Episode 333: Denmark

in European affairs. And the reason for that is simple, and the reason is the Thirty Years War is going to draw these kingdoms back into the European central and to an extent Western periphery for really the first time for hundreds and hundreds of years now. Of course, Denmark's

story begins long before the Thirty Years War. Its involvement in this what's going to be pan European conflict was linked to Central European affairs, specifically due to increased Spanish and French involvement in Central Europe beginning and of course the late sixteenth century. But this involvement, however, was more of a consequence of Denmark's existing position rather than a direct cause of the war, Unlike Sweden, which remained distant

from Central European politics until the Thirty Years War. Later stages, Denmark had been deeply entrenched in these affairs for decades. The difference in the involvement stems from their distinct historical trajectories. While the piece of Westphalia in sixteen forty eight is going to mark the beginning of a relatively stable period in Central Europe, Scandinavia faced its own set of issues

that predated the peace settlement. These issues were rooted in political and dynastic ambitions and would eventually drag both Denmark and Sweden into the Thirty Years War, albeit for very very different reasons. Denmark's dominance in the Baltic has been traditionally rooted in its historical claim over Norway and the control of the vital waterways they're in. If you look at a map of the Baltic region, you'll notice that Denmark, especially with the control of Norway, is specifically placed in

a position to dominate. Ain't that trade if it so chooses? Recalled that England didn't establish successful trading relationships with Russia until the late sixteenth century. Why was that? While to an extent, that's because of Denmark's stranglehold over the trade in this region. Now, the marriage of James the sixth of Scotland to Anne of Denmark in fifteen ninety further

strengthened Denmark's position in the region. This union brought the British Isles, particularly Scotland, closer to the heart of the Scandinavian political landscape. This strategic positioning gave Denmark significant leverage in regional affairs. And again, I hate to keep coming

back to this, but this is nothing new. If we go back to the Viking Age, you'll remember that the British Isles were much more closely tied to the affairs of Northern Europe than they were to western, certainly Central or Southern Europe. Adding to its dynastic influence. Denmark's control over the strategic strait between the Baltic and the North Seas, referred to as the Sound, gave it economic and strategic dominance.

The Sound was the only access point for shipping between these two important bodies of water, that is, the Baltic in the North Seas, making it a lucrative source of tolls and a strategic choke point. Denmark's jealousy guarded its access, using it to exert its influence and bolster its treasury and its economy. Further solidifying its regional control was the complex web of personal and political ties within Denmark itself.

The Danish royal family, the House of Massacre this I'm sure the House of Oldenburg had familial links with various German princely houses, including those in Schleswig and Holstein. These connections were further cemented through trade, intermarriage, and shared political interest, particularly within the Roman Empire. And as you can probably tell where I'm going with this, drawing Denmark deeper and

deeper into the affairs of the Holy Roman Empire. We've already talked in previous episodes about how family and personal connections within the Habsburg line were going to be a key part of our story going forward, but they're not the only family that matters. Increasingly, the princely lines of Germany, combined with those of Scandinavia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway are going to be important in our story. Internally, Denmark's structure was complex.

The nobility wielded significant power, about two thirds of them residing in Denmark and controlled vast tracts of land. The crown however, was not without its own resources. Danish monarchs in the late sixteenth century enjoyed a strengthened monarchy and powerful nobility. This seemingly contradictory situation arose from a balance of power carefully and consistently maintained between the Danish king and his nobility. Now, the Danish kings were by no

means absolute monarchs. I hope by now you realize that term doesn't mean a whole heck of a lot until we get to the later stages of early and late modernity. Now, they had to contend with the Rigsrod, a council of nobles who acted as a sort of check on royal power. You can think of them kind of like a parliament. This arrangement, while appearing to limit royal authority, actually fostered stability and prevented any one group from within the kingdom

from becoming too dominant. It was this internal stability which allowed Denmark to project power effectively into the Baltic regions. Economic prosperity was intrinsically linked, as we've discussed, to its control over the shipping lanes and the sound The sound tolls levied on all ships passing through this crucial waterway

represented a substantial portion of the Danish Crown's income. Between fifteen sixty and sixty oh eight, the Sound tolls alone brought it impressive one hundred and fifty six thousand to two hundred and forty one thousand reeks dollars annually. This is nothing more than a testament to the sheer volume of trade that was passing through Danish waters. This income flowed directly into the King's private account, effectively making it

independent of any control over the nobility or the Reek stock. Interestingly, Denmark's involvement in the Baltic trade went simply beyond collecting tolls. The crown directly controlled only a small amount of the trade that passed through the Sound. The majority of this trade was conducted by the ankh the Dutch and German merchants.

Despite this limited direct involvement, Denmark was still able to reap significant benefits from the tolls, Highlighting the importance of the Sound is an economic artery that we really shouldn't

be overlooking here. It's a story in this era that tends to be dominated by our big names, right Spain, Austria with the Habsburgs certainly France, England increasingly, but we can't forget about Northern Europe and the ways that the Northern European economy is going to play a role in the development of the overall European economy in the century to come. Now, the Danish monarchs of this era were

not shy about using this wealth. They invested heavily in promoting the Danish economy, venturing into various industries like whaling, which was getting increasingly important, and promoting trade. This proactive approach aimed to boost both national prestige and the personal wealth of the monarchs. This blend of economic pragmatism and dynastic ambition would become a defining characteristic of Danish foreign policy in the decades leading up to the Thirty Years Or.

Despite its relatively peaceful stance prior to the Thirty Years War, Denmark maintained a significant military presence in the Baltic Military expenditure, a significant drain on any kingdom's coffers, consumed a large portion of Danish wealth. This military build up was driven by the need to protect its extensive coastline, in force its control over the Sound, and deter potential aggressors like Sweden.

The Danish military expenditure underwent a significant period of expansion and reorganization in the late sixteen and then early seventeenth centuries. The size of the Danish army ballooned from a modest two eight hundred men in fifteen sixty three to a quite formidable twenty four thousand men by sixteen twenty five, reflecting the growing ambition and perceived threats facing the Danish crown. This growth necessitated not only an increase in troop numbers,

but also the development of new military infrastructure. The fortifications also played a crucial role in the Danish military strategy. By sixteen twenty five, the Danish fleet consisted of thirty eight warships, a testament to the importance placed on naval power. In addition to expanding its naval forces, Denmark invested heavily in upgrading coastal defenses. Eight new fortifications, strategically placed along the Danish coastline were constructed to bolster the kingdom's defenses

and safeguard vital waterways. The emphasis on fortifications was not merely a defensive strategy. It also served as a deterrent to potential aggressors. The impressive scale of these fortresses, coupled with the increase of the Danish army, aimed to discourage any notions of a quick and easy victory against Denmark. This strategy, however, would be put to the test at

the outbreak of the Thirty Years War. Now, Denmark's increasingly assertive foreign policy was inextricably intertwined with the ambitions of its monarchs. Christian the Fourth, who ascended the Danish throne in fifteen eighty eight, embodied this new assertive foreign policy. Considered by many to be the most powerful Protestant monarch alongside England's Elizabeth the First, Christian the Fourth sought to expand Danish influence in the Baltic region and secure his

legacy as a champion of the Protestant faith. This ambition, however, would bring him into direct conflict with the rising power of Sweden. Christian the Fourth's political ambitions extended beyond mere territorial expansion to position himself as a leading figure in the Protestant world, a counterweight to the Catholic Habsburg dynasty that dominated much of Central Europe. This ambition, however, would require Denmark to navigate the treacherous waters of sixteenth and

seventeenth century European power politics. Now central to Christian's ambitions was his desire to curtail the growing influence of the Hanseatic League, which should, of course been around since the Middle Ages. This League, a powerful merchant guild that had dominated the Baltic trade for centuries, was seen as an impediment to Danish economic and political control, and, if I'm

being honest, a bit of an anachronism. In the seventeenth century, Christian the Fourth recognized that undermining the Hanseatic League's power was essential for Denmark to solidify its position as the dominant force in the Baltic Christian the Fourth's efforts to expand Danish influence in northern Germany, however, put him immediately on a collision course with Sweden. This rivalry was not

simply about territorial ambitions. It also had a strong religious undercurrent. Denmark, under Christian's leadership, championed the Protestant cause, while Sweden, though also Protestant, was perceived as less ideologically driven and committed. Adding fuel to this rivalry was a very personal element. Christian the Fourth and his Swedish counterpart, who will talk a lot about later. Gustavus Adolphus were two of the

most ambitious and capable rulers of the era. Their class was in many ways inevitable and driven by a complex interplay of personal ambition, dynastic rivalry, and religious zeal. This rivalry would have far reaching consequences for the future of the Baltic region. Now, Sweden's rise as a European power

would later coincide with Denmark's decline. While Denmark grappled with the economic and military strain of the Thirty Years War, Sweden, under the astute leadership of Gustavus Adolphus, emerged as a formidable military power. This shift in power dynamics, as we're going to see, is going to have a profound impact on the Baltic region. Gustavus Adolphus's reign marked a turning point in Swedish history. He inherited a kingdom on the rise,

its internal problems larger resolved, and its ambitions growing. Unlike Denmark, which is going to be weakened by years of costly wars, Sweden under Gustavus Adolphus was a nation on the ascendancy, eager to claim its place on the European stage. One of Gustavus Adolphus's key strengths was his ability to adapt and innovate. He recognized that Sweden, with its limitary resources, could not hope to match the larger and wealthier powers

of Europe in terms of manpower and finances. To compensate for these limitations, Gustavus Adolphus focused on developing a professional army that was smaller, more mobile, and technologically superior to its adversaries. Gustavis Adolphus's military reforms extended beyond simply improving the training and equipment. They also encompassed a new approach

to warfare. He was among the first military leaders to fully grasp the potential of combined arm tactics, seamlessly integrating infantry, cavalry, and artillery into a cohesive fighting force. This innovative approach to warfare, coupled with Sweden's growing economic and military might, would eventually, as we'll see, turned the tide of the Thirty Years War and established Sweden as a major European power. Denmark's decline in the Baltic would not simply be a

matter of military defeats. It also reflected a failure to adapt to the changing realities of power politics. The Danish monarchy, accustomed to being the dominant force in the region, failed to grasp the signs nificance of Sweden's rise or adapt to its strategies Accordingly, this failure to adapt, coupled with a series of poor decisions by Danish monarchs, would have long lasting consequences for Denmark's position in the Baltic Now, the Thirty Years War will be a turning point in

the history of the Baltic region. Denmark, once the undisputed master of the strategically vital see, would find itself increasingly outmatched by its ambitious neighbor, Sweden. While Denmark's decline would be due in part to external factors like the rise of Sweden, it also reflected internal weakness, including a failure to adapt to the changing nature of warfare and a monarchy more concerned with dynastic ambitions than with long term

interests of the Danish state. The legacy of this period would continue to shape the relationship between Denmark and Sweden for centuries to come, Yet much of that remains in the future of this podcast. For no so that Denmark and Sweden will play major roles in the thirty years ward to common really for the first time in our story since the Viking era, and it's important to recognize

them as major players on the European stage. If you've enjoyed the episode but would like a more detailed overview of history, please check out the link in the show notes for a free trial of Western CIV. Two point zero. I cover all the same topics, but in much, much, much greater detail, and if you go back to the original episodes much better audio quality. You can get a free seven day trial by clinking the note therein. If you'd like to support the show without monetary consequences, feel

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