How did Scandinavian rulers react to Lutheranism in the Renaissance period?
Scandinavia was an important region in the Lutheran Reformation
during the 16th centuries. King Christian II of Denmark-Norway and
Holstein and King Gustav I of Sweden both adopted Lutheranism
personally and advanced it in their kingdoms.
Christian II's successor, Frederick I was staunchly Catholic and
harshly opposed Lutheranism in the earlier years of his reign, but
eventually came to tolerate and then even protect Lutheran
preachers. His son, Christian III, was openly Lutheran and promoted
that ideology during his time on the throne. It became the official
religion in Denmark-Norway in 1536.
Sweden had a slower start in adopting Lutheranism as a whole
country but various Lutheran preachers and groups had a
considerable amount of support. Canon Law, Sweden's tie to the
Roman Catholic Church, was abolished in 1536, the same year that
Denmark-Norway officially adopted the religion.