Christian was raised in his father King Frederik I’s castle in Gottorp in the beliefs of the Lutheran Church.
Denmark was still primarily a catholic country but King Frederik had, much to the disdain of the Danish State Council and the nobles, granted his people freedom of religion.
At a young age, Christian traveled to Germany, where he first hand witnessed Luther defending his theories. He returned to Denmark a strong believer of the Lutheran church
The State Council, which in large consisted of Catholics, wouldn’t accept a Lutheran as king of Denmark, which resulted in one year’s interregnum after King Frederik I’s death in 1533, while the options for a new king were weighed.
The State Council would rather see Christian’s half brother, Hans, as king since he had been raised in catholic beliefs and because Christian early on stated that he would rather walk away barefooted, leaving the kingdom and everything behind, than deny his Lutheran beliefs.
The Count's Feud
But in 1534 supporters of former catholic King Christian II, who had been a held prisoner since 1531 when he tried to take the throne from king Frederik I, started a civil war that was to be called the ‘Count’s Feud.’ Count Christoffer of Oldenburg, who was a firm catholic believer and determined to return Christian II to the throne, led the feud. The peasants, who joined in civil war, were lead by Skipper Clement. The country was in need of a king to lead them in the fight against the counts and Christian III was crowned King of Denmark. The Counts Feud ended in 1536 with Chistoffer of Oldenburg being banished from the country. The peasant leader Skipper Clement suffered a much harsher destiny as he was captured and beheaded. His body was cut into pieces and his head put on a stake with a lead crown.
The Reformation
First on the king’s agenda was the reformation of Denmark from Catholicism to Protestantism. In order to avoid another major conflict in the country, he simply arrested all the bishops and gave them no option but to surrender their beliefs and confirm to Protestantism. By arresting the bishops Christian could also confiscate the property of the bishops and thereby pay of his large debt from the Counts Feud.
With the reformation and the Counts Feud over, King Christian brought peace to a troubled and divided country.
King Christian III was known as a god-fearing, peace-loving king, who avoided conflicts with all means. He cooperated with the State Council unlike many of his predecessors, who spent most of their reigns fighting the Council. He devoted his life to the work of the church and became the king, who successfully introduced the Lutheran beliefs and reformed the country of Denmark to Protestantism.
King Christian III died at Koldinghus in 1559.
Sources:
www.kongehuset.dk
www.danskekonger.dk
www.kongernesjelling.dk
