoire, 1985

This article (from 1985) is a continuation of my work on Saxo Grammaticus (doctoral thesis 1980), in which I argue against traditional interpretations of Gesta Danorum. After 30 years it has still not been properly commented on, as far as I know, so now I welcome my colleagues' viewpoints!

Wulfstan's Voyage: The Baltic Sea Region in the early Viking Age as seen from shipboard, 2009

2007

A line of early Danish historians, who wrote on Medieval Estonia in relation to Denmark, is presented. Each author’s social background and the date of their contribution stand out through their sympathies and antipathies. Likewise, every author also had a Danish bias. German views were challenged, whereas Estonian views never mattered to these Danish authors. To them, the Estonians only played the part of silent extras on the historical stage; first as barbarous enemies, then as faithful subjects or allies and finally as victims. The most attractive theme to the Danish historians is the dramatic conquest in 1219, and its royal or clerical front figures, and the legends of a divine origin of Dannebrog – the national flag. The latter has been the single most popular subject, taking precedence over everything else. The history of Danish-Estonian active political and diplomatic relations until 1346, let alone until 1645, has been a mere niche in Danish history writing. It is possible to...

Comparative Studies in Society and History, 2023

In this article, I take up the case of runic writing to reflect upon James Scott's view of the nexus between writing and various forms of domination in early states, especially the use of literacy for taxation in cereal-growing societies. Scott's theses provide interesting matter "to think with," even when his grasp of historical detail has been found wanting. It is not controversial to grant Scott that cuneiform writing was a remarkable tool for statecraft, and exploitation, in the first states of Mesopotamia, around 3500 BC. The same is true of writing in other early states. But in the first states of Scandinavia, particularly Denmark ca. AD 500-800, writing had a more troubled relationship with the state. No evidence survives that runic writing was used to administer taxation or much else, as it was in other agrarian civilisations. It is true that the runic script was used to commemorate kings, most famously by Haraldr Blátǫnn (r. ca. 958-ca. 986.). But, statistically speaking, it was more often used to aggrandize the sort of local big men who usually resisted centralized power. In this article, I survey the relationship between runic writing and administration. I consider what the Danish situation suggests about the relationship between states and writing and offer a tentative hypothesis of a short-lived attempt at runic bureaucracy around 800, which created-and quickly lost control of-a shortened variety of the runic script (the Younger Futhark).

Icelandic Review of Politics and Administration, 2014

The paper argues that there is not necessarily a correlation between political, economic and societal shelter. Iceland received considerable societal and political shelter from Denmark in the period under study, but Denmark failed to provide its remote island with economic cover. Firstly, and most importantly, it provided substantial and highly valuable societal shelter. Copenhagen was the main channel by which new knowledge and technology could enter Iceland. The islanders benefited from educational, health-care and social policies of the crown and it played an invaluable role in preserving Iceland’s cultural heritage. Secondly, Denmark provided partial protection of Icelandic waters and land though Iceland’s peripheral position continued to be its main protection from outside attacks. However, at the end of our period, the Danish kingdom was in decline and unable to provide political cover. Nevertheless, increased centralization, initiated from Denmark, provided internal order and political stability and citizens became more equal before the law. Thirdly, Icelanders paid a heavy price for the Danish trade monopoly though Icelanders continued to receive partial economic and societal shelter from foreign merchants and fishermen. The crown’s policies towards Iceland can largely be explained by current ideological trends at any given time. By being in constant contact with the European continent through Denmark, Icelandic society was part of the societal, political and economic evolution in Europe and managed to avoid isolation despite its geographical remoteness.