King christian ii of denmark
Scandinavian king, stockholm bloodbath, end of!
Open Online Course in Danish History
Portrait of Christian II, painted by Michel Sittow (c. 1469–1525) of Flanders in 1515.
King christian ii of denmark
The portrait is painted in Renaissance style and depicts the self-confident prince, who rules by virtue of his own abilities and individuality. There are approximately forty extant portraits of Christian II, most of which are by artists from the Netherlands.
These many portraits should be seen as the result of a deliberate image policy designed to promote the king and his power. Photo: National Gallery of Denmark
Christian II’s trade policy was an extension of his predecessors’ efforts to bring trade into Danish hands, but it was more far-reaching than ever before.
For example, the burghers in Denmark’s two most important towns, Copenhagen and Malmö, were favoured more than previously. The king was to a large extent inspired by the Netherlands, where strong urbanisation had led to the accumulation of great wealth.
The desire to emulate the Nether