Casting a glance across Balticum – Poland and her past in Arild Huitfeldt’s Chronicle
Casting a glance across Balticum – Poland and her past in Arild Huitfeldt’s Chronicle

Summary/Abstract: The enormous 16th century book Chronicle of the Kingdom of Denmark, written in vernacular, is a testament to several features typical of that period’s historiography. As a utilitarian history it was supposed to deliver moral and political lessons and arguments. It has a traditional form, in many parts annalistic. Despite several weaknesses, the work became very popular reading for generations of Danish nobility, influencing the development of historical consciousness. The Chronicle is also evidence of broadening the horizons of Danish elites, a group to which the author, the Chancellor of the Realm and the magnate, belonged. The paper presents information concerning Poland, included in the book. The fact that it was so could be simply a result of historical methods applied in this period (among others, copying and repeating sources), but it could be caused also by growing interests in Poland, seen as a partner in regional politics with the Baltic Sea as the centre. Some closer connections between Poland and Denmark, mainly in the 15th and the 16th centuries, could be connected with the network of conflicts and alliances among such political entities as: the Teutonic Order, the Holy Empire, Brandenburg, the Hanseatic League, Gdańsk and the whole of Pomerania. Most of the notes are scattered, rather short and do not create a comprehensive whole. In the case of more recent history, the narrative has a much more well-developed character (like for instance the case of the Thirteen Years’ War). Some Polish context (probably fictitious) became useful when the author had to criticise King Christian II. Huitfeldt was also well-informed about the political system of the Commonwealth and included the information when writing about the Danish system, presenting both as similar.

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