Christian III

Timeline

1. 1503–1534Gottorp Castle · SchleswigChristian III was born at Gottorp Castle in the Duchy of Schleswig; his father Frederick I was King of Denmark. In 1521 he attended the Diet of Worms and personally witnessed Martin Luther defend his faith, an experience that deeply moved him and made him a firm Lutheran. During his father's reign he served as Duke of Schleswig-Holstein.
2. 1534–1536Copenhagen · ZealandAfter his father Frederick I died in 1533, the Count's Feud (Grevens Fejde) broke out, supported by Catholic nobles and the Hanseatic League, with the aim of restoring Christian II. Christian III secured the support of the nobility and Lutheran forces, suppressed the rebellion in 1536, captured Copenhagen, and formally became King of Denmark, capturing all the Catholic bishops in the process.
3. 1536–1550Copenhagen · DenmarkIn 1536 Christian III formally established Lutheranism as the state religion of Denmark, abolished the Catholic episcopal system, and confiscated church property for the crown. He invited Johannes Bugenhagen to oversee the reform and issued new church ordinances. In 1537 Norway was also forcibly brought within the scope of the Lutheran reform, and the Norwegian Catholic Church was formally dissolved. In 1550 a Danish-language Bible was published, spreading the Reformation among the common people.
4. 1550–1559Copenhagen · DenmarkIn his later years Christian III devoted himself to consolidating the Protestant alliance, supporting the German Protestant princes during the Schmalkaldic War (1546–1547) and in subsequent diplomacy. He maintained relatively stable relations with Sweden and died at Kolding on 1 January 1559, his posthumous name being 'the Good King'.