The Dissolution Of Monasteries

Beskrivelse

This book explores the slow and complex process of dissolving monasteries in Scandinavia, focusing especially on Denmark. It questions why the closure of Danish monasteries took so long, with the last one shutting its doors only in 1621.

An insightful comparative study on the gradual dissolution of monasteries during the Danish Reformation.

This volume takes a comparative look at the dissolution of monasteries across Scandinavia within the broader Northern European context. While the Danish Reformation is often seen as rigid and uncompromising, the reality was far more complicated-the dismantling of monasteries in Denmark was neither swift nor straightforward.

Theologians from Wittenberg were firm in their stance on monasteries, which led to the responsibility of closing them being handed over to secular authorities. This task was further complicated by the close ties between monasteries and the nobility, including princes and noble families who had frequently helped found these institutions. Power dynamics among these groups shifted over time and varied depending on the specific state and government in place. Religious orders also played a significant role in this process.

Despite these differences, certain general patterns emerge. The essays in this collection, written by scholars from various disciplines and countries, draw on a wide range of sources to explore these themes of variation and commonality. They are the result of an international conference held at the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies at the University of Southern Denmark, commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

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