Foundation of Modern Sweden

Sigismund

Main article: Sigismund I of Sweden

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The endeavours of Swedish statesmen to bind the hands of their future king were due to their fear of the Catholic reaction in Europe. Under Eric XIV the Reformation in Sweden had proceeded on the same lines as during the reign of his father, retaining all the old Catholic customs not considered contrary to Scripture. After 1544, when the Council of Trent had formally declared the Bible and tradition to be equally authoritative sources of all Christian doctrine, the contrast between the old and the new teaching became more obvious; and in many countries a middle party arose which aimed at a compromise by going back to the Church of the Fathers. King John III of Sweden, the most learned of the Vasas, and somewhat of a theological expert, was largely influenced by these ?middle? views. As soon as he had mounted the throne he took measures to bring the Church of Sweden back to ?the primitive Apostolic Church and the Swedish Catholic faith ?; and, in 1574, persuaded a synod, assembled at Stockholm, to adopt certain articles framed by himself. In February 1575 a new Church ordinance, approximating still more closely to the patristic Church, was presented to another synod and accepted, but very unwillingly. In 1576 a new liturgy was issued on the model of the Roman missal, but with considerable modifications.

Related Topics:
1544 - Council of Trent - Bible - Christian - John III of Sweden - Vasas - Church of Sweden - 1574

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Despite the opposition of Duke Charles and the ultra-Protestants, these measures were adopted by the Riksdag of 1577. They greatly encouraged the Catholic party in Europe, and John III was ultimately persuaded to send an embassy to Rome to open negotiations for the reunion of the Swedish Church with the Holy See. But though the Jesuit Antonio Possevino was sent to Stockholm to complete John?s ?conversion,? John would only consent to embrace Catholicism under certain conditions which were never fulfilled, and the only result of all these subterraneous negotiations was to incense the Protestants still more against the new liturgy, the use of which by every congregation in the realm without exception was, nevertheless, decreed by the Riksdag of 1582.

Related Topics:
Riksdag - Holy See - Jesuit - 1582

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At this period Duke Charles and his Protestant friends were clearly outnumbered by the promoters of the via media. Nevertheless, immediately after King John?s death, a synod summoned to Uppsala by Duke Charles rejected the new liturgy and drew up an anti-Catholic confession of faith, March 5, 1593. Holy Scripture and the three primitive creeds were declared to be the true foundations of Christian faith, and the Augsburg confession was adopted.

Related Topics:
Uppsala - Augsburg confession

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Sigismund, now the lawful king of Sweden, regarded the summoning of the synod of Uppsala without his previous knowledge and consent as a direct infringement of his prerogative. On his arrival in Sweden he tried to gain time by provisionally confirming what had been done; but the aggressiveness of the Protestant faction and the persistent usurpations of Duke Charles (the Riksdag of 1595 proclaimed him regent though the king had previously refused him that office) made civil war inevitable. The Battle of Stångebro on September 25, 1598 decided the struggle in favour of Charles - and Protestantism. Sigismund fled from Sweden, never to return, and on March 19, 1600, the Riksdag of Linköping proclaimed the duke king under the title of Charles IX of Sweden. Sigismund and his line of posterity were declared to have forfeited the Swedish crown, which was to pass to the male heirs of Charles.

Related Topics:
Sweden - 1595 - Battle of Stångebro - September 25 - 1598 - March 19 - 1600 - Charles IX of Sweden

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See also: History of Russia, History of Poland, History of Finland

Related Topics:
History of Russia - History of Poland - History of Finland

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