Historiography at the Court of Christian IV (1588-1648): Studies in the Latin Histories of Denmark by Johannes Pontanus and Johannes MeursiusThroughout his reign, Christian IV (1588-1648) distinguished himself as a remarkable patron of the arts and sciences. One of the projects to which he and his chancellor paid most attention was the promotion of an up-to-date account of Danish history in Latin. Considerable resources were spent on the project. As a result no less than two histories of Denmark appeared in the 1630s, the Rerum Danicarum historia by Johannes Pontanus and the Historia Danica by Johannes Meursius. They were to serve as standard works on Danish history for European politicians, diplomats and intellectuals. Historiography at the Court of Christian IV presents a comparative study of the two histories. The interplay between the authors and the Danish government is a central theme. Important political issues, such as Denmark's relations to Sweden and the quasi-hereditary nature of the Danish monarchy, are shown to be reflected in both works. Their relation to contemporary trends in European historiography is explored, and it is argued that they are surprisingly different, in style as well as in subject matter. In modern scholarship, the official national historiography has been a neglected area of the cultural programme of Christian IV. |
Contents
II | 11 |
The Promotion of a New History of Denmark | 23 |
The Authors | 37 |
133 | 45 |
Johannes Meursius | 61 |
The Personal Relationship between Meursius | 83 |
Opening the books | 125 |
Pontanuss Rerum Danicarum historia | 143 |
104 | 217 |
110 | 225 |
Meursiuss Historia Danica | 239 |
Style | 331 |
Meursiuss Notes to Pontanuss Rerum | 403 |
Conclusion | 411 |
Bibliography | 427 |
Historiographical Initiatives during Christen Friiss Period | 439 |
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Common terms and phrases
Adam of Bremen Anders Sørensen Vedel antiquarian Arngrímur Arngrímur Jónsson atque authors Canutus Canutus's century chancellor Chapter Chorographica descriptio Christian IV Christophorus Chron Chronicon Cimbrians classical Copenhagen Danes Dania Danish history Danish king Danus dated death early edition Emperor Ericus etiam Frederik Frotho German Germania Gesta Danorum Goths Haddingus hereditary Historia Danica historiographer History of Denmark Huitfeldt Ilsøe Ioannis Johannes Magnus Krag Krag's Krantz later Latin Letter from Pontanus Lyschander Magnus's Matthæus Melanchthon mentioned Meur Meursius's Meursius's History monarchy nobleman Normans Norway Norwegian notes Oldenburg kings Ole Worm omnia passage period poem Pontanus Pontanus's and Meursius's Pontanus's History preface printed published quæ quam quod quotations quoted refers regni regnum reign Roman Rørdam Saxo Saxo's Scandinavians Sorø sources Stephanius Sueno Svaning Svaning's History Sweden Swedish king Tacitus Tacitus's tanus tanus's texts tion Union of Kalmar Valdemarus Vedel Vossius